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 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.
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 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.
Ex-Officer Found Guilty in Breonna
Hankison was the first of the four officers charged in Taylor’s death to face a jury. 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.
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.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.
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 courtroom remained tense as the verdict was read. Family members of Taylor, who have been advocating for accountability since her death, watched on, expressing both relief and frustration. “Today, justice feels partial, but it’s a step closer to the accountability Breonna deserves,” said Tamika Palmer, Taylor’s mother, following the decision.
The conviction is a pivotal one in Louisville’s history, underscoring the complexities of prosecuting officers in police-related shootings. While the ex-officer was convicted on charges of wanton endangerment for firing blindly into neighboring apartments, the case has reignited discussions about systemic reforms in policing practices, especially regarding the controversial “no-knock” warrants.
The prosecution argued that the ex-officer showed “a reckless disregard for human life” during the raid, stating that his actions endangered multiple lives in the apartment complex. The defense, however, maintained that he was following standard procedure and argued that his actions, while tragic, were not criminally negligent. The jury ultimately sided with the prosecution, reaching a decision after several hours of deliberation.
The city of Louisville, meanwhile, has since implemented reforms aimed at preventing such tragedies in the future. These reforms include banning no-knock warrants and adopting new policies aimed at greater accountability and transparency within the police department.
The conviction has stirred mixed emotions across the country. While many activists see the verdict as a partial victory, others argue that the broader issue of police reform still requires significant attention. “This case reminds us that true justice for Breonna means ensuring no more names are added to the list of lives lost to unnecessary police violence,” said local activist Linda Sarsour.
As the community continues to process the verdict, Taylor’s family vows to keep her memory alive, hopeful that her story will inspire lasting change.
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