www.csua.org/u/r3g -> news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100708/ap_on_re_us/us_train_station_shooting
Slideshow:BART Shooting Trial By GREG RISLING, Associated Press Writer Greg Risling, Associated Press Writer - Thu Jul 8, 7:55 pm ET LOS ANGELES - A white former transit officer was convicted of involuntary manslaughter Thursday in the shooting death of an unarmed black man on an Oakland train platform in a 2009 encounter that set off days of rioting in the city. Prosecutors had wanted Johannes Mehserle convicted of murdering 22-year-old Oscar Grant, who was shot as he lay face-down. Mehserle was placed in handcuffs and taken away after the verdict. He turned to his family and mouthed, "I love you, guys." Grant's mother, Wanda Johnson, stared at the jurors and appeared upset. One woman juror wiped tears with a tissue when the panel was polled on its decision. On the east side of San Francisco Bay, police in riot gear were deployed on the streets of Oakland. A crowd near Oakland City Hall moaned and cursed when they heard the verdict. He was killed in cold blood," said Amber Royal, 23, of Oakland. Grant family attorney John Burris said the family was "extremely disappointed" with the verdict. "This verdict is not a true representation of what happened to Oscar Grant and what happened to him that night. This was not a voluntary manslaughter case," Burris said. Arnold Schwarzenegger issued a statement urging Californians to remain calm and not resort to violence. Schwarzenegger said he had informed Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums the state was well prepared to assist in maintaining order. The jury had a choice between murder and lesser charges of voluntary and involuntary manslaughter. Seven said they were white, three were Latino, and one was Asian-Pacific. Involuntary manslaughter carries a sentence of two to four years. The case was a rare instance in which a police officer stood trial for an on-duty killing and that was captured on video from so many different angles. The verdict followed a three-week trial in which prosecutors played videos by bystanders, and witnesses recounted hearing the frightening gunshot that killed Grant. Mehserle, 28, testified that he struggled with Grant and saw him digging in his pocket as officers responded to reports of a fight at a train station. Alameda County Deputy District Attorney David Stein said in his closing argument that Mehserle let his emotions get the better of him and intended to shoot Grant with the handgun without justification. One of Grant's friends, Jackie Bryson, testified that Mehserle said "(expletive) this" before firing the fatal shot. Defense attorney Michael Rains contended the shooting was a tragic accident. Mehserle had no motive to shoot Grant, even though he was resisting arrest, the lawyer argued. Rains also said Mehserle told a colleague before the shooting: "Tony, Tony, Tony, I can't get his hands. Mehserle pleaded not guilty to murder and resigned from the Bay Area Rapid Transit agency after the shooting. Fallout from the shooting was swift in Oakland after the videos were shown on television and the Internet. The shooting and the nearly two weeks it took to arrest Mehserle sent the city into a tailspin of violence as downtown businesses were damaged, cars were set ablaze and clashes erupted between protesters and police. Grant had recently been released from jail after being sentenced to 16 months for a gun possession charge filed after he ran from police and was subdued by an officer with a stun gun. Grant has become a martyr of sorts in a city where more than a third of residents are black. His omnipresent image on buildings and storefront windows arguably rivals that of slain hometown rapper Tupac Shakur. Grant's family and friends filed multimillion dollar lawsuits against the transit agency. Only the mother of Grant's daughter has reached a settlement.
Report Abuse the overt racism on these sites sickens me. cops have too much control and the streets are filled with criminals. just think how cool this country would be if all these racist idiots could get along. every man and woman should be equal, then maybe there would be less crime and less hate.
Report Abuse Attacked by Eastbay Regional Park cops in the late 60"s at a Picnic in the Park 22 people 2 arrested clubed & cuffed 1969 . Its didnt start civil unrest but it did call for an investigation after complaints were filed . All of our food was cleared from the tables with billy clubs . Was not what you could call a Great time & Picnic in the park kind of Day..
Report Abuse Full-on CHIMPOUT rioting and looting in Oakland tonite. It doesn't matter where you find them, nor under which socio-economic system, blacks are incapable of being civilized.
Report Abuse Next step is the wrongful death lawsuit against okaland. I think the suit should be the black community of Oakland suing to use the millions and open some good schools and jobs to free the streets and prevent the hate and shooting. MAYBE NOT OAKLAND but another city and more violence and distruction.
The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
|
http://csua.com/feed/