A former South Carolina police officer facing civil rights charges in the death of Walter Scott will soon be in federal court.

Documents filed Friday show a March 17 pre-trial hearing is scheduled in Charleston for Michael Slager.

The former North Charleston officer’s federal trial is set to begin in May. He’s charged with violating Walter Scott’s civil rights when he shot the unarmed motorist to death as he ran from a traffic stop in April 2015.

Scott’s vehicle had been pulled over for a broken taillight. Slager chased Scott as he ran away from the scene, they got into a scuffle and the officer said Scott grabbed his Taser and tried to use it against him.

The hearing serves as a place for the court to hash out a battery of motions filed by Slager’s attorneys, including a request to toss out statements he gave investigators and not show jurors video of the shooting.

State prosecutors have charged Slager with murder.

In December, a jury in the first trial couldn’t decide on whether Slager committed a crime when he shot Scott.

Slager’s retrial is set for August. A conviction in either case could carry a sentence of up to life in prison.