A former New York Police City Officer has avoided jail time following the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man in Brooklyn. The former police was convicted to manslaughter for the death of the victim in a dark stairwell in 2014.
Brooklyn State Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun sentenced the former NYPD rookie cop, Peter Liang with five years probation and 800 hours of community service, according to Sky News. Liang initially faced up to 15 years for his manslaughter conviction following the death of Akai Gurley, 28.
Chun ruled to reduce Liang's manslaughter count to the lesser felony of criminally negligent homicide on Tuesday. The Brooklyn state highest court judge found prosecutors failed to prove Liang "consciously disregarded" the risk of causing another person's death. "There is no evidence, circumstantially or otherwise, that the defendant was aware of Akai Gurley's presence," Chun said.
Gurley's supporters sobbed over the ruled sentenced of the court. Reuters reported that the incident happened on 14th of November 2014 in a Brooklyn housing building when Liang and another officer patrolled on a dark stairwell of the said building. Gurley was killed when a bullet fired from Liang's gun ricocheted off the wall of the housing complex and struck him in the chest.
The former officer claimed it was accidental and testified that a noise startled him, causing his finger to slip on to the trigger and fire the weapon. Liang stated he had no intention to shoot Gurley, and has not also realized he shot anyone until he saw the victim's girlfriend trying to revive Gurley. He apologized to the victim's family before his initial sentenced was announced.
Paul Shechtman, Liang's representing lawyer said, though he was pleased of the ruling, he still plans to file an appeal, as well as the prosecutors, Wall Street Journal reported. The death of Gurley, a black man, has sparked nationwide protests against excessive force by police.
Liang, who is Chinese-American, has supporters carrying a sign, "No selective justice" and "Penalizing accidents hurts all communities." Both Chinese-American and Black Lives Matter activists protested outside the courthouse on Tuesday.
