Articles tagged with: trial

Former BART Police Officer Johannes Mehserle gave his first public interview since he fatally shot unarmed train passenger Oscar Grant on New Year’s Day 2009 this week, speaking with journalist Rita Williams of KTVU Television.

On July 8 Mehserle was convicted by a jury of involuntary manslaughter in the 22-year-old Hayward man’s death and was immediately booked into Los Angeles County jail.

It was from there that Williams spoke with Mehserle, who appeared somber and on the verge of tears throughout the exchange.

The defense for Johannes Mehserle, the former BART Police officer convicted of involuntary manslaughter for the shooting of unarmed passenger Oscar Grant at the Fruitvale BART Station New Year’s Day 2009, has filed a motion seeking a new trial, claiming “newly discovered evidence” supports Mehserle’s case.

As Johannes Mehserle’s sentencing date nears, family members, friends and supports of the 22-year-old Hayward man he fatally shot nearly two years ago are ramping up their efforts to mobilize community groups and push for the maximum possible sentence for the ex-BART Police officer.

(7/16) — 23:16 PDT — WALNUT CREEK — Supporters of former BART Police Officer Johannes Mehserle are planning a rally at 2 p.m. Monday in front of the Walnut Creek courthouse — the first such public rally after 18 months of protests denouncing Mehserle.

(7/9) — UPDATED 16:25 PDT — OAKLAND – In a letter released by his lawyer today, Johannes Mehserle, the former BART Police officer convicted of involuntary manslaughter for shooting an unarmed train passenger, expressed his remorse and said he never intended to shoot Oscar Grant.

In the handwritten letter, dated July 4 — four days before the verdict was reached — Mehserle asked his attorney Michael Rains to disseminate it to the public, which he did so on Friday.

Downtown Oakland business owners and city officials were left to clean up this morning after unrest last night following former BART Police Officer Johannes Mehserle’s involuntary manslaughter conviction for killing Oscar Grant caused damage to businesses and left debris scattered in the streets.

Johannes Mehserle, the former BART Police Officer who shot and killed unarmed passenger Oscar Grant on January 1, 2009 at the Fruitvale BART station in Oakland, has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter by a Los Angeles jury.

The jury found Mehserle not guilty of the most serious charge he faced: murder. Mehserle faces five to 14 years in state prison for Grant’s killing.

These are photos of the reaction to the verdict on the streets of Oakland, as captured by Beat reporters on scene.

(7/9) — UPDATED 14:15 PDT — OAKLAND — A large, peaceful gathering of people in Downtown Oakland following former BART Police Officer Johannes Mehserle’s conviction for involuntary manslaughter was followed by violence as the sun set.

Oakland Police Chief Anthony Batts blamed the violence, which included looting shops and setting dumpsters on fire, on a small group of about 50 anarchists.

The response in Los Angeles to the involuntary manslaughter conviction of former BART police officer Johannes Mehserle was largely peaceful.

Mehserle was charged with second degree murder by the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office for fatally shooting unarmed BART passenger Oscar Grant last year, but after six and a half hours of deliberation the jury found him guilty of involuntary manslaughter Thursday.