NYC reaches $5.9 million settlement in chokehold death of Eric Garner

Eric Garner
Eric Garner

source: Global News
published: 13 July 2015

The family of a black man who died after being placed in a white police officer’s chokehold reached a $5.9 million settlement with the city on Monday, days before the anniversary of his death.

Eric Garner’s family in October filed a notice of claim, the first step in filing a lawsuit against the city, asking for $75 million.

Garner, who was 43, was stopped last July 17 outside a Staten Island convenience store because police officers believed he was selling loose, untaxed cigarettes. A video shot by an onlooker shows Garner telling the officers to leave him alone and refusing to be handcuffed.

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Jury convicts female L.A. officer of assault in deadly arrest

Alesia Thomas
Alesia Thomas

source: OCR News
published: 5 June 2015

Jurors on Friday convicted a female Los Angeles police officer of felony assault for repeatedly kicking a handcuffed woman who later died.

The jury of 11 women and one man reached its verdict after about two days of deliberations in the trial of Officer Mary O’Callaghan, 50. She pleaded not guilty to assaulting a civilian in the 2012 arrest of Alesia Thomas, 35.

Dressed in a black pantsuit, O’Callaghan wiped her face, appearing to cry after the verdict was read.

Robert Rico, O’Callaghan’s attorney, said he plans to appeal and ask for a new trial.

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Seni Lewis death: No action against police, prosecutors say

Olaseni Lewis
Olaseni Lewis

source: BBC News
published: 29 May 2015

No criminal action will be taken against police involved in the death of a man restrained by officers in a London psychiatric hospital. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said there was insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction.

Olaseni (Seni) Lewis, who had mental health problems, was a patient at Bethlem Royal Hospital, in Beckenham. He was restrained three times, first by hospital staff and then by police, in the 45 minutes before his collapse.

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