Batwings 12,957 Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 This story is so sickening. Why does this keep happening in the U.S.? Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/03/joseph-weekley-manslaughter-dismissed-aiyana-stanley-jones_n_5927294.html A judge has dropped the felony charge leveled against Joseph Weekley, the Detroit police officer who in 2010 shot 7-year-old Aiyana Stanley-Jones to death. The Wayne County prosecutor's office said in a statement that on Friday Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Cynthia Gray Hathaway dismissed the involuntary manslaughter charge, granting a motion submitted by Weekley's attorney, Steve Fishman. Hathaway then granted the prosecution's request for a stay on her decision and adjourned court until Monday. The prosecution will file an emergency appeal with the Court of Appeals, according to the Detroit News. Fishman said that for involuntary manslaughter to be proved, the defense would need to demonstrate that his client acted in a "grossly negligent manner" in the circumstances leading to Stanley-Jones' death. "There is absolutely no evidence, none, that's in the least bit credible, that Officer Weekley knowingly created a danger or, more importantly, intended to cause injury," Fishman said in court Friday. Weekley shot Stanley-Jones in 2010 during a botched police raid in search of a murder suspect. The raid occurred after midnight, and Weekley was first through the door of the Stanley-Jones home on the east side of Detroit, as a film crew shadowing the officers filmed for a reality television show. A fellow officer is said to have thrown a flash-bang grenade, and Weekley fired his gun shortly after, killing the 7-year-old girl, who was sleeping on the couch. The prosecution and defense have offered contradictory depictions of the events leading up to Stanley-Jones' death. Weekley has said that the girl's grandmother, Mertilla Jones, who had also been asleep on the couch when police arrived, came up to him and grabbed his gun, causing him to shoot. According to ABC local afiliate WXYZ, evidence presented in court Thursday showed that neither Jones' fingerprints nor DNA were found on the officer's gun. Weekley's fingerprints and DNA were also not found on the gun. Jones insists she never touched Weekley or his gun, and she testified that he put his gun to her granddaughter's head and pulled the trigger, MLive reports. Last week, she was escorted from the courtroom after an emotional outburst directed at Weekley during her testimony. Fishman attempted to discredit her while requesting dismissal of the manslaughter charge. "The only evidence that points to any kind of knowingly creating a danger or intending to cause injury, the only testimony is that of Mertilla Jones, which is by its nature and by comparison to the other testimony, including the medical examiner, is completely and totally unbelievable," Fishman told the judge on Friday. During the trial, the prosecution sought to show that it was against procedure for Weekley to have his finger on the trigger of the gun and that not following his training caused the girl's death. The trial for Weekley, a white officer, in the death of a black child has caused some to draw parallels to the case of Michael Brown, the unarmed teen fatally shot by Police Officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri, in August. Brown's death, and the extreme tactics of police amid ensuing local protests, have sparked national conversations about police brutality and institutional racism in police forces across the country. Before Weekley's trial, potential jurors were asked questions related to the Ferguson shooting and if they had seen reports that might influence their decision in the case. Weekley is also charged with careless discharge of a weapon causing death, a misdemeanor that might not carry a jail sentence if he is convicted, according to the Detroit News. Weekley had been facing a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison for the manslaughter charge. Weekley was first tried in Stanley-Jones' death last year; a hung jury caused a mistrial. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redstreak 6,653 Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 The police are no longer here to protect us. Take a moment to think of just flexibility, love, and trust~ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staryu 6,162 Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 :millie: :millie: :millie: Horrible. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RainingOnMe 7,280 Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 The police are no longer here to protect us. Completely false.... this is a rare case occurring mostly in the US. There's always been screwed up police. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ItsTommyBitch 12,640 Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 :emo: Thats heart breaking 私自身もこの世の中も誰もかれもが, どんなに華やかな人生でも, どんなに悲惨な人生でも, いつかは変貌し, 破壊され、消滅してしまう. すべてがもともとこの世に存在しない一瞬の幻想なのだから Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GypsyPrince 237 Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 God bless America Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAMROD 117,044 Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 I still have faith in police. There are two kinds of officers. The one that good and the one that corrupt. And that works also in many aspect of life. In office, in the bank,in the school, in the neighbourhood. This event is unfortunate, praying for the girl's soul. (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ✧*:･ﾟ ᶠʳᵒⁿᵗ ᵗᵒʷᵃʳᵈ ᵉⁿᵉᵐʸ (*´艸｀*) ♡♡♡ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nein 508 Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Why.... oh humanity is always failing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeoFameMonster 1,592 Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Completely false.... this is a rare case occurring mostly in the US. There's always been screwed up police. Not false apparently you don't see the social revolution happening because of Police brutality. It is a movement all across the states due to people being fed up with becoming victims of Police officers. Sorry but the poster was correct saying the police are not longer here to protect. There are lot of anger management, trigger happy, violent and mentally ill people claiming to be police officers here to serve and protect. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
420 1,042 Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Mess @ everything. 너와의 어색한 침묵이 차라리 좋아 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeoFameMonster 1,592 Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 I still have faith in police. There are two kinds of officers. The one that good and the one that corrupt. And that works also in many aspect of life. In office, in the bank,in the school, in the neighbourhood. This event is unfortunate, praying for the girl's soul. I have yet to see a good police officer in real life. I am sure there are some. But it's like spotting big foot, very rare Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAMROD 117,044 Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 I have yet to see a good police officer in real life. I am sure there are some. But it's like spotting big foot, very rare They are likely not reported as much or as often. Media feed on negativity, because they sells. Because people are reactive more to it than good news. Except when an officer given a medal, will they cover it on their papers. (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ✧*:･ﾟ ᶠʳᵒⁿᵗ ᵗᵒʷᵃʳᵈ ᵉⁿᵉᵐʸ (*´艸｀*) ♡♡♡ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeleteMyAccount 11,881 Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Completely false.... this is a rare case occurring mostly in the US. There's always been screwed up police. Police brutality happens so often that people are starting to not even care... They get away with so much. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RainingOnMe 7,280 Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Not false apparently you don't see the social revolution happening because of Police brutality. It is a movement all across the states due to people being fed up with becoming victims of Police officers. Sorry but the poster was correct saying the police are not longer here to protect. There are lot of anger management, trigger happy, violent and mentally ill people claiming to be police officers here to serve and protect. It is false. Where have you been for the last 100 years? It's always been like that. There are some truly mentally ill police, and police killing innocent people is not a new thing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gagz 2,580 Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Completely false.... this is a rare case occurring mostly in the US. There's always been screwed up police. They're not rare cases when they're occurring every week. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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