Mayor Pro Tem Mike Martinez spoke candidly to AM 590 KLBJ talk show host Jeff Ward Tuesday about the possible settlement between the city of Austin and the Sanders family. The city is proposing a sum of $750,000 to settle with the Sanders family, who lost their son, Nathaniel, after Austin police officer Leonardo Quintana shot and killed him outside of an east Austin apartment complex.
Martinez, who says he was on vacation at the time the city reached a potential settlement agreement, returned to learn about the situation. After numerous discussions with city officials, Martinez said he reached his own decision, opposing the settlement and asking for the case to be tried before a judge and jury.
"I can assure you and the citizens," Martinez told Ward, "that it's not just $750,000 in the settlement agreement. There are going to be provisions in the settlement agreement that stipulate that we can't discuss this moving forward; that we can't bring out conversations that were had in mediation; that we can't bring out information that was shared in the negotiated process. That to me is inappropriate."
On the show, Martinez defended his position and his belief the city council will decide the right course of action. "My decision... is based on what I believe is best for this entire community. We can't move forward... if we don't fully vet this out," said Martinez.
Martinez told Ward the city is hiring an attorney to defend Quintana, who fired the fatal shots that killed Sanders. Martinez points out the eventual termination of Quintana from the Austin Police Department because of a DWI charge, cannot be used in the trial, according to a judge's ruling.
Click the play button above to listen to the Martinez interview, conducted by Jeff Ward on the Jeff Ward Show, heard on AM 590 KLBJ Tuesday, July 20, 2010. Content is edited.
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