Oxycodone: Out of curiosity - if it is unusual for police officers (stateside) to be sentenced for killing a person why is this case any different from other cases where police officers have not been sentenced?
Just trying to understand the reasoning here and is the justice system coming under some sort of scrutiny?
Interesting and prudent question. Here’s my “take” on the answer: in many regions, the law and history of precedent cannot be used in cases involving armed public servants. Each case has to be tried on, and in, it’s own merits. So, succinctly, when a police officer is indicted/indictment proceedings, the jury (Grand) is required to make a decision with the attitude that it has never occurred before- that’s why many don’t get indicted. The Grand Jury, in past cases, has sided with the police in virtually every case. This is changing. Her burden of proof was to convince both prosecutors and jury that her action(s) were warranted. Confusing the gun for the taser was the weak link. She couldn’t win…it’s very, very sad.
rohaan: Interesting and prudent question. Here’s my “take” on the answer: in many regions, the law and history of precedent cannot be used in cases involving armed public servants. Each case has to be tried on, and in, it’s own merits. So, succinctly, when a police officer is indicted/indictment proceedings, the jury (Grand) is required to make a decision with the attitude that it has never occurred before- that’s why many don’t get indicted. The Grand Jury, in past cases, has sided with the police in virtually every case. This is changing. Her burden of proof was to convince both prosecutors and jury that her action(s) were warranted. Confusing the gun for the taser was the weak link. She couldn’t win…it’s very, very sad.
Thank you Rohaan. Some really useful information here.
A costly mistake was surely made. I can only imagine she must be in some sort of shock.
secretagent09: Some of us have discussed police shootings in the U.S. There is one more shooting that I'm not sure how I want to go with it. I'm hoping the CS family will have opinions.
A police officer stopped Duante Wright for having expired car registration tags but his mother said he was stopped for having an air freshener hanging from his rearview mirror. In Minnesota it is against the law to have anything hanging from the rearview mirror. When they stopped Wright police did a background check and found he had an outstanding warrant against him. He was originally stopped for expired registration tags and secondly for having the air freshener hanging from the rearview mirror.
The officer walked up to Wright's car and he got out but then he fought his way back into the car. Two officers were struggling to get him out of the car. One of the officer's yelled Taser Taser Taser but instead of the Taser she pulled her gun and shot him which resulted in his death.
The officer who shot him has been on the force for 26 years. The prosecutor argued that in all that time she should have known that she was pulling her taser gun and not the real gun. Each gun was on different sides of her body. The taser is yellow.
So, did this 20 year old die because he had an air freshener tree hanging from his rearview mirror or did he die because he had an outstanding warrant or did he die for having expired registration tags?
The officer has been charged with second degree manslaughter. Should she get a pass? Her mistake resulted someone losing his life. Should she be forced to retire without her pension?
If the races were reversed, the black cop would simply be heroic, for taking another criminal off the street. And everybody knows it. And i can easily see where most people would side with the cop no matter WHAT the races were, in this situation. If people like Duante Wright didnt start shiff in the first place, shiff wouldnt happen. But you weenie washers will be whining over him for the next few years, regardless.
Update on Kim Potter: Sentenced to TWO years only— family is outraged. She’ll likely be released sooner, for time already served. I admit I’m a little surprised. However, a BART officer killed a black man at the Fruitvale (?) station, and only received two years…it appears the rulings are based on intention, not outcome. But if someone breaks the law, trespasses, and is injured or dies in your swimming pool, you’re liable. America needs to re-shuffle the deck and deal out a fairer game for all. Just saying..
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Americans! They'll never learn