The version of events presented by the U.S. Attorney's Office during the agents' trial differed markedly from Ramos'.
"The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled it is a violation of someone's Fourth Amendment rights to shoot them in the back while fleeing if you don't know who they are and/or if you don't know they have a weapon," said Kanof, the assistant U.S. attorney.
Ramos testified during the trial that he saw Aldrete-Davila with something "shiny" in his hand, she said, and though Ramos told the Daily Bulletin he thought it was a gun, he couldn't be sure, she said.
Moreover, the agents "did not know who this individual was or what he had in the van," Kanof said. "They just decided or guessed."
She then reiterated her contention that pursuing Aldrete-Davila or anyone else fleeing border agents is not part of the Border Patrol's job.
"Agents are not allowed to pursue. In order to exceed the speed limit, you have to get supervisor approval, and they did not," she said.
The prosecutor also said the men destroyed the crime scene when Compean picked up his shell casings and attempted to cover up their actions by not reporting they'd fired their weapons.
Well, I read all that. Are you saying that their convictions are justified?
Problem with this is in the premise that the illegal alien HAS ANY 4th amendment rights. He doesn't. He is not a citizen or even a recognized guest of this country.
The idea that the border patrol agents rights to protect themselves and their partners are inferior to the non-rights of an illegal is OUTRAGEOUS!
Attorneys and judges that "defend" civil rights of criminals while trampling on the rights of decent law-abinding citizens (who are officers, in this case) make me ILL!