Backlash After Report Calls Killing Of Tamir Rice 'Objectively Reasonable'
On the heels of a new report justifying the police shooting of 12-year-old Tamir Rice last year, Rice's family said the need for an independent prosecutor is clear.
"Unfortunately, it is now abundantly clear that a fair, impartial and appropriate presentation to the grand jury is not in process," Jonathan Abady, an attorney for the Rice family, said in a statement Thursday night.
Grand jury proceedings have been ongoing in Cuyahoga County since police officers Timothy Loehmann and Frank Garmback shot Rice to death on Nov. 22, 2014, while the boy was playing alone in a park with a toy gun.
Citing the "higher level of public scrutiny" warranted in cases that look at police use of deadly force, prosecutor Tim McGinty has to date released four expert reports on the shooting.
As with earlier reports, the report by police consultant W. Ken Katsaris released Thursday describes the officers' conduct as "objectively reasonable."
Shortly after Rice's family complained about his release of the earlier reports, McGinty brushed off the bias claims in an interview with a local television reporter.
"Well isn't that interesting," McGinty said, as quoted by WKYC. "They waited until they didn't like the reports they received. They're, they're very interesting people. Let me just leave it at that. And they have their own economic motives."
The Rice family's attorney fired back with a letter on Nov. 9, saying McGinty's comments "illustrate a disturbing lack of professionalism and impartiality."
"This conduct provides further evidence that the grand jury process is being seriously compromised and that your office must recuse itself and have an independent prosecutor appointed to ensure the fair administration of justice," Abady of the Manhattan firm Emery Celli Brinckerhoff & Abady wrote.
Shortly before McGinty's office released the new Katsaris report, several Cleveland clergy members held a rally Thursday afternoon to condemn McGinty's statements.
READ MORE: http://blackamericans.com/top-news/107868-...
"Unfortunately, it is now abundantly clear that a fair, impartial and appropriate presentation to the grand jury is not in process," Jonathan Abady, an attorney for the Rice family, said in a statement Thursday night.
Grand jury proceedings have been ongoing in Cuyahoga County since police officers Timothy Loehmann and Frank Garmback shot Rice to death on Nov. 22, 2014, while the boy was playing alone in a park with a toy gun.
Citing the "higher level of public scrutiny" warranted in cases that look at police use of deadly force, prosecutor Tim McGinty has to date released four expert reports on the shooting.
As with earlier reports, the report by police consultant W. Ken Katsaris released Thursday describes the officers' conduct as "objectively reasonable."
Shortly after Rice's family complained about his release of the earlier reports, McGinty brushed off the bias claims in an interview with a local television reporter.
"Well isn't that interesting," McGinty said, as quoted by WKYC. "They waited until they didn't like the reports they received. They're, they're very interesting people. Let me just leave it at that. And they have their own economic motives."
The Rice family's attorney fired back with a letter on Nov. 9, saying McGinty's comments "illustrate a disturbing lack of professionalism and impartiality."
"This conduct provides further evidence that the grand jury process is being seriously compromised and that your office must recuse itself and have an independent prosecutor appointed to ensure the fair administration of justice," Abady of the Manhattan firm Emery Celli Brinckerhoff & Abady wrote.
Shortly before McGinty's office released the new Katsaris report, several Cleveland clergy members held a rally Thursday afternoon to condemn McGinty's statements.
READ MORE: http://blackamericans.com/top-news/107868-...
..."We'll isn't that interesting," McGinty said, as quoted by WKYC. "They waited until they didn't like the reports they received. They're, they're very interesting people. Let me just leave it at that. And they have their own economic motives."...
What does this all mean, is what I want to know?!