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n2doc

(47,953 posts)
Wed Apr 27, 2016, 08:24 PM Apr 2016

Ex-Oklahoma deputy Robert Bates guilty of killing unarmed suspect

Source: CNN

Tulsa, Oklahoma (CNN)A jury in Oklahoma found a sheriff's deputy guilty of second-degree manslaughter Wednesday in the fatal shooting of an unarmed suspect.

Robert Bates, who was a volunteer reserve sheriff deputy for the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office last year at the time of the shooting, never denied killing Eric Courtney Harris.

Bates, 74, said he meant to use his Taser stun gun, not his revolver, on the suspect, who had been tackled by other deputies and was being held on the ground.

The jury deliberated less than three hours and recommended Bates be sentenced to four years in prision. Preliminary sentencing is set for May 31. After the verdict, Bates was escorted out of the courtroom by two deputies.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/27/us/tulsa-deputy-manslaughter-trial/index.html

11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Ex-Oklahoma deputy Robert Bates guilty of killing unarmed suspect (Original Post) n2doc Apr 2016 OP
Yes!! Justice. Thank you jurors!! n/t JimDandy Apr 2016 #1
Good news nt MrScorpio Apr 2016 #2
K&R!!! 2naSalit Apr 2016 #3
It looked bad at the beginning, considering he had been a benefactor of the department, Judi Lynn Apr 2016 #4
Maybe Bates can be the senior member of the prison KKK. oasis Apr 2016 #5
4 years in the slammer, huh? ReRe Apr 2016 #6
Nope, white folk Kelvin Mace Apr 2016 #7
How did that miss me? ReRe Apr 2016 #8
Jurors would be told by the defense that 4 years for a 74 year old, especially the next 4 Dustlawyer Apr 2016 #9
The other good news DVRacer Apr 2016 #10
Four years and ... left-of-center2012 Apr 2016 #11

Judi Lynn

(160,530 posts)
4. It looked bad at the beginning, considering he had been a benefactor of the department,
Wed Apr 27, 2016, 08:52 PM
Apr 2016

was a good friend to the sheriff.

Hope nothing comes up at the last minute to provide an escape for him.

ReRe

(10,597 posts)
6. 4 years in the slammer, huh?
Wed Apr 27, 2016, 09:49 PM
Apr 2016

Am I the only one that's noticing a trend? The light sentences one gets if you're associated somehow with the "right wing " side of our government? McDonnell in VA, this cop in Tulsa, Denny Hastertt? And that's just today.

Dustlawyer

(10,495 posts)
9. Jurors would be told by the defense that 4 years for a 74 year old, especially the next 4
Wed Apr 27, 2016, 11:32 PM
Apr 2016

years, he will be 78, and statistically speaking he would be way down in single digits left. I don't know much about actuarial tables, but 78 he will probably still be alive.

The man made a monumental mistake playing out his cop fantasy, but he never intended to shoot his gun instead of his taser based on the tape. Also based that his buddy let him lose with no real training. If they believed he didn't intend to shoot him with anything other than a taser, then it would be some form of manslaughter. A death in prison (Life) sentence if given 15 years would be very likely at 89.

Not the example to use for what you are right about in general, that we have two different justices systems (at least). One doesn't get indicted or charged if they are wealthy, or a part of the system like cops, Assistant D.A.'s etc. Granted wealthy people and cops get off, even WHEN they intended to murder, not a horrible accident.

DVRacer

(707 posts)
10. The other good news
Wed Apr 27, 2016, 11:40 PM
Apr 2016

The sheriff has been replaced and most of the upper management as well since this happened. So this was the last piece of justice for Eric.

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