12-01-2013, 06:12 PM
(12-01-2013, 03:56 PM)FAHQTOO Wrote: How the hell can a cop "involuntary " kill someone in front of a bunch of witnesses unless he was being attacked first?
I think our justice system sucks. Anything less than murder in this case will be NO justice served.
I hear you. I too am outraged and still very sad about what happened to Kelly. It should not have happened and there are no excuses. Period. IMO.
The law is tricky shit. As a realist, I'm pleased that three of the cops involved are being tried. Were it not for the luck of prosecutors having recorded reactions and statements from witnesses watching it all go down real-time, I doubt these badge-carrying thugs would have told the truth and they probably would still be on the job - scary.
Cases like Kelly's are one of the reasons I support lapel cams for all cops - we can't count on witnesses and public surveillance cams to be present at all scenes. I think lapel cams will be a big deterrent for cops who aren't predisposed to brutality, but might otherwise just follow along when a nut job like "Officer" Ramos (who was probably beyond deterring, IMO) is leading the pack.
Anyway, let's hope Ramos goes down for second degree murder. The only difference between first degree murder and second degree murder in California is that second is not premeditated and it's not done in the commission of another crime. It's the right charge for Ramos, IMO. Ramos is facing 15 to life if convicted.
The other asshole cops should not have followed his lead and joined in, should have stopped him, and need to do time as well, IMO. But, I don't think that they killed Kelly on purpose. I think they contributed to his death due to negligence and failure to stand back and assess that they were exceeding reasonable force in carrying out their responsibilities as police officers. They were dipshit followers who should have known better. Since Kelly DID NOT provoke them, I think "involuntary manslaughter" is the right charge for them too.
Still, if they all faced second degree murder charges, I don't think that would be inappropriate, personally (but getting convictions could be much less likely).
Hoping like hell they are all found guilty as charged.