TULSA, Okla. — A civil trial set to begin May 4 is delayed again.
It involved a woman and a Tulsa police officer involved in a car crash back in 2018. This time the delay is over pre-trial publicity concerns regarding a story that aired on 2 News Oklahoma.
Rhoda Adams started fighting the City of Tulsa to get her medical bills paid after the crash.
She said Officer Robert Bowman ran a red light, without proper lights and sirens, and crashed into her at 6th and Elgin. He was allegedly trying to chase after a driver on a four-wheeler.
WATCH: 8-year civil case trial is delayed over 2 News’ pre-trial publicity:
On Friday, May 1, the last business day before the scheduled trial, 2 News aired an interview with Adams and her attorney, Mark Lyons.
On Monday, May 4, the City of Tulsa and Bowman’s attorneys asked for a trial continuance—claiming Lyons’ statements in the report were misleading, and the timing of the piece does not allow for a fair trial.
Assistant City Attorney Hayes Martin outlined several concerns regarding information or statements provided to 2 News. He also had concerns with the initial traffic report being in the 2 News article, because he said it was inadmissible evidence in court.
Lyons argued that the traffic report and TPD policies are a matter of public record and cited multiple instances of other attorneys in Tulsa County historically appearing on camera before a trial.
Ultimately, the judge sided with the City of Tulsa and Bowman’s attorney, and the trial is expected to be scheduled for this fall, to allow the story to dissipate from potential jurors’ minds.
Aside from the pretrial publicity concerns, there is still a lot of unfinished business ahead of the expected trial day.
Both sides remain at odds over major issues—what evidence will be allowed at trial, jury instructions, and even which witnesses may testify.
The City of Tulsa does not want multiple witnesses to take the stand, including witnesses to the crash, citing their testimony as irrelevant. Martin said the city is not disputing liability in the crash; the dispute is over the extent of her injuries being caused by the crash.
Judge Caroline Wall will determine which witnesses can testify once the trial begins.
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