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Ex-officer found guilty in death of Breonna Taylor Ex-officer found guilty in death of Breonna Taylor
(32 minutes later)
This was Brett Hankison's third trial in the 2020 death of Breonna Taylor A former police officer in the US state of Kentucky has been found guilty of violating the civil rights of Breonna Taylor, a black woman killed in her own home during a botched raid four years ago.
A former police officer in the US state of Kentucky has been found guilty of violating the civil rights of Breonna Taylor, a woman killed in her own home during a botched raid in 2020. Brett Hankison, 47, could face up to life in prison after being convicted of using excessive force against the 26-year-old emergency room technician.
Brett Hankison, 47, could face up to life in prison after being convicted of using excessive force against the 26-year-old black nursing student. But the jury also found him not guilty on another charge of violating the civil rights of one of Taylor's neighbours. It was the third time Hankison had stood trial in the case.
But the jury also found him not guilty on another charge of violating the civil rights of one of Taylor's neighbours. But the verdict marks the first time any officer has been convicted in the deadly raid of 13 March 2020 that saw Taylor's name become a rallying cry during the racial justice unrest of that year.
While he did not fire the shot that killed Taylor, Hankison fired 10 times into her apartment, which he said he did to protect fellow officers as Taylor's boyfriend opened fire when officers smashed in the front door. This was Brett Hankison's third trial
This was the third time Hankison stood trial, but it marks the first time he has been convicted of a crime for the deadly raid of 13 March 2020. Members of Taylor's family in court collapsed in tears after the verdict was returned on Friday, according to the Louisville Courier Journal.
Hankison was the first of the four officers charged in Taylor's death to face a jury. Prosecutors wanted Hankison to be immediately taken into custody, but their request was rejected by the judge, reports the local newspaper.
The jury of five white men, one black man and six white women began their deliberations on Wednesday.
The indictment accused Hankison of depriving Taylor of the right to be free from unreasonable seizures and depriving her neighbours of the right to be free from the deprivation of liberty without due process of law.
Hankison fired 10 times into her apartment, which he said he did to protect fellow officers as Taylor's boyfriend opened fire when officers broke down the door.
The former policeman took the stand over two days of testimony during the retrial, telling the jurors he was "trying to stay alive, trying to keep my partners alive".
Hankison was the first of the four officers charged in the case to face a jury.
Another former officer, Kelly Goodlett, pleaded guilty to falsifying the search warrant for Taylor’s home.Another former officer, Kelly Goodlett, pleaded guilty to falsifying the search warrant for Taylor’s home.
The remaining two officers had their federal charges thrown out by a judge earlier this year. The US justice department recently indicted the two on new charges.The remaining two officers had their federal charges thrown out by a judge earlier this year. The US justice department recently indicted the two on new charges.
Taylor was killed after officers wearing plain clothes executed a "no-knock" search warrant at her home. They burst into her apartment in the early morning hours while she and her boyfriend Kenneth Walker were asleep. Taylor was killed after officers wearing plain clothes executed a "no-knock" search warrant at her home. They burst into her apartment in the early morning hours while she and her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, were asleep.
Authorities believed Taylor's former boyfriend was using her home to hide narcotics.Authorities believed Taylor's former boyfriend was using her home to hide narcotics.
Walker fired a single shot when they knocked the door down because he said the officers did not announce themselves as police, and he thought they were intruders. Mr Walker fired a single shot when they knocked the door down, hitting one officer, Sgt John Mattingly, in the leg. Mr Walker said the officers did not announce themselves as police, and he thought they were intruders.
Another officer fired the shot that killed Taylor, but prosecutors said his use of deadly force was justified because Walker had opened fire first, hitting a colleague of Hankison. The three officers returned fire, shooting 32 bullets into the flat.
None of Hankison's bullets hit anyone, but they did enter a neighbouring property, where prosecutors said a family was sleeping. Another officer fired the shot that killed Taylor, but prosecutors said his use of deadly force was justified because Walker had opened fire first.
None of Hankison's bullets hit anyone, but they did enter a neighbouring property, where a pregnant woman, a five-year-old and a man had been sleeping.
A subsequent police report contained errors, including listing Taylor's injuries as "none" and saying no force was used to enter, when a battering ram had been used.A subsequent police report contained errors, including listing Taylor's injuries as "none" and saying no force was used to enter, when a battering ram had been used.
Taylor's name became a rallying cry during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests.
Hankison was fired from Louisville Metro Police Department in June 2020.Hankison was fired from Louisville Metro Police Department in June 2020.
His previous federal case last year ended in a mistrial when the jury told the judge it could not reach a unanimous verdict.His previous federal case last year ended in a mistrial when the jury told the judge it could not reach a unanimous verdict.
He was previously tried by a Kentucky state jury in March 2022, and acquitted on three counts of felony wanton endangerment.He was previously tried by a Kentucky state jury in March 2022, and acquitted on three counts of felony wanton endangerment.
Taylor's family and Walker have both received pay-outs from the city over the incident.Taylor's family and Walker have both received pay-outs from the city over the incident.
A series of police reforms were also introduced in Louisville.A series of police reforms were also introduced in Louisville.
Hankison is due to be sentenced on 12 March next year.