Defense starts case in ex-BART cop shooting

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Wednesday, May 20, 2009

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BART shooting coverage

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11:30 a.m.OAKLAND — Defense attorneys for the former BART officer from Napa who is charged with murder in an Oakland train station shooting have started presenting their case.

The attorney for officer Johannes Mehserle called two people to testify Wednesday at the preliminary hearing about what they saw happen on the platform New Year’s Day, when Mehserle shot and killed 22-year-old Oscar Grant.

The witnesses were on the train at the time of the incident.

Mehserle — who attended New Technology High School in Napa and the police academy at Napa Valley College — has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge. His attorney says Mehserle shouldn’t face such an extraordinary charge because, he says, Mehserle didn’t shoot Grant intentionally or with malice.

Some of Mehserle’s fellow officers are also expected to testify to the alleged chaos on the platform and resistance to the officers from Grant and his friends.

7 comment(s)

Wannabee wrote on May 20, 2009 1:47 PM:

" "...alleged chaos on the platform and resistance to the officers..."

Grand was face down and compliant, and the only chaos was caused by the police, who clearly were escalating the situation. "

John Richards wrote on May 20, 2009 3:11 PM:

" No, he wasn't compliant. He was ordered to put his hands on his back, several times, which he did not do. "

joecitizen33 wrote on May 20, 2009 3:50 PM:

" Wannabee, did you see a different cell phone video? You couldn't even see Oscar Grant in the videos that were shown. I'm not saying that he should have been shot, not at all. There was no cause for that kind of force. Cops are human and can make mistakes and should have to pay for their mistakes. They wouldn't have been there if all was quiet and everyone was compliant! "

crusherfan wrote on May 20, 2009 6:40 PM:

" We have all seen the video.He obviously shot him on accident as he thought he grabbed his tazer.This is not murder but accidental homicide.He will be covicted of murder for fear of the wonderful citzens of oakland burning the town down if there is any other verdict.Sad for everyone "

VERUM wrote on May 20, 2009 8:09 PM:

" Could be you are predicting correctly, crusherfan. Since Mehserle was not a bonafide city police officer, he could be the sacrificial lamb. "

reason-ator wrote on May 20, 2009 8:44 PM:

" Nobody will answer my question when I ask if they had heard that someone ran from that train and was found to have a gun when searched. I would like to find out if the BART cops knew about this when they were trying to detain poor Oscar Grant. I suppose it'll come out later. "

JPCRASH wrote on May 20, 2009 9:14 PM:

" Murder requires intent. Proving this will be impossible.

Oscar Grant was resisting. Anyone who says otherwise is on his side because they don't like cops.

Notice how most of the time, criminals hate cops. upstanding citizens usually don't.

Any comments about the INTENT. "

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