Federal prosecutors in Kentucky say they will retry a disgraced former Louisville police officer in connection with the 2020 death of Breonna Taylor during a botched police raid after misconduct in the case last month.
Brett Hankison, 47, faces civil rights violations in the case of Taylor’s March 13, 2020, shooting death in his Louisville apartment but avoided conviction when the jury was deadlocked after 20 hours of deliberations on November 26.
On Wednesday, prosecutors said they would try again, telling US District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings they would bring him back to trial “sooner rather than later,” WDRB-TV News reported.
The highly explosive shooting comes amid a surge in the Black Lives Matter movement that questions excessive police brutality targeting black residents like Taylor.
Taylor, 26, was shot and killed when Louisville police raided her home as part of a drug investigation targeting her ex-boyfriend, who was no longer living with her.
Her new boyfriend, claiming he believed the raid was a push-in robbery, grabbed a gun and fired at the police, hitting one of them while three of the officers – including Hankison – returned fire.
Former Louisville cop Brett Hankison was acquitted of state charges in the 2020 death of Breonna Taylor but still faces federal civil rights charges. Prosecutors said this week they would try him again after a mistrial in the case last month. via REUTERS Breonna Taylor, 26, was shot and killed by Louisville police during a botched raid at her home in 2020. Facebook
Taylor was hit six times and killed.
Lonita Baker, a lawyer representing Taylor’s family, told reporters after the trial last November that they were disappointed with the outcome of the trial but held out hope for justice.
“It’s not the result they wanted, but we’re here for the long game,” Baker said at the time. “We live for another day to fight for justice for Breonna.”
Hankison, whose 10 shots missed the unarmed woman, was acquitted of state felony charges following the raid but still faces federal charges for allegedly using excessive force during the raid.
Former Louisville cop Brett Hankison showed up for the shooting of Breonna Taylor for a federal jury last month. AP Breonna Taylor’s shooting death by Louisville police comes amid anti-police sentiment during the Black Lives Matter movement. AP
One of the cops, Kelly Goodlett, pleaded guilty last year, while charges are pending against two others – Joshua Haynes and Sgt. Kyle Meaney. Both are awaiting trial in federal court.
Hankison’s attorney, Stew Matthews, told jurors during last month’s trial that the ex-cop was only reacting when he returned fire after Taylor’s boyfriend shot the officer.
“If someone shoots at the police, the police will shoot back at you,” Matthews told the panel. “And that’s what happened here.”
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
