The federal civil rights trial of a former Louisville, Kentucky, police officer charged in the 2020 death of Breonna Taylor, a black woman whose killing sparked a wave of racial justice protests, was declared a mistrial on Thursday.
US District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings declared a mistrial in the trial of Brett Hankison – charged with civil rights violations for allegedly using excessive force – after jurors told her they could not reach a unanimous verdict.
Federal prosecutors must now decide whether they will try Hankison again. A Justice Department spokesman said in a written statement that the department “is actively considering all of our available options.”
Hankison, who is white and who prosecutors say fired 10 bullets that did not hit anyone during a botched raid on Taylor’s apartment, was acquitted by a state court last year in a separate trial, in which he was accused of endangering Taylor’s neighbors. by firing his weapon. Hankison was the only officer of the three to give up their weapons to face criminal charges.
Breonna Taylor was shot and killed by police in 2020, sparking widespread protests.bianca.austin/Facebook
Police wanted to search the house in connection with a drug investigation in which Taylor’s ex-boyfriend, who was not living with Taylor at the time, was a suspect.
After the police broke down Taylor’s door, her new boyfriend, afraid to break in and saying he didn’t hear the police identify themselves, fired one shot from a handgun that wounded an officer. The officer and another returned fire. Six shots hit Taylor, killing him.
Brett Hankison and three other officers broke down Breonna Taylor’s door to find her ex-boyfriend who didn’t live there. Louisville Metro Police
In addition to Hankison, federal prosecutors last year charged three other former Louisville police officers for what they say was their role in knowingly including false information in an affidavit that convinced a judge to approve the warrant that led to the raid on Taylor’s apartment.
One of the other officers charged – Kelly Goodlett – pleaded guilty last year. Two other officers – Joshua Jaynes and current Sergeant Kyle Meany – are awaiting trial in federal court.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
