Brett Hankison, a former Kentucky officer, is set to face trial for a third time regarding his role in the 2020 death of Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old Black woman killed during a botched raid at her apartment in Louisville. Hankison and other officers forcibly entered Taylor's home under a "no-knock" warrant, believing her ex-boyfriend was hiding drugs there.
Officers fired 32 shots, with one fatally hitting Taylor. Although Hankison did not fire the shot that killed her, he fired 10 rounds into the apartment, including through a window and sliding door, with bullets entering a neighboring unit.
Hankison has previously faced two trials but avoided conviction. His first trial, held in March 2022, resulted in acquittal on three counts of felony wanton endangerment. A federal trial in 2023 also ended in a mistrial after the jury failed to reach a unanimous decision.
Both cases revolved around whether Hankison violated the civil rights of Taylor, Walker, and their neighbors. During these trials, Hankison testified that although he couldn't see a clear target, he believed a shootout was happening and acted to protect himself and fellow officers.
Taylor's death, alongside the nationwide protests, triggered, became a central focus of the Black Lives Matter movement, calling attention to issues of racial injustice and police conduct. In the aftermath, Taylor's family and Walker received settlements from the city, and significant changes were made to police practices in Louisville. The case remains a pivotal moment in discussions surrounding racial equality and law enforcement practices in the U.S.
Link: BBC
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