Change dot org Petition to increase charges against Mr. Floyd's Torturer.
When the District Attorney decides what charges to bring forward in a high profile case, they face an unenviable task. The more serious the charge, the less chance they have of winning the case. Apparently the strategy is to make sure some type of conviction will occur, so while a lower charge is also made available, such as manslaughter, the idea is to not make the higher charge too high since it could force the jury to go with the lower charge instead.
When the District Attorney decides what charges to bring forward in a high profile case, they face an unenviable task. The more serious the charge, the less chance they have of winning the case. Apparently the strategy is to make sure some type of conviction will occur, so while a lower charge is also made available, such as manslaughter, the idea is to not make the higher charge too high since it could force the jury to go with the lower charge instead.
Assuming the DA can offer more than 2 options, that could backfire in the form of additional confusion among the jury trying to figure out what charge they can all agree to. Plus, the defense may be able to allege that the DA isn't even sure what law was violated and if the DA can't figure it out, how can the jury?
This petition advocates changing the lesser charges of Murder 3 or Manslaughter charges to Murder 1 or Murder 2 for the following reasons...
- The amount of control the police officer had over the situation makes this a case for Murder 1. If someone in the crowd who heard Mr. Floyd's plea that he couldn't breath had then tried to intercede, they would have been arrested and Mr. Floyd dies anyways and the blame might even shift to the person trying to save Mr. Floyd's life. Excuses could then be made that the crowd was being unruly and Mr. Floyd had to be super restrained, they could have argued, and their proof would be the crowd attacking them.
- If someone had interceded to save Mr. Floyd's in a timely manner, the interceder would have been aggressively charged since there would no longer be real proof that Mr. Floyd's life was in danger because he does not die. The only way to save Mr. Floyd's life was for someone else to end up being convicted of charges ranging from violating rule of law to assault to endangering a police offer to obstruction of justice. The interceder could have ended up in jail for a decade or longer.
- At one point a police officer is heard responding to Mr. Floyd, "If you can't breathe, then how are you talking"? This again shows the lack of life saving options. If Mr. Floyd says he can't breathe, he is mocked because how can he speak if he can't breathe? If Mr. Floyd says nothing, he dies anyways.
- The Police officer appears to make no attempt to negotiate with Mr. Floyd in exchange for removing his knee from Mr. Floyd's neck.
- What was the Police officer waiting for for over nine minutes?
- What Peril was the Police Officer in that he had to remain on Mr. Floyd's neck for 9 minutes?
- The crowd repeatedly warned the Police Officer that Mr. Floyd could not breathe. The crowd was compliant by not charging the Police Officers to save Mr. Floyd's life. Some who personally witnessed Mr. Floyd's death and helplessly watched a man die by those sworn to protect the public peace may suffer PTSD over their inability to save a man who was slow motion tortured to death in front of their eyes.
- Without a Murder 1 or Murder 2 charge, Police Officers all over the country may be in danger anytime a suspect being arrested calls out they can't breathe.
- Lack of a Murder 1 or Murder 2 charge could endanger many more people in the future, both police officers trying to make future arrests and citizens who do not want to stand around the next time if they are led to believe, either falsefully or truthfully, that a suspect's life is in danger.
- Murder 1, Murder 2, is all that should be offered specifically because of all the reasons set forth above. Do not handcuff a jury into lighter conviction choices as it would be showing far more mercy than George Floyd and his 18 prior citizen complaints deserve.
- Apparently the police officer who allegedly caused George Floyd's death had 18 prior complaints. Most police officers who have viewed the video, if not all, are horrified by what they see. Why should the suspect get a break on the charges when he has already gotten 18 previous breaks, especially if it could cause more unrest in the future?
- If charges against George Floyd's torturer remain at Murder 3 or Manslaughter, then his 3 enforcers will get even lower charges even though they were the only reason that prevented citizens from coming forward to save George Floyd's life.
The suspect has more than used up his get out of jail free card with his prior 18 complaints. Now, we need to be thinking about the future and what a less than Murder 1 or Murder 2 charge may bring.
Apparently the police officer who allegedly caused George Floyd's death had 18 prior complaints. Most police officers who have viewed the video, if not all, are horrified by what they see. Why should the suspect get a break on the charges when he has already gotten 18 previous breaks, especially if it could cause more unrest in the future?
Apparently the police officer who allegedly caused George Floyd's death had 18 prior complaints. Most police officers who have viewed the video, if not all, are horrified by what they see. Why should the suspect get a break on the charges when he has already gotten 18 previous breaks, especially if it could cause more unrest in the future?
Please consider signing the Debt Neutrality Petition by clicking here.
