Posted on 04/10/2014 5:53:29 PM PDT by narses
Tears flowed on both sides of a Spokane courtroom Thursday as a jury acquitted Gail Gerlach of manslaughter in the March 2013 death of Brendon Kaluza-Graham.
Gerlach’s wife, Sharon, wept and embraced her family as the verdict, not guilty on both a first-degree and second-degree manslaughter charge, was read in open court. Ann Kaluza-Graham, grandmother of the man shot dead trying to steal Gerlach’s SUV, burst into tears as she said her grandson never got a chance to answer theft charges or prove himself a changed person.
“This was a tragedy,” Gerlach said in a brief statement after the verdict was read. “As Christians, we believe in redemption. The greatest tragedy is that Mr. Brendon Kaluza-Graham will not have a chance to turn his life around.”
The family of the 25-year-old said they were disgusted with the way the media has portrayed Kaluza-Graham, saying their relative was made into a “one-dimensional thief.”
“He had hopes, and dreams,” Ann Kaluza said. She added “he was made into a poster boy for the angst of the community, a sacrificial lamb. That’s not right.”
Sharon Gerlach walked into Judge Annette Plese’s courtroom gripping the hand of her husband Thursday. Ann Kaluza said her heart was pounding as a packed courtroom waited for a verdict in the controversial case that Gerlach’s attorneys said was never about property crime.
“This case should have never been filed,” defense attorney David Stevens said. “This police handed this over without recommendations for a reason. You don’t take a vote on whether to file charges.”
The jury continued to deliberate Thursday afternoon as to whether the homicide could be deemed justified. If at least 10 jurors agree that Gerlach’s fatal shooting of Kaluza-Graham was justified self-defense, the public will end up paying for the trying of the case, which Stevens and colleague Richard Lee estimated to be close to $300,000.
Prosecutor Deric Martin told Kaluza-Graham’s family he was disappointed with the verdict and thanked them for their support. Many family members were present throughout the trial, which began with jury selection March 31.
Jurors rejected arguments from prosecutors Gerlach acted recklessly when he fired his semiautomatic handgun once through the rear window of his SUV as Kaluza-Graham drove away the morning of March 25, 2013. They also rejected the lesser claim he acted with criminal negligence, a requisite for second-degree manslaughter.
Within 10-15 years the Supreme Court will abandon Double Jeopardy.
Hopes and dreams? Let me guess grandma he had to steal that vehicle to earn the money he needed to go to college to turn his life around. How sad. How sad that grandma is obviously delusional.
Unexpected
The Feds already have, ask Laurence Powell and Stacey Koon.
That really says it all right there.
Then they can pat themselves on the back because the crime rate is going down.
Don’t forget to charge the perp’s estate for repairs to the truck. New windows are expensive.
But to our national shame and daily detriment, 90% of LIVs are sucked in by Enemedia’s unceasing regurgitation of such tripe.
she said her grandson never got a chance to answer theft charges or prove himself a changed person
As the man was shot inside the car he was stealing I think he answered for the theft charge grandma.............
I think it also proves what kind of person he was.........
New windows are expensive. So is new stain resistant truck interior.
Looks good to me. Let’s hope the Jury finds that the shooting was “justified” in its remaining deliberations.
The perp’s record, and the fact that he was actually driving away in a stolen vehicle, make it pretty clear what was happening.
So Gail Gerlach performed a community service? Give him the $300K for his defense, the community will save that over the years vs. what would have been the likely future criminal acts of the deceased.
BREAKING NEWS: Jury decides Gerlach’s use of force was justified, means he can ask for legal costs to be reimbursed by state of WA
BREAKING NEWS: Jury decides Gerlach’s use of force was justified, means he can ask for legal costs to be reimbursed by state of WA
Excellent news, and see my previous. The taxpayers got a bargain. The prosecutor who took this to trial needs to be looking for a job.
Well said.
Stealing a man's horse used to be a hanging offense ...
right, u dont want to try to steal anyones F-150 or Silverado in Texas!,it will probably be the last vehicle u ever drive.
Has Deputy Prosecutor Deric Martin been fired, disbarred, and asked to leave the state yet? This case should never have gone to trial.
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