Maryland police officer charged with murder in killing of handcuffed man

A police officer in the US state of Maryland has been charged with murder in the fatal shooting of a man who had been handcuffed inside a patrol car.

Corporal Michael Owen Jr, a 10-year police force veteran, shot William Green, 43, seven times on Monday night in Temple Hills, police say.

Police were responding to calls that a driver had struck multiple cars and was suspected of being intoxicated.

According to the Prince George's County Police Department, Cpl Owen and another officer were sent to the area - a suburb of Washington DC - at about 19:20 local time on Monday (00:20 GMT Tuesday).

After being advised by witnesses, they approached Green who was in a car nearby. Green was removed from his car, handcuffed and placed in the front seat of the patrol car as the officers waited for a drug recognition expert.

Cpl Owen then entered the patrol car and sat next to Green. A short time later, Green, who had his hands behind his back, was shot seven times for reasons that were still being investigated, according to police. The officers provided medical help to Green, who was taken to a hospital where he later died.

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