Posted on 04/10/2015 10:25:13 AM PDT by Ken H
Ron Hosko is the former head of the FBI's criminal investigative division. He now runs a legal defense fund for police officers. He's watched the video of Walter Scott being fatally shot by Michael Slager from beginning to end and says he's never seen anything like it.
"Arguably what he should be doing, before pulling out his gun is chasing him, right? Foot pursuit. Happens every day," Hosko said. "If he's unarmed, and presumably he is from the background, chase him. Cops chase every day. Call for backup. Have others come help chase."
But did Scott pose a threat based on what is on the video?
"In this piece of video, I don't see the threat," Hosko continued. "I see a man trying to flee the scene, running away. And if that's the case, to shoot this victim in the back multiple times while he is merely trying to flee from a non-violent crime, is deeply troubling and I think is likely to result in the conviction of the police officer."
But does the shooting qualify as murder?
"I don't want to sit as judge or jury," he said. "But given this set of circumstances, I think a strong case could be made that it is murder."
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
The only scenario that works is that the runner had a gun in his hand. Otherwise, this cop really screwed up. He’ll get roughly ten years (my best guess) on some assault/manslaughter charge. Prosecution might be kind and offer that instead of second-degree murder. Unless they put him in protective areas of prison....I don’t see him surviving a decade in prison.
Yes! An out of control cop.
Not with the feds breathing down their necks. They want blood on this. Life in prison.
If he was off duty murder would fly but for some twisted reason being on duty will change that.My Opin
His best bet for a plea is to second degree murder. No way any DA would dare to reduce the charge to anything that didn't include the word "MURDER".
This is a slam dunk murder case. The only bargaining chip the cop has is to plead to second degree and hope that someday someone will allow him to sneak out of the prison in 15 or 20 years on parole.
This case is a prosecutor's dream case. They have the cop pulling out his gun rather than chasing the perp (who was wanted only on child support warrants) and firing 8 rounds into his back and then trying to plant evidence on him after the fact.
It doesn't get any better for a DA than this one.
He's going to spend at least 20 years in prison and only if he pleads. Otherwise he's going to get the needle.
I think Scott grabbed the tazer and threw it to the ground, and the cop went into “He got my taser” mode, which includes: Hhe could use it against me and steal my gun and shoot me”, which is exactly the crappy training and mentality cops are given nowadays.
Once the cop starts the “return deadly force” rountine, he going to carry it out to the end, there is no “stop and think” built into the training. Cops are as stupid as their training.
Boot lickers are going to have a hard time jusrifing this one.
This is serious and this is indeed an example of police brutality.
Unless something new appeared today, there is no reason to think that Scott ever had the taser.
FBI--insert personal opinion here ((((0))))
I agree, out-of-control cop. But I don’t see a 1st Degree Murder charge sticking. That requires malice and premeditation. Maybe 2nd Degree.
Unfortunately, I think the charges will be downgraded to voluntary manslaughter. (Strongly provoked and heat of passion reaction.) They can make that stick and get a good conviction from it.
DAs hate to prosecute their LE buddies. He'll over charge and do a terrible job. Like the idiot in New Orleans who got his Danziger Bridge convictions thrown out.
I'd be surprised if this guy gets much more than time served.
“Arguably what he should be doing, before pulling out his gun is chasing him, right? Foot pursuit. Happens every day,” Hosko said. “If he’s unarmed, and presumably he is from the background, chase him. Cops chase every day. Call for backup. Have others come help chase.”
...
Does Hosko know that Slager had already chased Scott on foot and got in a physical altercation with him? Probably not.
First seven shots in rapid succession, heat of passion maybe.
Last shot came after a longer interval — in which he must have been thinking something, but perhaps only hitting his target.
I predict he’ll be sent to prison, and be “rehabilitated” and out in record time.
FBI—insert professional opinion here
He’ll also be segregated from gen-pop. Otherwise he’d never make it to parole.
No, nobody knows all you know. He’s seen the dashboard cam and this tape, do you really think he doesn’t know this? (rolling eyes)
Cop knew he was wrong. That’s why he planted evidence.
He’s seen the dashboard cam
...
Do you have a source for that?
Followed by riots that would make the Rodney King riots look like a Sunday picnic. If he doesn't get life under the state laws, the Feds will charge him under the Civil Rights laws. They will go for the death penalty.
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