Jury reaches verdict in BART shooting case

A jury has reached a verdict in the case involving a Bay Area Rapid Transit officer who shot a passenger to death in Oakland, and it is scheduled to be read at 4 p.m.

In the racially charged case, the jury has decided whether Johannes Mehserle, who is white, intentionally fired his weapon at Oscar J. Grant III, an unarmed black man who was lying face-down on a train station platform.

Prosecutors played videos for jurors taken by witnesses that showed Mehserle standing over Grant, aiming his handgun and firing a single round into Grant's back. But the defense contended that the shooting was a tragic accident in which Mehserle mistakenly drew his handgun instead of an electric Taser gun on his belt.

Legal experts say prosecutors faced a high legal hurdle in persuading jurors to convict an officer of murder in an on-duty police shooting.

To obtain a murder conviction, prosecutors had to prove that Mehserle intended to kill Grant or acted with a conscious disregard for life. Second-degree murder carries a sentence of 15 years to life in prison.

--Sam Allen

Comments

[Morgan]

We'll find out in 15 minutes what the verdict will be.

[james]

i think he is innocent

[flt903]

I think the prosecutors set themselves up for failure. I'm black and think that any reasonable person would think that he did not intend to kill Oscar Grant III. But he still should pay for his actions. Many people not in law enforcement are sentenced to prison terms for murder for accidental murder by gross negligence and this was gross negligence. Police Officers do have to make split second decisions but they still should know the difference between a gun and taser. After so many years you get so used to the weight of the gun on your waist, it feels strange not having one there.

[yojoe]

What a farce!! A person protecting us from criminals is found guilty for a tragic MISTAKE!!

[Scott]

Involuntary manslaughter. An appropriate verdict.

[Douglas Watts]

I used to feel somewhat safe with my cell phone because of its audio recording and video capability. I use them for the possibility of recording crimes, and discouraging unnecessary force used by police against others, including myself.

Now, in light of this verdict, I feel that its use to regulate police brutality is totally useless. With all this technology nothing made a difference in an age when countless blacks sit in prison for murder simply off the basis of forensic evidence, eyewitnesses, and even hearsay. This society is unwittingly creating a disturbed group of people who are not only above the law, but even snub the law. Richard Nixon said during the Watergate scandal that the President is above the law and this nation impeached him for it.

The action of this nation's police officers are in practice declaring the same thing and this nation applauds them. This nation is creating a Frankenstein, a monster, that will not allow itself to be destroyed. It has taken the genie out of the bottle where it will not be possible to reverse. You may laugh now but I guarantee that this nation will pay for it ... dearly!

Makes me wanna holler, throw up both my hands!