A federal jury has acquitted two former Birmingham police officers on charges of violating the civil rights of a suspect.
The dash cam introduced as evidence in court shows a white van fleeing police, flipping over and the driver being ejected. The tape shows officers punching and kicking the man as he lay motionless.
The jury found officers 40-year-old Barrett Dewitt and 37-year-old David D More..oran not guilty of violating the civil rights of the suspect by using unreasonable force.
Dewitt’s Attorney, Everett Wess says, "I think this frees the police throughout the Birmingham metro area to do their jobs and hopefully they can do their jobs and not have to face what these two individuals have faced here this week."
"We believe it was certainly appropriate to charge these two defendants to let a jury decide, the jury heard all the evidence and we're satisfied that they took it all seriously," says federal prosecutor Robert Posey.
Warren is also suing the city of Birmingham, several current and former officers in civil court. The lawsuit was delayed until after the criminal trial.
http://www.liveleak.com/mp53/player.swf?config=http://www.liveleak.com/mp53/player_config.php?token=9f5_1295547185%26embed=1
The dash cam introduced as evidence in court shows a white van fleeing police, flipping over and the driver being ejected. The tape shows officers punching and kicking the man as he lay motionless.
The jury found officers 40-year-old Barrett Dewitt and 37-year-old David D More..oran not guilty of violating the civil rights of the suspect by using unreasonable force.
Dewitt’s Attorney, Everett Wess says, "I think this frees the police throughout the Birmingham metro area to do their jobs and hopefully they can do their jobs and not have to face what these two individuals have faced here this week."
"We believe it was certainly appropriate to charge these two defendants to let a jury decide, the jury heard all the evidence and we're satisfied that they took it all seriously," says federal prosecutor Robert Posey.
Warren is also suing the city of Birmingham, several current and former officers in civil court. The lawsuit was delayed until after the criminal trial.
http://www.liveleak.com/mp53/player.swf?config=http://www.liveleak.com/mp53/player_config.php?token=9f5_1295547185%26embed=1
