http://www.komonews.com/news/local/114299464.html
not sure how the prosecutor will lean after the jury was so divided.
kenzmad
not sure how the prosecutor will lean after the jury was so divided.
kenzmad
And he is on paid leave hasn't seen the inside of a jail cell, while they "investigate", It's sickening. They really are a protected class.
He hasn't been arrested or charged with anything yet. Until it is determined (legally) whether he broke any law he is entitled to the same rights you or I would expect. Can't say he's being protected until he's been arrested, charged and then released with no bail I'd agree with you. Until the process is finished he's just a Police Officer who claims he was just doing his job. It's up to the Evidence, Court, and Jury to determine if he wasn't.
Like any other citizen, that officer should be subject to arrest based on the evidence at the scene as determined by the investigating officers who are brought in from another agency to avoid bias.
He should also have the same choice as any other free citizen, at the scene: give a statement, or remain silent and contact your personal attorney. None of this union/gov collusion to protect dirty cops form the consequences of their actions.
Then he can sit in jail, like a regular citizen (which he is), and later face an inquest to determine if charges are actually filed.
I'd bet 20:1 this murdering dirt bag walks, like every other SPD officer who has recently injured citizens and abused their position. Either that, or they will throw him under the bus to try and put off a Federal investigation into the SPD, but I doubt that will happen.
CrR 3.2.1
PROCEDURE FOLLOWING WARRANTLESS ARREST -
PRELIMINARY APPEARANCE
(a) Probable Cause Determination. A person who is arrested shall
have a judicial determination of probable cause no later than 48
hours following the person’s arrest, unless probable cause has
been determined prior to such arrest.
Not everyone in this State is arrested "at the scene" after shooting someone, especially if they claim Self Defense.
Did I say based on the evidence at the scene? Yes, I think I did.
as determined by the investigating officers who are brought in from another agency to avoid bias.
Putting yourself in that situation.. (Just like he was, no gun, just walkin along about your business).. Do you think you would have responded quickly enough before being shot?
After seeing that woman from the east coast tumble into the mall fountain while texting, I certainly wouldn't "fiddle" with a knife while walking if I were you...
Here are the jurors' answers to a series of questions they were asked to answer:
1. On August 20, 2010, did Seattle Police Officer Ian Birk observe John T. Williams crossing the street? Yes 8
2. Was John T. Williams holding an open knife at the time he was first observed by Officer Birk? Yes 8
3. Did Officer Birk get out of his patrol car to contact John T. Williams? Yes 8
4. Did Officer Birk gesture to John T. Williams to come back to Officer Birk's location? Yes 7 Unknown 1
5. Did John T. Williams have a knife in his hand when Officer Birk contacted him? Yes 8
6. Did Officer Birk order John T. Williams to put the knife down? Yes 8
If your answer to question 6 was yes, please answer the following four questions:
6a: Did Officer Birk order John T. Williams to put the knife down more than once? Yes 8
6b: Did John T. Williams have sufficient time to put the knife down after Officer Birk's order? Yes 1, No 4, Unknown 3
6c: Did John T. Williams try to put the knife down after Officer Birk's order? Unknown 8
6d: Did John T. Williams put the knife down before Officer Birk began to fire his weapon? No 8
7. Was the front of John T. Williams' upper body partially turned towards Officer Birk when Officer Birk began to fire his weapon? Yes 2, No 5, Unknown 1
7a: If no, was John T. Williams turning towards Officer Birk when Officer Birk fired his weapon? Yes 5
8. Did Officer Birk fire his weapon at John T. Williams on August 30, 2010? Yes 8
9. When Officer Birk fired his weapon, did John T. Williams have a knife in his hand? Yes 8
9a. If yes, was John T. Williams' knife blade open when Officer Birk fired his weapon? No 4, Unknown 4
10. Did Officer Birk believe that John T. Williams posed an imminent threat of serious physical harm to Officer Birk at the time Officer Birk fired his weapon? Yes 4, Unknown 4
11. Based on the information available at the time Officer Birk fired his weapon, did John T. Williams then pose an imminent threat of serious physical harm to Officer Birk? Yes 1, No 4, Unknown 3
12. Did John T. Williams die in King County, Washington on Aug. 30, 2010? Yes 8
13. Did John T. Williams die from the gunshot wounds caused by Officer Birk? Yes 8