US Justice Department to review BART shooting

[alp227]

Source: KGO-TV

LOS ANGELES -- The U.S. Department of Justice will conduct an independent review of the Johannes Mehserle case in order to determine whether or not the shooting merits federal prosecution, according the department.

"The Justice Department has been closely monitoring the state's investigation and prosecution," the department said in a statement.

"The Civil Rights Division, the U.S. Attorney's Office, and the FBI have an open investigation into the fatal shooting and, at the conclusion of the state's prosecution, will conduct an independent review of the facts and circumstances to determine whether the evidence warrants federal prosecution."

Congresswoman Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, said she has been in touch with the justice department.

"I remain in close contact with the Department of Justice and will continue to work with them, the family and the community in the days ahead," she said in a statement.

Read more: http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news%2Flocal%2Feast_bay&id=7545102

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In 1993, the Justice Dept review of the Rodney King case led two of the four police officers who beat King to be sentenced to 30 months each in prison. Let's see what the review will bring this time.

[FrenchieCat]

1. Wow! That didn't have to be done.

My husband's office is around the Oakland Lake Merritt lake, and he called me about the verdict.

I'm glad that the Justice Dept. is gonna review this! That is excellent! :thumbsup:

[EFerrari]

2. It is so good to have a functioning Civil Rights Div again.

:thumbsup:

[Proletariatprincess]

3. This is a pleasant surprise for a change.

Just shows how little we have come to expect from the Justice Dept in the last decade.

[HardWorkingDem]

4. How about a civil rights inquiry into the execution of Cameron Todd Willingham?!?!

I'm all for an activist US DOJ, but what I want to know is where is the outrage over the lack of a DOJ inquiry into the civil rights violation of this man?

This is one of the most disgusting modern cases of injustice and what? Zilch.

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/09/07/090907fa_fact_grann

[Beam Me Up]

5. In this instance, Congresswoman Lee is taking a direct interest in the inquiry.

She is a remarkable woman in many respects. I've always voted for her and can't ever imagine not voting for her as long as she chooses to seek office. Congress needs more like her.

[EFerrari]

6. I don't think I ever even heard about that case.

Horrible. That poor family.

We need to stop the death penalty, period, and join civilization.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

7. This story haunts me and always will.

[cowman]

9. And how about an investigation

into the voter intimidation by the new black panthers while we're at it? Fair is fair.

[alp227]

16. Oh really?

http://mediamatters.org/research/201007050005
http://mediamatters.org/research/201007070020

Media Matters pointed out that the GW Bush Justice Dept dropped a similar voter intimidation case against the Minuteman Project, the organization of illegal immigration opponents who patrol the border voluntarily, for a lack of evidence just like the Obama Justice Dept dropped the case against the New Black Panthers. And the Bush JD also declined to press charges against NBP in the first place.

[Socal31]

8. The verdict was correct.

Take out the emotion, he was convicted of what he should have been convicted of.

As horrible as it was, he did not intentionally kill the guy.

He will see "justice" in prison, believe me.

[Bandit]

10. How do you know his intentions?

He took out his pistol and shot a helpless man in the back, while that person was restrained. Even IF he had wanted to use his taser instead of his pistol, there was absolutely NO reason for either. The man was not putting up any resistance and was completely restrained. It was cold blooded murder IMO.

[HardWorkingDem]

17. Courts deal in definitions of law....

and it was clear to anyone that has experience or knowledge of the law, this man's actions did not warrant a murder charge or conviction. It was irresponsible of the prosecutor to charge those offenses and frankly, the people who made those decisions are also to blame for any of the aftermath of this trial.

[Tempest]

11. B.S.

As was brought out in the trial, cops are trained to know the difference between how a taser feels compared to a gun butt.

He intentionally shot the young man after getting frustrated with him.

[Mudoria]

12. The jury disagrees with you..

[keepCAblue]

15. Juries have been known to be wrong.

On many occasions. This is yet another. The fact that there was not one black on the jury is just one facet of potential jury bias, just as was the case in the cops that beat Rodney King. In their first trial, the jury was all white. All of the officers were found not guilty. Second trial, different racial makeup of the jury, and a different verdict (guilty).

Representation matters.

[Tempest]

18. And juries are never wrong, are they?

There's a long list of people who have been found guilty by juries and then later vindicated by DNA evidence.

[Romulox]

14. I want to live in a world where "justice" (sic) is doled out by a jury,

rather than by a prison rapist.

[Romulox]

13. I fully support this action by the Justice Department.

Police brutality is cancerous to the very fabric of society, as is racism. I fully support AG Holder and the Justice Department in stepping in here.