PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WVEC) -- A judge dealt prosecutors trying a former police officer with murder a setback in a pair of rulings ahead of trial.
Stephen Rankin is accused of shooting and killing an unarmed shoplifting suspect, William Chapman, last year.
Chief Circuit Court Judge Johnny E. Morrison ruled Thursday Commonwealth's Attorney Stephanie Morales would not be allowed to talk about Rankin's involvement in another deadly shooting back in 2011.
Rankin was not indicted in that case and was not found liable in a civil trial.
Morales' office did not respond to 13News Now's request for comment regarding the judge's rulings.
"We would have had to try that case and all the facts and circumstances in that case as well as to try this case," said Rankin's defense attorney James Broccoletti. "The jury certainly could have been confused by the issues, prejudiced by the issues, so the court decided it's not admissible and rightfully so."
Morrison also ruled police officers attending the trial in support of Ranking could wear their uniforms in the courtroom.
Morales' argued the visual show of solidarity could intimidate a jury.
Earl Lewis, Chapman's cousin said the family is disappointed in the judge's ruling.
"You [police] are endorsing Rankin, saying it's alright to shoot a black unarmed man in the city of Portsmouth," Lewis said.
Morrison is still considering whether or not to allow mobile messages Rankin sent to fellow officers and dispatchers shortly before his deadly encounter with Chapman.
In the messages Rankin complains about his job and city residents.
Defense attorneys filed a motion to subpoena Chapman's discipline records from the Portsmouth School District.
"He's dead! ... The ex-police officer is the one on trial not William Chapman," Lewis told 13News Now. "He didn't do nothing except go to Walmart."
Rankin's trial is set for late July.
Judge's rulings on Rankin trial requests