Last night the verdict was given on the case of two Fullerton police officers and their role in killing Kelly Thomas. The jury found both officers NOT GUILTY of involuntary manslaughter and excessive force. Kelly Thomas died of his injuries five days later. The beating was caught on video and the jury did not find them guilty. Kelly Thomas was a schizophrenic and had a run in with the law before this event and during the video was pleading for mercy. And the prosecutor did not want to try the 3rd cop involved.
Though I do disagree with the decision I find the choice to add your own opinion of "Lesson learned if you have a badge you are now above the law" to be extremely offending. This badly decided case shouldn't make your view on ALL officers negative...
I am outraged by this verdict. There is a video of the cops beating Thomas to death and yet they are still aquitted. In the video one of the officers literally states that they are going to F*** him up. And later the officers claimed he was wild because he had drugs in his system but the toxicology report stated that he had no drugs or alcohol. This verdict has left me wondering how far a cop would have to go before being convicted of a crime.
This verdict is completely unfair, how is beating and killing a mentally disabled man justifiable? I'm shocked that they were acquitted especially with the video footage clearly showing the men continuing to beat the homeless man despite his pleas for mercy and forgiveness.
Luckily, the federal government is stepping in this case to investigate it and hopefully they find that this was a violation of Kelly Thomas' rights and they can convict the cops.
Wow, my grandpa actually knew Kelly Thomas... He used to hang out at the Fullerton Train Station a lot, and my grandpa would always talk to him (along with other locals)...small world