A federal jury has convicted former Kentucky officer Brett Hankison of using excessive force during the 2020 drug raid that led to Breonna Taylor's death. This marks the first conviction among officers involved in the incident. The 12-member jury, consisting of six men and six women, deliberated for over 20 hours across three days before delivering a late-night verdict. In two prior messages, they signaled a deadlock but ultimately continued discussions, with some jurors visibly emotional as the decision was announced.
Taylor's mother, Tamika Palmer, celebrated outside the courthouse, saying, "It took a lot of time. It took a lot of patience. It was hard. The jurors took their time to really understand that Breonna deserved justice."
Hankison, 48, fired 10 shots into Taylor's apartment, including through a glass door and window, although none struck Taylor or anyone else. However, several rounds entered a neighboring apartment, endangering residents there. His defense argued that he acted in response to gunfire from Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, who fired at officers entering the apartment. Hankison testified he believed they were under fire, saying he had moved away, circled the corner, and aimed at Taylor's glass door, all within what his attorneys described as a "very tense, very chaotic environment" that unfolded over approximately 12 seconds.
Hankison's legal team emphasized the absence of harm caused by his shots, highlighting his intention to protect fellow officers. During deliberations, jurors queried U.S. District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings about whether Taylor was still alive as Hankison fired, a crucial point for the prosecution's case. Jennings encouraged the jury to continue despite this contention.
The death of Taylor, a Black woman, alongside the killing of George Floyd, spurred nationwide protests against racial injustice. Hankison is among four officers federally charged by the Department of Justice in 2022 for civil rights violations, with his conviction potentially carrying a life sentence. A previous jury had deadlocked on charges against him, and he was acquitted on state charges of wanton endangerment in 2022.
Link: AP News
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