A judge has reduced a contempt fine for a lawyer representing a former Little Rock police officer charged with manslaughter for the shooting death of a teenager.
Circuit Judge Wendell Griffen on Tuesday issued an order reducing the fine against attorney Bill James from $25,000 to $5,000.
Griffen cited James for allegedly using characterizations of two juvenile witnesses that Griffen told him not to put before the jury. James earlier lost an appeal to the Arkansas Supreme Court.
Two juries failed to reach a verdict in Hastings' trials for the death of 15-year-old Bobby Moore.
The youth was fatally wounded in a car while allegedly fleeing after being caught breaking into cars at a Little Rock apartment complex.
Hastings is to be tried a third time starting May 5.