Kelly Thomas verdict: Family wants officers to face federal charges

[Jefferson23]

Two former Fullerton police officers were found not guilty Monday in the beating death of Kelly Thomas and charges against a third officer will be dropped.

Family and supporters of the homeless schizophrenic man, who died after a violent 2011 altercation with police, are now hoping federal authorities will step in.

Ron Thomas, Kelly's father and a former sheriff's deputy, said he hoped that the U.S. Justice Department would file federal charges against the officers. The FBI had been investigating and monitoring the case.

"I've never seen something so bad happen to a human being, and have it done by on-duty police officers," Thomas said. "And they can walk away scot-free."

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-kelly-thomas-federal-charges-20140114,0,2468508.story#ixzz2qP4VcsLJ

[blkmusclmachine]

1. Find the picture of Mr. Thomas. Truly horrifying!!!

[Jefferson23]

3. The video is horrific. I can only imagine how betrayed the family feels right now.

I do not understand the verdict, at all...sickening. When you hear him call...Daddy, Daddy.....
what the fuck is wrong with the jury.

Police Beating Caused Kelly Thomas Death: Coroner

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Police-Beating-Caused-Kelly-Thomas-Death-Coroner-234677751.html

[SunSeeker]

2. Unfuckingbelievable that they were found not guilty. But the prosecution botched the case. nt

Last edited Wed Jan 15, 2014, 12:19 AM - Edit history (1)

[Jefferson23]

4. It is sickening..I don't know if there is any hope for the family through the Feds. n/t

[countryjake]

5. If the Justice Dept. does decide to investigate...

the most probably that they'll do will be similar to what happened up here in Seattle, after the shooting death of an Indian totem carver who was whittling on a stick of wood. That murder-by-cop also had video evidence and eye witness statements, but after the Feds stepped in, months later all they did was rule that Seattle PD routinely engaged in excessive force and needed to undergo reform. It was a disappointment, to put it mildly. The family of John T. Williams did eventually receive a settlement of $1.5 million from the city but what they truly wanted was for the murderer to be held accountable.

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Justice-Dept-Excessive-force-by-Seattle-cops-must-stop---or-else-135740783.html

[Jefferson23]

7. Not much hope there..awful and wrong all around. Reform, how nice to avoid jail with a

suggestion to change...ugh.

[countryjake]

10. And the Civil Rights Div. found nothing discriminatory, at all...

even tho John Williams was shot dead within 7 seconds of contact with the cop who murdered him. Tribal communities out here were outraged; they presented case after case to that investigative board, examples with proof that minorities barely have any civil rights at all, when confronted by SPD

If you're interested, here is the video of the shooting. You can see John carving, crossing the street in front of the cruiser, then count down the seconds between the time that the cop first hollers at him and the shots being fired that killed him (a man who was hard of hearing, wearing ear buds), shots to his back, side, and chest as he turned to see what the commotion was about. You can also hear the woman who had just crossed the street, screaming at that cop, "He didn't even do anything!".

This second video shows the scene after back-up arrived, his lifeless form and the way they handled him:

John T. Williams was a Ditidaht First Nation Master Carver, murdered for whittling on a stick of wood. Totems.

[Jefferson23]

13. The jurors mindset is frightening...the message seems clear, these types of victims are

expendable...they have no value. How else do you turn away from justice for them otherwise?

[countryjake]

14. I think that the jury in the Kelly Thomas murder case was corrupt.

Read the statements that are being written all over this week, by people who were at that trial, observing the jury.
They appeared to have arrived at their decision long before those deliberations began.

[Blue_Tires]

9. Which was the same question after the Rodney King verdict

"How the hell does a prosecutor screw that up? All he had to do for the jury was PLAY THE VIDEO!"

It's the jury who needs their fucking heads examined...

[kcr]

11. I agree.

I keep seeing "they botched the case?" but no one says how. It's the jury. They saw that tape. And they acquitted anyway. It's on them. Shameful.

[countryjake]

12. Absolutely...

see here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4336972

[reddread]

6. dont we all?

Isnt this an issue we can all agree on?
At least all of the Democrats here?

[Jefferson23]

8. I think so, yes..so heavy handed, and they're suppose to be trained, right?

Bastards.