A federal jury Wednesday acquitted a white Louisiana trooper charged with violating the civil rights of a Black motorist despite body-camera footage that showed the officer pummeling the man 18 times with a flashlight.

A federal jury in Louisiana on Wednesday acquitted a white state trooper charged with violating the civil rights of a Black motorist despite body-camera footage that showed the officer pummeling the man 18 times with a flashlight.

  • Madison420@lemmy.world
    4·
    1 year ago

    They probably expected to lose this one only to appeal immediately and hope appeals knows their ass from their elbow.

    • FlowVoid
      2·
      1 year ago

      I doubt it, since prosecutors generally cannot appeal a verdict of not guilty.

        • FlowVoid
          1·
          1 year ago

          The citizen can’t appeal either. Prosecutors are in charge of a criminal case, not citizens.

            • FlowVoid
              1·
              1 year ago

              This wasn’t a civil case. This was a criminal case. Depriving someone of their civil rights is a federal crime. The officer was prosecuted by Brandon Brown.

              U.S. Attorney Brandon Brown, who is not related to Jacob Brown, told AP he was proud of the 48-year-old Bowman for having the courage to tell his story.

              “These cases are arguably the toughest that we investigate and prosecute,” he said. “We believe that this victim’s civil rights were violated. Unfortunately for us the jury didn’t agree, and we’ll have to respect their decision.”

              • Madison420@lemmy.world
                1·
                1 year ago

                You take the officer to civil court, win, take that win and use it for a public interest appeal, win be vindicated. The prosecutor doesn’t take part in the next step homie.

                • FlowVoid
                  1·
                  1 year ago

                  Winning a case like this in civil court is extremely difficult. Police always claim qualified immunity, and then the case is nearly always thrown out.

                  And appeals courts, all the way up to the Supreme Court, tend to side with police whenever they claim qualified immunity.