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Georgia State Supreme Court Allows Prosecution of Ex-Deputies in Black Man's Death
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/02/us/02xp-georgia-sheriffs-eurie-martin.html
The State Supreme Court unanimously rejected a lower court’s decision to grant immunity for three former deputies in the death of Eurie Lee Martin, who was repeatedly tased.
By John Ismay
Nov. 2, 2020, 7:43 p.m. ET
The Georgia Supreme Court on Monday overturned a ruling that granted immunity to three former sheriff’s deputies who had been indicted on murder charges in the death of an unarmed and mentally ill Black man who was repeatedly shot with a Taser along a rural road in 2017.
The confrontation between the three Washington County sheriff’s deputies and the man, Eurie Lee Martin, 58, was captured on a dashboard camera.
Justice Charles J. Bethel wrote the opinion in the court’s unanimous decision overturning the immunity granted by a Washington County judge shortly before the three deputies were to stand trial. The deputies — Henry Lee Copeland, Michael Howell and Rhett Scott — were fired for violating department procedures by repeatedly tasing Mr. Martin and not rendering first aid as he lay unconscious.
Mr. Martin died of asphyxiation at the scene, according to a lawyer for his family.
The deputies were indicted in Washington County in August 2018 on charges of felony murder, involuntary manslaughter, false imprisonment, aggravated assault, simple assault and reckless conduct, but were given immunity by a judge citing a law granting officers immunity if they were acting in self-defense in making a lawful arrest. The State Supreme Court’s decision, which sends the case back to the trial court, means the three will most likely face those charges again.
-/snip-
The State Supreme Court unanimously rejected a lower court’s decision to grant immunity for three former deputies in the death of Eurie Lee Martin, who was repeatedly tased.
By John Ismay
Nov. 2, 2020, 7:43 p.m. ET
The Georgia Supreme Court on Monday overturned a ruling that granted immunity to three former sheriff’s deputies who had been indicted on murder charges in the death of an unarmed and mentally ill Black man who was repeatedly shot with a Taser along a rural road in 2017.
The confrontation between the three Washington County sheriff’s deputies and the man, Eurie Lee Martin, 58, was captured on a dashboard camera.
Justice Charles J. Bethel wrote the opinion in the court’s unanimous decision overturning the immunity granted by a Washington County judge shortly before the three deputies were to stand trial. The deputies — Henry Lee Copeland, Michael Howell and Rhett Scott — were fired for violating department procedures by repeatedly tasing Mr. Martin and not rendering first aid as he lay unconscious.
Mr. Martin died of asphyxiation at the scene, according to a lawyer for his family.
The deputies were indicted in Washington County in August 2018 on charges of felony murder, involuntary manslaughter, false imprisonment, aggravated assault, simple assault and reckless conduct, but were given immunity by a judge citing a law granting officers immunity if they were acting in self-defense in making a lawful arrest. The State Supreme Court’s decision, which sends the case back to the trial court, means the three will most likely face those charges again.
-/snip-
Great!
