Verdict clearing ex-California cops of killing homeless man sparks protests
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Version 0 of 1. The acquittal of two former police officers accused of beating a homeless man to death in California has sparked protests and demands for federal prosecution. Activists were due to stage a rally outside the police station in Fullerton, Orange County, on Tuesday, a day after a jury found the officers not guilty of all charges in the death of Kelly Thomas. Other vigils were expected later this week. A spokeswoman for the FBI's Los Angeles field office said the agency had monitored the case and would examine evidence and testimony to determine if a federal investigation was warranted. The jury's verdict, delivered after about eight hours' deliberation, provoked widespread condemnation and claims that police had been given immunity to brutalise and kill vulnerable people, even when their actions were caught on camera. “All of us need to be very afraid now,” the dead man's father, Ron Thomas, told reporters. “Police officers everywhere can beat us, kill us, whatever they want, but it has been proven right here today they’ll get away with it.” His mother, Cathy Thomas, added: “They murdered my son and got away with it.” Defence attorneys said the police used their training and legitimate force to subdue a violent man. Thomas, a 37-year-old mentally ill vagrant, died in hospital in July 2011, five days after the violent encounter with police at a Fullerton bus station. A surveillance camera recorded six officers piling on top of Thomas while he screamed for help, saying he could not breathe. A photograph taken after the incident showed a bloodied, unrecognisable face. The Orange County district attorney, Tony Rackauckas, staked his reputation by charging Manuel Ramos, 39, with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter and Jay Cicinelli, 41, with involuntary manslaughter and excessive use of force. It was believed to be the first time in the US a police officer faced murder charges for actions taken on duty. The three-week trial in a packed Santa Ana courtroom heard testimony from 25 witnesses and centred around a 33-minute surveillance video synced with audio from recorders worn by police. It was night time but the bus depot was busy when Ramos, responding to reports of someone rattling car doors, approached Thomas. A methamphetamine user with schizophrenia, Thomas was shirtless and appeared confused. Ramos ordered Thomas to sit on the curb. After 15 minutes of increasingly tense verbal exchanges, Ramsos put on latex gloves, balled his fists in front of the homeless man's face and said: “Now you see my fists? They're getting ready to fuck you up.” Thomas replied: “Start punching, dude.” A melee ensued, with Ramos and another officer, Joe Wolf, using batons to keep Thomas on the ground. Another four officers joined in, including Cicinelli, who smashed Thomas at least twice in the face with his Taser. “I can't breathe,” Thomas said. “Dad, help me! Dad, help me!” Defence lawyers said Cicinelli was forced to improvise because the Taser did not work and Thomas was giving officers the fight of their lives, prompting them to request back-up. “It was a very measured reaction with police officers trying to control a suspect,” said Michael Schwartz, Cicinelli's attorney. Rackauckas, who in an unusual move tried the case himself, said the evidence showed a homicide with facial injuries and chest compressions leading to lack of oxygen and brain damage, which the autopsy cited as the cause of death. When the verdict was announced people on both sides of the gallery sobbed and someone shouted “No!”. Schwartz banged the defence table, hugged his client and exlcaimed “Thank God!” Rackauckas said he did not regret bringing the case to court. "I would do the same thing again. I think it's a matter that a jury had to see." Charges against Wolfe, who awaited a separate trial, were dropped. Veteran attorneys not involved in the case said it was extremely difficult to convict police officers because the job permits deadly force and prosecutors had to prove intent to harm. Ron Thomas, a former sheriff's deputy himself, said he hoped the justice department would file federal charges against the officers involved in his son's beating. "I've never seen something so bad happen to a human being, and have it done by on-duty police officers. And they can walk away scot-free." The hashtag #KellyThomas trended on Twitter. “Wanna murder someone? Become a cop,” said one typical comment. A candle-lit vigil was held on Monday night at the bus depot spot dubbed “Kelly's Corner”. Some cried, others held signs saying "No More Killer Cops" and "Change 4 Justice”. Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |