The family of Sandra Bland returned to court Thursday, December 17 at approximately 2:00pm for a status hearing for the wrongful death of Bland. Hundreds of supporters gathered outside of the courthouse as U.S. District Judge David Hittner set trial for January 23, 2017.
Sandra Bland first caught headlines this summer after she was found dead in a Texas jail cell after being arrested by Texas Trooper Brian Encinia during a traffic stop. Though it is alleged that Bland committed suicide, many, including Bland’s family, suspect foul play.
Cannon Lambert, the Bland family lead attorney, told Hittner he couldn’t accept the suicide claim that she hung herself in her jail cell by using a plastic garbage bag as ligature, because his legal team hasn’t been able to examine the report of an investigation of the case by the Texas Rangers following Bland’s death.
Judge David Hittner will be hearing arguments for the case’s discovery motions in Waller County and soon a decision will be made on whether there will be charges against Encinia and his department for Bland’s arrest, resulting in death.
After the status hearing concluded, Lambert delivered the message to the dozens of chanting supporters outside of the courthouse. Geneva Reed-Veal (Bland’s Mother) said, “I’m not OK. My daughter is gone… I walked into these (courthouse) doors with continuations, dates and delays. I’m coming out of these doors with continuations, dates and delays.”
