Video Proof that Mehserle Thought He Was Firing His Taser

Flopping Aces ^ | 07-12-10 | Alec Rawls

[Starman417]

Slowed down video shows officer Mehserle bringing his left hand towards his pistol just before shooting Oscar Grant in the back, yet he fires the gun before his left hand has reached a support position. If he knew he was firing his pistol instead of his Taser, he would never have done this, and the video shows why. The recoiling pistol whacks Mehserle's left hand, which he then jerks upwards, away from the impact:

The fatal second (37;05 – 37;29 of KTVU’s highlighted cell phone video of the shooting, slowed to 1/2 second a frame). Red circle (added) shows the first appearance of officer Mehserle's muzzle flash.

The movements of Mehserle's off-hand were unconscious. There is no way he could have faked them, making this, really, video proof of Taser confusion. Nobody would knowingly fire a pistol just before his off hand had reached a support position because he would know that the recoil would bash his off hand. He would either keep his off hand away, or he would wait until the off hand was in a support position before firing.

A Taser, in contrast, has no recoil to speak of, so if Mehserle thought he was firing his Taser, he would not anticipate recoil. The fact that the recoil smacked his off-hand proves that he did not anticipate recoil, which proves Taser confusion, or at the very least is nearly conclusive evidence of it.

The video also belies Orloff's claim that both of Grant's hands were on his back when he was shot

The verdict of involuntary manslaughter means the jury did find the shooting to be accidental. At least they got that much right. But if they saw that the shooting was accidental, how could they find criminal negligence? Are they saying that Mehserle did not even have cause to Taser Oscar Grant?

Read more at floppingaces.net...

[cranked]

FOXNews libtard at heart Geraldo will be pissed.....

[Filo]

"Are they saying that Mehserle did not even have cause to Taser Oscar Grant?"

That's exactly what I say. And, as such, the verdict should have been Murder 2 since by bringing any weapon to bear on a prostrate, fully controlled civilian Mehserle was demonstrating an "obvious lack of concern for human life."

Mehserle was in a rage and wanted to hurt Grant. The fact that he was too stupid to know the difference between a taser and a gun is secondary to the discussion.

[Paladin2]

Mehserle was still acting truely stupidly.

[Cyclone59]

ummm, you forgot preface your statement with, “I didn’t have all the facts, but...”

[Paladin2]

I stand by my opinion. The bozo down on the platform didn’t deserve to be offed in that venue, by that “cop”, at that moment.

[astyanax]

"That's exactly what I say. "
"The fact that he was too stupid to know the difference between a taser and a gun is secondary to the discussion."
So you're no longer claiming he put away his taser so he could intentionally shoot him?

[CharlesWayneCT]

That goes without saying, since he is white and the victim was black.

Any white person should always remember that if they injure a black person, even accidentally, the federal government will come after them for civil rights violations.

So if you are involved with any dealings with a minority, it is best you just let them do whatever they want. It’s the only way to keep Obama’s administration out of your business.

[Cyclone59]

I didn’t mean to disagree, I was merely being a smart ass about what our president said. I would have to agree that this kids death unfortunate.

[Filo]

So you're no longer claiming he put away his taser so he could intentionally shoot him?

Not exactly.

I'm saying that part is secondary to the discussion.

I certainly think it's possible that he did that. We all know he did, in fact, put away his taser only to re-draw what he claims he thought was his taser a short time later.

Whether or not that was a mistake makes the difference between first degree and second degree murder and I'd be satisfied with second degree.

In the end that distinction on that question comes down to the old "never attribute to malice that which can easily be explained by stupidity."

Mehserle is at least a moron and possibly a murderous a-hole. Perhaps both.

Regardless of whether or not he drew the wrong weapon, however, he never should have drawn and fired one in the first place which more than secures the Second Degree murder charge (unless you're a brain-dead and brow-beaten jury from LA, the same folks who acquitted OJ.)

[papertyger]

Bull!

Like no one ever dropped their keys instead of getting the key into the lock when rain caused them to rush.

Utter, boot-licking, nonsense.

[papertyger]

Mehserle was in a rage and wanted to hurt Grant. The fact that he was too stupid to know the difference between a taser and a gun is secondary to the discussion.

I unreservedly concur.

[Jack Hydrazine]

It's always good to use human cattle prods on people who are down on the ground and not struggling as you can see in the video.
THX 1138 time!