The Rev. Marvin Hunter, Laquan McDonald’s great-uncle, appears on “Chicago Tonight.”

The sentencing of Jason Van Dyke raises questions about criminal justice and police reform in Chicago and beyond. The Rev. Marvin Hunter, Laquan McDonald’s great-uncle, weighs in.

Former Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke and his attorney Daniel Herbert, left, attend Van Dyke’s sentencing hearing on Friday, Jan. 18, 2019. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune / Pool)

In the wake of two historic cases, a discussion with two central figures in the story of the 2014 shooting of Laquan McDonald: journalist Jamie Kalven and former police union president Dean Angelo.

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The highly anticipated sentencing of Jason Van Dyke – and a ruling on the fate of three other Chicago cops in a related case stemming from the 2014 shooting of Laquan McDonald.

Former Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke and his attorney Daniel Herbert, right, listen as the judge describes how he’ll be sentenced on Friday, Jan. 18, 2019. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune / Pool)

Cook County Judge Vincent Gaughan sentences the former Chicago cop to 81 months in prison – just under seven years – for the 2014 killing of Laquan McDonald. He will likely only have to serve about half of that sentence.

Former Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke attends a post-conviction hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building on Friday, Dec. 14, 2018. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune / pool)

Former Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke is sentenced for the 2014 fatal shooting of Laquan McDonald. Reaction from the courthouse and testimony from the courtroom.

Former Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke attends a post-conviction hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building on  Dec. 14, 2018. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune / Pool)

In October, he became the first Chicago cop in decades to be convicted of murder for an on-duty shooting. Now, the former police officer will learn his sentence for the 2014 fatal shooting of Laquan McDonald.

From left: Former Chicago Detective David March, officer Thomas Gaffney and former officer Joseph Walsh attend a pretrial hearing Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune / Pool)

Three Chicago police officers are acquitted in the Laquan McDonald cover-up trial. What impact – if any – will the verdict have on police reform in the city? 

Background: Ex-Officer Joseph Walsh, second from left, former Detective David March, center, and Chicago police Officer Thomas Gaffney arrive in court on the first day of trial on Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2018. Foreground: Special prosecutor Patricia Brown Holmes, right, and special prosecutor Ron Safer, left. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune / Pool)

A Cook County judge says a trio of current and former Chicago police officers did not conspire to hide details of the Laquan McDonald shooting in an unprecedented trial that put a spotlight on the police department’s so-called code of silence.

From left: Former Chicago Detective David March, officer Thomas Gaffney and former officer Joseph Walsh attend a pretrial hearing Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune / Pool)

Were three Chicago cops following procedure after an officer-involved shooting? Or did they engage in a cover-up to try and protect their fellow officer? That’s what a Cook County judge will decide this week.

Former Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke listens in during his hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, Friday, Dec. 14, 2018. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune / pool)

The former Chicago police officer will be sentenced Friday. He was convicted last fall of second-degree murder in the fatal 2014 shooting of Laquan McDonald.

Background: Ex-Officer Joseph Walsh, second from left, former Detective David March, center, and Chicago police Officer Thomas Gaffney arrive in court on the first day of trial on Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2018. Foreground: Special prosecutor Patricia Brown Holmes, right, and special prosecutor Ron Safer, left. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune / Pool)

A Cook County judge has already delayed her finding once in the unprecedented trial of three Chicago police officers. The new verdict date is Jan. 17 – a day before the sentencing of former Officer Jason Van Dyke.

Chicago police Officer Thomas Gaffney, left, ex-Officer Joseph Walsh and their attorneys approach the bench in a post-trial hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building on Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2018. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune / Pool)

Court will issue finding only days before Van Dyke sentencing

A verdict was expected Wednesday in the bench trial of three Chicago police officers charged with conspiring to cover up details of the fatal 2014 shooting of Laquan McDonald. The defendants will instead learn their fate in January, just days before Jason Van Dyke is scheduled to be sentenced.

From left: Former Chicago Detective David March, officer Thomas Gaffney and former officer Joseph Walsh attend a pretrial hearing Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune / Pool)

A verdict was expected Wednesday in the trial of three Chicago police officers accused of conspiring to cover up the fatal 2014 shooting of Laquan McDonald, but the judge has postponed her decision.

Former Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke attends a post-conviction hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building on Friday, Dec. 14, 2018. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune / pool)

Judge upholds guilty verdicts in high-profile case, won’t grant new trial

Jason Van Dyke was found guilty of second-degree murder in October. Next month, the suspended Chicago police officer will learn how much time he’ll spend in prison.

Former Chicago Police Detective David March, left, and his attorney James McKay on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune / Pool)

Arguments are over in the trial of three Chicago cops accused of trying to cover up details of the Laquan McDonald shooting. Now it’s up to a judge to issue her verdict in a ruling that will come later this month.

Defense attorneys confer before prosecution rested during the trial of Chicago police Officer Thomas Gaffney, former Detective David March and ex-Officer Joseph Walsh on Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune / Pool)

Defense attorneys for three Chicago police officers will have their first opportunity to present evidence Thursday morning. But it remains to be seen if any witnesses will be called.