Ex-cop Jason Stockley found not guilty in black man's death

[DonViejo]

Source: CNN




By Faith Karimi, CNN
Updated 10:02 AM ET, Fri September 15, 2017


(CNN)[Breaking news update, posted at 10:02 a.m.]

A St. Louis judge has found former police officer Jason Stockley not guilty of first-degree murder in the 2011 shooting death of black motorist Anthony Lamar Smith.

St. Louis is on edge for possible unrest as it awaits a judge's ruling Friday in the murder trial of a white former police officer who killed a black motorist nearly six years ago.
Jason Stockley, then a St. Louis officer, shot dead Anthony Lamar Smith, 24, after a police chase in December 2011.

Stockley pleaded not guilty, saying he acted in self-defense and believed Smith was reaching for a gun in his car. Prosecutors have accused the officer of planting a silver revolver to justify the shooting.

The defendant waived his right to a jury trial, and closing arguments in the case before St. Louis Circuit Judge Timothy Wilson were August 9.


Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/15/us/jason-stockley-officer-shooting-verdict/index.html

[LonePirate]

1. Sadly, this is not surprising. Cowardly, racist white cop kills black man and is exonerated.

This happens time and time again in this country.

[logosoco]

2. This is not justice.

Cases like this embolden the police to use force and set up criminal scenes in their favor.

[heaven05]

3. this is ameriKKKa

yesterday, today and with the POS calling himself potus tomorrow....

[Lucky Luciano]

4. I'm shocked. nt

[JI7]

5. Clintons fault for signing NAFTA

[sinkingfeeling]

6. Seems like a cop can do anything and not be guilty.

[Judi Lynn]

7. Unbelievable. Something is deeply wrong with this judge.

Truly hope this is NOT the last we have heard of this case.

Why was St. Louis so honed to ward off dissent if this judgement was rendered, anyway? Everyone knows how wrong it is.

[pintobean]

8. You can read the judge's findings here

https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/7b/57b2d12c-83d8-53a0-ba1f-18b659a7e569/59bbe0a450230.pdf.pdf

But, this will just be a carbon copy of all the other cases like this. People don't care about the legal issues, or the evidence, they let their emotions take over.

My city is going to be a mess tonight. Our nutcase governor is going to use the guard to put down rioters. It's not going to be pretty.

[stevenleser]

10. Interesting. That has changed my mind on at least the judges decision

It seems like what was presented at trial did not meet the burden of proving the case.

Nor did the prosecution attempt to assert the gun was dropped by police. If that was the victims gun then there is no issue here. I actually think this stands separately from most other cases of inappropriate force against African American defendants.

[Blue_Tires]

9. Disgraceful...