Grand jurys decision in michael brown shooting in ferguson how wisconsin grand juries work. Brown said i give up a witness of the shooting gave a different account of what happened after wilsons first shots were fired. In an unusual step after a grand jury deliberation, transcripts of testimony that jurors heard considering micheal browns death have been released. Michael brown ferguson braces for grand jury report. The grand jury took 25 days, over the span of three months, to hear more than 5,000 pages of testimony from 60 witnesses and then deliberate on whether or not to indict wilson.
The grand jury legal advisor northwestern pritzker school of law. The jury will continue to meet in secret as it decides whether to charge ferguson police officer darren wilson, who is white, in the death of brown, a black teenager. Records in michael brown grand jury not been approved for. Former federal prosecutor alex little explains why he believes that the st. What do the newly released witness statements tell us. Al sharpton said the grand jury decision was a joke since brown didnt have a chance to defend himself.
The grand jury in the case of michael brown has been given an extension to return a verdict. Michael brown family say process is broken after grand. The grand jurys decision does not negate the fact that michael browns tragic death is part of an alarming national trend of officers using excessive force against people of color, often during. It is rare for authorities to release grand jury documentation. Here are documents and evidence presented to the grand jury in clayton, mo. Louis county prosecutor robert mcculloch at a news conference announcing the grand jury s decision not to indict ferguson police officer darren wilson in the aug. No matter what a grand jury decides in the case of a white ferguson police officer who shot and killed an unarmed black teenager, people will take to the streets, whether in anger or celebration. Officer darren wilson released a statement after a grand jury decided not to indict him for fatally shooting michael brown. While we dont yet have all the specific facts in the case, it is. Most county grand juries in california do not consider criminal matters. Polizist darren wilson schoss aus notwehr zu diesem schluss kam eine grand jury. Darren wilson on why he shot michael brown new york post.
Evidence, documents and interviews from fergusons grand jury. Handbook for virginia grand jurors virginias judicial system. Michael browns family on grand jury decision youtube. I dont think anyone will be too surprised to learn i believe it was the appropriate outcome. Grand jurys decision michael brown, in ferguson meyer.
Ferguson, missouri, erupted after a prosecutor announced officer darren wilson would not be indicted in the august 9 death of michael brown. Louis a judge has extended into january the term of the grand jury considering whether. Professors fagan and harcourt provide facts on grand jury. The jury now has until january 7 to decide on an indictment. The grand jury is to decide if the incident meets the standard for probable cause, based on testimony and evidence. Examining the grand jury proceedings in the michael brown. A grand jury decided not to indict ferguson police officer darren wilson in the shooting death of teenager michael brown. Though many peaceful protesters took to ferguson s streets. Louis county prosecuting attorney released more than 70 documents after the grand jurys decision not to indict ferguson police officer darren wilson in the shooting of 18yearold michael brown.
A grand jurys decision against indicting the police officer who killed ferguson teenager michael brown absolutely shocked the boys mother, an attorney for the family said tuesday on today. Records in michael brown grand jury not been approved for release. Michael browns death shouldnt have gone to a grand jury. Ferguson cop who shot michael brown testifies before grand. The grand jury, the prosecutor and the cop who shot. Evidence presented to michael brown grand jury appears to support officers version of events what if the grand jury investigating the michael brown shooting fails to. Louis county grand jury is considering whether or not to charge officer darren wilson in the shooting of michael brown. Grand juries usually hear just the outline of a case, but prosecutors are presenting all their evidence in the michael brown shooting, making for a long and exhaustive process. So as far as physical evidence, we have the blood on the ground that was about 21 or 22 feet from where michael brown ended up. Louis county prosecutor robert mcculloch says of his silence. Michael brown family say process is broken after grand jury decision leads to night of riots this article is more than 5 years old attorneys for brown family attack st louis county prosecutor.
Did brown have his hands in the air, or at his waist. Rhonda byers, a third year law student at georgia state university, contributed the. And its going to be even longer before the grand jury doesnt have to return a verdict until. Louis county attorney may be abdicating responsibility by pursuing a grand jury investigation into the shooting of. Based on a full reading of the transcript of the grand jury hearings concerning the killing of michael brown in ferguson, missouri, on 9 august 2014, this article uses the transcript as an archive to demonstrate how the informal systems of racial hierarchy in the united states operate today. Ferguson, a play by phelim mcaleer, presents verbatim testimony from the grand jury that declined to indict white police officer darren wilson for the august 9, 2014 shooting death of unarmed black 18yearold michael brown, an event in ferguson, missouri that led to demonstrations and debates nationwide.
The grand jury has decided not to indict darren wilson, the white police office who shot and killed the black teenager, michael brown. Documents released in the ferguson case the new york times. As protests continue across the country over the police killing of michael brown, new questions are being raised about the grand jury that failed to indict ferguson police officer darren wilson. Evidence presented to michael brown grand jury appears to. Michael browns mother reacts to the grand jury announcement.
The criminal section of the department of justice civil rights division, the united states. Most grand juries complete their work in a matter of days. Ferguson grand jury finds no probable cause to indict officer. The st louis county prosecutors office has released the full grand jury report after its decision not to indict ferguson police officer darren wilson for the fatal shooting of michael brown. The grand jury proceedings in the michael brown case are unusual in their length and in the large amount of evidence being heard. A day before the grand jury s decision was announced, michael brown s family attorney raised the objection that the grand jury process was unfair because it was deviation from the normal process. That said, my opinion is based on the very sketchy information that has been leaking out since the shooting, and what ive heard this evening im writ. The lies, errors and mistruths that let michael browns killer off the hook the prosecutors document dump was designed for transparency.
Judge extends grand jury in fatal shooting of michael brown. Grand jury witness accounts about browns actions differed, but most said that the shots were fired as he moved towards wilson, mcculloch said. Ferguson grand jury to announce decision on michael brown. How did the ferguson grand jury reach its verdict in the. The official grand jury testimony of ferguson police officer darren wilson re. On monday, november 24, 2014 the decision by a grand jury not to indict darren wilson was announced by st. The state legislature created it in 1985, and during the time between 1987 and 1993, state investigative grand juries were created all across the state. We worked with federal and local law enforcement officers to. A grand jury decided not to indict ferguson police officer darren wilson in the shooting death of michael brown. Ferguson police department fpd shot and killed michael brown, an unarmed 18yearold. She believed that he would at least be charged with something, said benjamin crump, speaking on behalf of browns mother, lesley mcspadden.
The increase is attributed in part to concern from residents of additional outbreaks of violence if the grand jury investigating browns death does not. What do police officers and former police officers think. Understanding the grand jury ruling on michael browns death. The investigative grand jury was designed to be the state counterpart to the federal grand jury, which meets over a period of time, interviews witnesses, and issues indictments. Missouri, grand jury hearing the michael brown case took the rare step of recording and documenting the proceedings, but that. Arenella, supra note 27 dedicating over one hundred pages to grand. Was key grand jury witness in michael brown case a racist. There are three types of grand juries regular, special and multijurisdiction. An attorney for michael browns family has blasted the county prosecutor who oversaw the grand jury process in ferguson.
Grand jury is convened at each term of the circuit court of each city and. Judy woodruff and gwen ifill get reaction to the verdict from rev. Zwolf juristische laien haben eine weitreichende entscheidung getroffen. The grand jury s decision does not negate the fact that michael brown s tragic death is part of an alarming national trend of officers using excessive force against people of color, often during. A grand jury reaches a decision over whether to charge a police officer who killed teenager michael brown in ferguson, missouri, says his family. The grand jury was not sequestered during the process. Ferguson grand jury to announce decision on michael brown shooting today. Scores of documents detailing testimony from the proceedings were released by st. Getty images newsscott olson life how did the ferguson grand jury reach its decision in the michael brown case. After the grand jury decision was announced, browns stepfather urged protesters to burn the bitch down as rioters looted stores and burned at least 12 buildings to the ground in ferguson. Ferguson grand jury reaches its decision, and declines to indict the police officer in the killing of michael brown. For ferguson grand jury, details and responsibilities are.
A day before the grand jurys decision was announced, michael browns family attorney raised the objection that the grand jury process was unfair because it. In addition, grand juries are not subject to the brown act. What you need to know about michael brown ferguson grand. Ferguson, mo new recordings, documents released in. Michael browns case is progressing quickly in missouri. Michael brown grand jury could begin as soon as wednesday. Weeks after a grand jury chose not to indict the officer who shot michael brown, officials have released a new mound of documents from the proceedings. Louis officials are looking into a report of misconduct by a member of the grand jury investigating the police shooting death of michael brown. Does a grand jury mean justice for michael brown vox. Understanding the grand jury ruling on michael browns. Family of slain teen on how they felt when they learned of the grand jury decision. Was michael brown facing towards officer wilson, or away when he was shot.
Louis grand jury heard witnesses who lied, prosecutor says i didnt want to fire things up, st. What charges could the michael brown grand jury consider. What was unusual about the grand jury proceedings in the michael brown shooting. The grand jurys role in the prosecution of unjustified police. Jury as well as the law and procedures that govern the grand jury.