BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Weather will delay the trial for Buffalo Police Officer Cory Krug until Friday morning.
Krug, who faces four counts of violating federal law, heard a government prosecutor call him "a bully with a badge," saying that Krug over stepped his boundaries, while serving as a police officer, on several separate occasions.
A jury of four men and eight women will decide if that is the case, based on evidence presented to prove these allegations, beyond a reasonable doubt.
Most notably, the government points to the case against Krug, in which the government says Krug used excessive force against Devin Ford, on Chippewa Street on Thanksgiving Eve, 2014.
This was recorded by a former WKBW 7 Eyewitness News photographer, who is expected to be called as a witness.
Defense attorneys tried to stop the jury from hearing the audio on that tape. They pointed to three different statements on the tape, by other Buffalo officers, as "inadmissible" and "irrelevant."
The judge disagreed and said the jury will see and hear the entire video. They will be allowed to watch the video as many times as needed.
"Whack, whack, whack," the assistant US Attorney said of how Krug hit Devin Ford with his nightstick.
Krug's attorney, Terry Connors, said Krug simply used two wrist swipes -- and then hit the ground with his stick a third time-- trying to get Krug to leave Chippewa Street.
Ford, according to attorneys, says he was sucker punched in a bar and kicked out, before he encountered Krug.
Connors told the jury, Ford grabbed Krug's nightstick and that "you cannot let someone take your impact weapon."
The government argued Krug acted out of anger, impluse and frustration.
There are two other counts against Krug, where two men accuse him of hitting them with a flashlight. Connors says that never happened.
The criminal trial for Corey Krug is expected to last a little more than two weeks.
Krug remains on administrative leave, but is being paid.
