may seek a self defense claim now that a grand jury has indicted him on murder-hate crime charges, his lawyer said Friday.
Popov, wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt, black pants and a new buzzed hairdo, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment to murder in the second degree as a hate crime before Judge Craig Walker.Pollard said said he’s waiting for additional evidence — such as more video of the deadly altercation — that could show Popov was defending himself.
According to prosecutors, Popov and two others — after some back-and-forth — allegedly hurled homophonic and racist slurs at Sibley and his four friends, demanding “Get that gay s–t out of here.” “It’s my understanding that he did not [used hate speech],” Pollard said. “I suspect that other people did who were not arrested. I don’t know why but he did not.”