Jury convicts former Kentucky officer of using excessive force on Breonna Taylor during deadly raid

 

Former Kentucky Officer Found Guilty in Breonna Taylor Case

A federal jury in Louisville, Kentucky, has convicted a former police detective for using excessive force during the 2020 raid that resulted in Breonna Taylor’s death. The verdict, delivered late Friday, marks a significant legal outcome for a Louisville officer involved in the controversial operation.

The jury of twelve took over 20 hours across three days to reach their decision. Earlier in the day, they had acquitted Brett Hankison on charges related to the use of excessive force against Taylor’s neighbors. When the conviction was announced around 9:30 p.m., some jurors were visibly emotional.

Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer, expressed her relief and gratitude outside the courthouse, emphasizing the importance of the jurors’ careful consideration of the case. Hankison fired ten shots into Taylor's home during the botched raid, though none struck anyone inside.

The tragedy of Taylor’s death, along with George Floyd's killing in May 2020, ignited widespread protests against racial injustice across the nation. Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., described the verdict as a crucial step toward accountability, highlighting the ongoing fight for justice.

Hankison, 48, faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, with sentencing scheduled for March 12. His defense maintained that he acted in self-defense during a chaotic situation when Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, fired at officers as they entered the apartment.

During deliberations, the jury sought clarification on whether they needed to determine if Taylor was alive when Hankison fired. This detail became a focal point during the trial, with Hankison’s attorney arguing that prosecutors had to prove she was alive at that moment.

Hankison was one of four officers charged by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2022 for violating Taylor’s civil rights. His conviction follows a previous plea agreement involving another former officer who was not present at the raid but cooperated in related investigations.

Prosecutors argued that Hankison acted recklessly, pointing out that he fired shots without clearly identifying a target, violating fundamental rules regarding the use of deadly force. The officers who shot Taylor, however, were not charged, as prosecutors deemed their actions justified after Walker fired first.