A California Jury's Baffling Verdict

[jsr]

http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2014/01/a-california-jurys-baffling-verdict/283053/

A California Jury's Baffling Verdict
The video shows two former police officers beating a mentally ill man into a coma. So why were they acquitted?
Andrew Cohen | Jan 14 2014, 10:07 AM ET

"Dad, help me."

"God, help me."

"Help me. Help me. Help me."

These were the last words of a mentally ill homeless man named Kelly Thomas, who was beaten into a coma by two Fullerton (California) police officers on the night of July 10, 2011. Thomas died five days later. Yet despite the fact that the beating was recorded on videotape, and the pleas of the beaten man were heard and recorded by audio devices worn by the officers, an Orange County jury Monday night acquitted both men of all of the criminal charges against them.

[Shrike47]

1. It is indeed baffling. Hell of a job by defense attorneys.

I used to be a defense attorney and always have to admire what seems to be an unfathomable win. Still, I am also appalled by the police behavior and the jury's decision. What were they thinking?

[Voice for Peace]

2. they believed the defense, that he died of other causes related to drug use, not from the beating.

[dickthegrouch]

3. In Orange County, CA

The jury are probably all "Tough on Crime", slash and burn, hang-em and ask questions later, repukes.

But they'd never characterize themselves as hanging judges. But that's exactly what they are.

[blkmusclmachine]

4. From http://www.fullertonsfuture.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Kelly-Thomas-Police-Beating.jpg:

[jsr]

5. Goddamn animals.

[geek tragedy]

6. orange county juries will acquit the cop every time they get the chance. nt

[The Stranger]

7. Who was the prosecutor?

That's the question.