Brelo and lawyers

Common Pleas Judge John P. O'Donnell has denied requests by the attorneys of Cleveland police officer Michael Brelo to have his case dismissed. The trial will start April 6.

(Ida Lieszkovszky, NEOMG)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A judge with the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court denied several requests by the attorneys of Cleveland police officer Michael Brelo to have his case dismissed.

Brelo, 31, was charged with voluntary manslaughter in the Nov. 29, 2012 shooting deaths of Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams following a lengthy police chase through Cleveland and East Cleveland.

He was one of 13 police officers who fired 137 shots into the car driven by Russell. Brelo fired the most and continued to fire after other officers had stopped, according to prosecutors.

Brelo's attorneys asked to have the case dismissed based on Garrity rights, which prevent a public official from making incriminating statements against themselves during investigations carried by their employers.

The judge also denied a motion to have the case dismissed based on qualified immunity. Qualified immunity is a defense available to state and federal officials -- including police officers -- that asks whether the defendant knew whether they were breaking an established law at the time of the incident.

Judge John P. O'Donnell denied both motions Monday. The trial is scheduled to begin April 6.