Calif. jury acquits 2 ex-cops in death of homeless man- CBS/AP

[Lady Freedom Returns]

SANTA ANA, Calif. -- Two former California police officers were acquitted Monday in the death of a homeless man after a violent struggle with officers that was captured on surveillance video.

It was a rare case in which police officers were charged with a death involving actions on duty.

Former Fullerton police officer Manuel Ramos was acquitted of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. Former Cpl. Jay Cicinelli was acquitted of involuntary manslaughter and excessive use of force.

Jurors took less than two days to reach their verdicts.

The arrest was captured on a 33-minute surveillance video that was key evidence at the trial. It showed Kelly Thomas struggling with six police officers, who hit, kneed and jolted him with an electric stun gun as he was on the ground, calling out for his father over and over again.

The FBI said after the verdict that it will investigate to determine whether to take federal action against the officers. "With the conclusion of the state court trial, investigators will examine the evidence and testimony to determine whether further investigation is warranted at the federal level," said Laura Eimiller, the FBI's spokeswoman in Los Angeles.

Read full story @ http://www.cbsnews.com/news/two-former-cops-acquitted-in-death-of-homeless-man/

[Spirochete]

1. Simi valley again? n/t

[blueknight]

2. just goes to show,

we no longer have a justice system. only a legal system

[joeybee12]

3. They got away with murder...phucked up jury...nt

[Initech]

8. Not exactly, the FBI is taking over the investigation.

Don't have a link yet but that's the word around here.

[joeybee12]

9. I wish this article had quotes from the jury...

I don't see how they possibly reached that decision.

[countryjake]

10. The jury foreman was an attorney...

and, so far, I don't think that anyone from the jury has spoken to the media. Actually, two of the jurors were lawyers. Considering that the trial had just begun early in Dec., I tend to agree with many of the protesters down in Fullerton, who are saying that the prosecutor had no passion in this case, and allowed himself to be stymied by the many cunning defense objections.

However, listening to KFI radio, it sounds as tho someone in that jury room firmly led the deliberations, disregarding the judge's lengthy instructions, in order to arrive at a speedy, unanimous decision. Taking only eight hours to reach such a verdict, considering all of the information they were asked to process, does make it sound as tho there wasn't much discussion of the evidence.

[Logical]

4. The average citizen thinks cops are always right and a hero. So they rule in their favor. n-t

[countryjake]

5. So despite all of the protests by citizens of Fullerton...

the sad efforts of Cathy and Ron Thomas to bring the beating murder of their son out in the open for public scrutiny, and all of the video and audio evidence, not one person will ever be held accountable for the death of this young man.

The articles that I've read about this verdict say that it took the jury less than eight hours to decide that those men were justified in attacking, tasering, and pulverizing an unarmed mentally ill person who was begging for his life, screaming for his father to help him. In the pictures of his beaten son, taken as Kelly lay unresponsive, dying, in his hospital bed, Ron Thomas provided ample proof of the brutality that had been inflicted.

There are no words.

Watching the video for the following article breaks my heart and makes my blood boil:

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Former-Fullerton-Officers-Manuel-Ramos-Found-by-Jury-in-Kelly-Thomas-Trial-239924741.html

[countryjake]

6. Kicking for exposure...

this verdict is a complete outrage!

[ryan_cats]

7. So, we examined our deputites and found no wrongdoing...

I love that the gestapo is the only entity that is allowed to examine themselves and as usual, didn't see anything wrong. I'm waiting for them to rally around that retired cop who shot that couple over texting in Florida.