Ex-officer sentenced to 25 years in black motorist's killing

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

By TERRY SPENCER
an hour ago

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A former Florida police officer received a 25-year prison sentence Thursday for the fatal on-duty shooting of a black musician whose SUV had broken down after a late-night concert.

Fired Palm Beach Gardens officer Nouman Raja was the first Florida law enforcement agent in nearly 30 years to be convicted and sentenced for an on-duty killing — and one of only a few officers nationwide.

The 41-year-old defendant was sentenced by Circuit Judge Joseph Marx as family and friends of the 31-year-old victim, Corey Jones, looked on in a hushed courtroom jammed with supporters from both sides.

Marx said sentencing defendants is the hardest part of his job, something he loses sleep over even when dealing with a hardened, career criminal. Raja is not that, he said. He could have given Raja a life term, a sentence prosecutors sought.

-snip-


Read more: https://apnews.com/bdb0139a5cf8434f838e188931627007

[Haggis for Breakfast]

1. Finally, justice for Corey Jones.

Rest in peace, sweet angel.

[ADX]

2. Good...

Rest in peace, Mr. Jones...

[marble falls]

3. I am surprised. That's significant time to give a cop. Very surprised he got it.

[emmaverybo]

4. This is some kind of a first

I fully support law abiding law officers in their incredibly stressful and risky jobs. This was a blatant extra-judicial killing.Nothing can mitigate the great tragedy for the innocent victim and his family, but at least some measure of justice has prevailed.

[nycbos]

5. This is a first.

Florida is in the news for something positive

[C Moon]

6. In that other case they spoke of in 1989:

the convicted officer appealed the ruling, and was acquitted later.

[Blue_Tires]

7. Good riddance!