Nov 04 2010
Former BART Cop Johannes Mehserle to be Sentenced for Oscar Grant Killing
About four months ago, Johannes Mehserle, the former BART police officer who killed an unarmed black man named Oscar Grant, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. It was the first time in state history that a law enforcement officer has been charged with murder in the line of duty. The defense’s argument relied on Mehserle’s claim that he intended to reach for his taser but accidentally shot his gun, even though in the immediate aftermath of the killing, Mehserle justified his actions to his fellow officers saying he thought Grant was armed. Even though the jury convicted Mehserle of involuntary manslaughter – meaning that they believed there was no intent to kill – it also added a gun crime sentencing enhancement for intentionally using a gun. Johannes Mehserle will be sentenced tomorrow, Friday November 5th by Superior Court Judge Robert Perry here in Los Angeles where the trial was moved. He’s currently being held in a Los Angeles prison facility. A week ago Bay-area based Fox affiliate KTVU landed an interview with Mehserle, his first since the 2009 New Year’s Day incident. In speaking to reporter Rita Williams, he expressed regret at the incident but also felt that he didn’t belong in prison. Mehserle could get a sentence as light as simple probation, or as long as 14 years.
GUEST: Thandisizwe Chimurenga, KPFK Programmer, and an embedded journalist with the LA Coalition for Justice for Oscar Grant
There will be a gathering outside the courthouse Friday morning at 8 am on the corner of Temple and Broadway in Los Angeles. Supporters of Oscar Grant’s family will also gather at 5 pm at Leimert Park regardless of the sentence. Leimert Park is located on the corner of Crenshaw and Vernon.
2 Responses to “Former BART Cop Johannes Mehserle to be Sentenced for Oscar Grant Killing”
I feel Johannes messerly should get
prison time he took a life shot a young
man in the back when he was on his
stomach there is no excuse for him mistaking
the gun for his tasier he was trained better
than that He must pay for his crime
He had backup there was no gun on
grant no need for shooting him. I hope
justice will be served and he will get
the maximum sentence
It wa a mistake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!It could have happened to you when you were stressed… Stop the hate.. think reasonably!!!!!! don’t ruin another life and a family for the sake of revenge!!!