Sentence in the Walter Scott shooting (crimes, lawyer, legal)

[843904]

Originally Posted by Silver-Fox

I don't think he should have been convicted of 2nd degree murder, rather manslaughter. I think he should have gotten closer to 10-15 years. I think he was wrong in what he did, but did not have intent to kill Scott before stopping him. Was not 2nd degree murder. In the heat of the moment, he was wrong, but Scott did resist arrest and attempt to take one of the officer's weapons as well as wrestle with the officer. It is wrong to shoot in the back, unless the suspect is fleeing and presents imminent danger to others.

+1. Perfect.

[843904]

Originally Posted by Mutiny77

I can't even wrap my head around the rationale that this sentence was "excessive." Wow.

How about this:

When police tell you to stop running....you stop? It was a lawful order & WS should have complied.

Wow indeed.

[Led Zeppelin]

Originally Posted by GroceryGuySC

I agree completely. This is what I don't understand, from the policeman's perspective:

1.) His first trial ended in a mistrial because the jury wouldn't even find him guilty of manslaughter

2.) He pleads guilty to violating WS's civil rights and excessive force

3.) He gets a longer sentence on a more severe charge than the jury was recommending in the first place


What happened there? Of course, the media is not reporting any of this or doing any in-depth analysis.


The guy did not deserve to die and Slager deserves some jail time for sure. But what happened here, I don't know.

You said it.... the guy did not deserve to die. AND - Slager tampered with the scene because HE KNEW he'd just done something unjustifiable.


20 years is NOT excessive when you kill somebody and try to cover it up. And the fact that he's a government official abusing his power.... he got justice with mercy.

[Led Zeppelin]

Originally Posted by 843904

How about this:

When police tell you to stop running....you stop? It was a lawful order & WS should have complied.

Wow indeed.

How about this.... you don't shoot somebody in the back and then try to make it look like he deserved it, by faking that he stole your police tazer. Slager knew he was in the wrong. I bet he crapped his police underwear when he found out about the video.

[Led Zeppelin]

Originally Posted by 843904

+1. Perfect.

What do civilians get charged with when they shoot somebody in the back who's running away from them? And then try to tamper with the crime scene?

[WASwift]

Originally Posted by 843904

How about this:

When police tell you to stop running....you stop? It was a lawful order & WS should have complied.

Wow indeed.

Is disobeying a police officer punishable by death?

Slager lied in his initial report. He slo moved the taser and placed it next to Scott's body after he shot him. These two actions likely weighed considerably in the judge's sentence.

[GroceryGuySC]

Slager is definitely guilty. He's guilty of excessive force and lying about it.

But it isn't murder. His attorney had him sign a bad deal and now he is spending 10 years too many in prison.

[lizardspock]

The police should be held to a higher standard. And when they betray the public trust, e.g. shooting an unarmed man in the back 8 times, they should be made an example of. That's what happened here. Nothing good. Nothing to celebrate. But it's justice.

[Jandrew5]

Originally Posted by WASwift

Slager lied in his initial report. He slo moved the taser and placed it next to Scott's body after he shot him. These two actions likely weighed considerably in the judge's sentence.

It did. They said him planting the taser nullified the apparent "taser wrestle threat." Remember the video wasn't made public immediately, Slager thought he was in the clear. And what this basically tells us is if it wasn't for the video, Slager would've walked free long ago. Happens more than you think.

I personally don't think "20 years" is enough, not at all, but that's just my opinion. At least it's something, because again, with no video evidence, Slager is walking free frolicking Second Sunday on King because of lying and tampering because he thought he had the green light to do so.

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by 843904

How about this:

When police tell you to stop running....you stop? It was a lawful order & WS should have complied.

Wow indeed.

And not complying means you deserve to die.

Yes, wow indeed. Jesus Christ...