Douglas County attorney weighing calls to have grand jury review James Scurlock's death
This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Omaha Steve (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).
Source: Omaha World Herald
Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine said Tuesday he is weighing calls for him to yield to a grand jury to review the case of a white bar owner who shot and killed a 22-year-old black man Saturday night in downtown Omaha.
Tuesday, both Omaha City Councilman Ben Gray, who represents part of northeast Omaha, and Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert suggested a grand jury as a possibility after people reportedly started exploring how to petition for a grand jury. Under Nebraska law, citizens would need to gather signatures equivalent to 20% of the total votes cast for governor in the last election. That would amount to roughly 20,000 signatures.
/snip/
Kleines comments were a change from Monday. First, Kleine announced that he, his chief deputy, Brenda Beadle, and Omaha police homicide detectives had reviewed police interviews and several videos of the shooting and what led up to it. All involved had concluded that Gardner acted in self-defense when he shot Scurlock.
/snip/
An attorney for 40 years and a prosecutor for 30, Kleine said its his job to make charging decisions. But he said he would not have any concern about a second group of eyes looking at the evidence. A special prosecutor would be appointed. Sixteen grand jurors and three alternates would meet in secret and would hear evidence of whether charges should be filed.
Kleine said he wanted to spend the next day or so thinking about it. One concern: He doesnt want calls for a grand jury anytime anyone disagrees with his offices charging decisions.
Read more: https://www.omaha.com/news/crime/douglas-county-attorney-weighing-calls-to-have-grand-jury-review-james-scurlocks-death/article_eec5b788-e51d-5cb3-8f52-f6ab4c0fbe69.html
...pressure.
SharonClark
(10,014 posts)Thanks for posting.
madville
(7,412 posts)Would like to see all the evidence and the security video though to see how it lines up with the reporting. From the same link:
Four seconds later, as he rose to a knee, Scurlock jumped on Gardners back and the two went down. Scurlock placed Gardner in what authorities have alternately called a chokehold or a headlock. After a 20-second struggle, Gardner fired over his shoulder, killing Scurlock.
Ellipsis
(9,124 posts)madville
(7,412 posts)Should get another review and any new witness accounts. Conviction will be a high hurdle though, disparity of force will be a big factor in this one since it was multiple people against one within those seconds.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/james-scurlock-black-protester-shot-jacob-gardner-white-bar-owner-protest/#app
LizBeth
(9,952 posts)Omaha Steve
(99,658 posts)This is a report about a legal process, not important news of national interest only until something decisively happens.
Omaha Steve
(99,658 posts)This is a report about a legal process, not important news of national interest only until something decisively happens.