Rioting Expected in Connection with Trial Verdict

[propita]

Even if the officer were going to tase the guy, on the ground with full contact--is the taser made for such close proximity? Are there unusual effects for being so close?

 

[Colonel Green]

He couldn't possibly be found innocent.

OJ Simpson agrees!

He could be if the jury buys his story. If they believe he accidentally drew his gun instead of his taser, the defendant claims "accident" and he goes home.

But one thing I noticed was overlooked in this trial. Why did the cop feel the need to draw his taser and shoot this guy in the back with it if he was lying on the ground and complying with orders? If he HAD drawn his taser and shot Oscar Grant with it, would that not have constituted assault and battery by the police officer? And isn't it the law that if someone dies while you are in the commission of another crime, you can be charged with that death as murder one?

Yet, they approached this like it was okay that the cop was going to taze that young man lying face down on the ground. But the tazing was unlawful, so it doesn't matter whether he intended to draw his taser or his gun. He was violating the man's rights and that man died while he did it. Murder.

I really think that we shouldn't be so quick to arm every cop with tasers. They treat the weapon like it carries no consequences and use it much more frequently than they would any other kind of weapon. They don't respect it AS a weapon. And thus, get careless and sloppy with it's use. A very dangerous habit for a police officer to fall into.

I couldn't agree more, there seems to be a disturbing trend towards using tazers against suspects who are CLEARLY compliant. While I would never advocate stripping police officers of what is a legitimately useful, and in fact even a lifesaving device in the case of dangerous suspects who might otherwise be shot, there really needs to be better oversight. Every time a tazer is used, the officer should be subject to the same review they would face if they had fired their sidearm. I think such an approach would drastically reduce the casual usage of what can still be a lethal weapon.

Back on topic, even IF the jury buys his argument that he pulled his gun by mistake, wouldn't that still be a clear-cut case of criminal negligence causing death? I don't see this guy walking free even if he is cleared of murder.

 

[Gryffindorian]

Mehserle: Guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter

Not exactly what the prosecutors and Oscar Grant's family were expecting, but that's the verdict. At 3 p.m. Pacific Time, employees were either sent home or asked if they wanted to leave voluntarily, which I did, due to possible rioting. I'm watching the news, but so far, no violent incidents have been reported.

 

[Colonel Midnight]

^ Si, so far all's well, or at least, better than expected.

Our office let everyone go right around 3:30pm.

Cheers,
-CM-