That the ten-year-anniversary of Aiyana's death passed largely unacknowledged, . But race, the jurors said, never played a role in deliberations, despite the fact that Weekley is white, and Aiyana was black. Aiyana was sleeping on one end of the couch, and her grandmother Mertilla Jones was on the other in May 2010 when an armed, black-clad and masked police officers stormed the apartment. Detroit Officer Joseph Weekley is charged with involuntary manslaughter. The girl's father, Charles Jones, was convicted of second-degree murder for providing the gun used to kill Blake. The shield seemed unnecessary, Weekley testified. "This was essentially a military assault on a private dwelling," Ron Scott, spokesman for the Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality, told the Associated Press last year about the raid on the Stanley-Jones home. As the Free Thought Project has previously reported, this entire scenario could've been over a relationship. Police1 is revolutionizing the way the law enforcement community Part of HuffPost Crime. The family's attorney, Geoffrey Fieger, said the settlement should allow the family, the city and Weekley to move on from the tragedy. A 17-question survey given to prospective jurors on Monday included four questions related to the Ferguson shooting, according to The Detroit News. It's then that Weekley says Mertila Jones bore down on him with her arm striking his gun. Under cross-examination Monday, Jones said the officers were negligent. found guilty of manslaughter and attempted manslaughter. The Michigan Supreme Court last September cleared the way for a trial or settlement when it declined to hear an appeal after two courts ruled a jury could decide whether Weekley's actions amounted to gross negligence. Hathaway then granted the prosecution's request for a stay on her decision and adjourned court until Monday. The kids are having a great time and we're just really happy for the children," Weekley said on the videotape. Prosecutors claim Aiyana's father, Charles Jones, gave Owens the gun he used to kill Je'Rean. Recent protests and conversations among activists have linked Aiyana's death to the death of Michael Brown, the unarmed black teen who was killed by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, last month. He claims he accidentally pulled the trigger when Aiyanas grandmother, Mertilla Jones, grabbed his gun. A judge has declared a mistrial after jurors failed to reach a verdict for a police officer who shot dead a young girl during a chaotic search for a murder suspect that was recorded by a reality TV crew. Belinda Robinson for MailOnline Weekley, a member of an elite police unit, was the first officer through the door during a chaotic search for a murder suspect at her home. Jones maintains his innocence. DETROIT -- The city of Detroit reached an $8.25 million settlement Thursday with the family of a 7-year-old girl accidentally killed by a police officer during a 2010 raid. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. But supporters of the seven-year-old victim, Aiyana Jones, said they believe the jury was unable to reach a decision due to race. The jury composed of nine men and four women was seated Thursday in Wayne County Circuit Court and is expected to hear opening statements Monday morning in the trial of Joseph Weekley. DPD Spokesman John Roach said the Detroit Police Department SWAT team member is 34-year-old officer Joseph Weekley. Select the option or tab named Internet Options (Internet Explorer), Options (Firefox), Preferences (Safari) or Settings (Chrome). Was she not. To read the full Conyers story, click here. Especially for | 12 comentarios en LinkedIn Nathan Weekley is the brother of Joseph Weekley, a former SWAT officer for the Detroit police force, who was reassigned after fatally shooting 7-year-old Aiyana Stanley-Jones during a May. Officer Joseph Weekley had been charged in the death of Aiyana Stanley Jones. Chauncey Owens, whom police were searching for in the raid, was eventually arrested in a second-floor unit of the duplex where the girl and her family lived. After two trials without result, police officer Joseph Weekley will not face another trial for fatally shooting Aiyana Stanley-Jones, a sleeping seven-year-old, during a 2010 raid filmed by a reality TV show. This is Weekley's . Weekley is also charged with careless discharge of a weapon causing death, a misdemeanor that might not carry a jail sentence if he is convicted, according to the Detroit News. finds relevant news, identifies important training information, The city of Detroit has reached an $8.25 million settlement with the family of . It is not clear what his role in the nonfatal shooting was, but Godbee said he was cleared and it was determined that he acted appropriately. The comments of visitors or guest authors to the website are their opinions and do not therefore reflect our opinions. The trial for Weekley, a white officer, in the death of a black child has caused some to draw parallels to the case of Michael Brown, the unarmed teen fatally shot by Police Officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri, in August. Report your Judge, Lawyer or Government Office, Report your Judge, Attorney & Public Official Today. "The only evidence that points to any kind of knowingly creating a danger or intending to cause injury, the only testimony is that of Mertilla Jones, which is by its nature and by comparison to the other testimony, including the medical examiner, is completely and totally unbelievable," Fishman told the judge on Friday. "We're really happy to help out any way we can. Wayne County Judge Cynthia Hathaway said Weekley's trial will start Monday, Sept. 15, 2014 as planned. The tainted relationship appears to be the only possible motive for the stop that night as no definitive explanation has yet to be given as to why Greenhouse was moonlighting, riding alone that night and decided to pull Few over. Belinda Robinson for MailOnline. Meet Killer CopOfficer Joseph Weekly Detroit Michigan Police Department, Detroit police officer Joseph Weekley faces felony conviction. We do not practice law. Weekley drives the SWAT team's armored personnel carrier. That's wrong to me.'. Weekley says he accidentally fired his gun during a struggle with Aiyana's grandmother. Weekley was first tried in connection with Aiyana's death in 2013, but the jury was unable to reach a verdict. The girl's father, Charles Jones, was convicted of second-degree murder for providing the gun used to kill Blake. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. There were no threats. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). The hyper-aggressive tactics were made worse by the fact that police had taken it upon themselves to raid both sides of a duplex, when their suspect was only known to reside in one of them. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. The raid occurred after midnight, and Weekley was first through the door of the Stanley-Jones home on the east side of Detroit, as a film crew shadowing the officers filmed for a reality television show. Owens was suspected of having killed a teenager a few days earlier, a charge for which he would eventually be convicted. If convicted, Weekley could face up to 15 years behind bars. Weekley squeezed his eyes to try and regain his sight, he told the court, and heard a high-pitched moan, like someone "out of breath" coming from beneath the pile of clothes. According to ABC local afiliate WXYZ, evidence presented in court Thursday showed that neither Jones' fingerprints nor DNA were found on the officer's gun. Howard received a sentence of two years' probation. , updated neither Jones' fingerprints nor DNA were found on the officer's gun. The raid was recorded for a police reality TV show, The First 48, but there was no footage from inside the house. Whatever this website says about the law is presented in the context of how we or others perceive the applicability of the law to a set of circumstances if one of us (or some other author) was in the circumstances under the conditions discussed. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said in a statement that her office was moving to dismiss the case against Officer Joseph Weekley. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. DragonEye Tech: Leaders in LIDAR Speed Measurement, The family was awarded $8.25 million for the accidental death of the 7-year-old during a raid. They came to kill, and they killed a 7-year-old.'. He said the settlement "won't provide full justice. We do not give legal advice. The fact that a police officer received such a hefty sentence is a win for victims of police misconduct across the country. Prosecutor Rob Moran argued: 'His training says, keep your finger off the trigger. by a Detroit police officer, Joseph Weekley. 20:54 GMT 19 Jun 2013. the group of 12 was almost split down the middle over whether to acquit or convict Weekley on a misdemeanor charge of careless, reckless or negligent use of a firearm causing death. A Detroit police officer accused of manslaughter in the death of a 7-year-old girl will go on trial this week, as national attention remains focused on the militarization of U.S. law enforcement and police violence perpetrated against people of color. Weekley had not been on the force since 2010 when he shot a sleeping child in the head during a botched raid executed on the wrong home. Weekley shot and killed Aiyana Stanley-Jones on the night of May 16, 2010, as officers executed a search warrant on the duplex her family lived in. Weekley was indicted in 2011 and charged with felony involuntary manslaughter, as well as the careless discharge of a firearm causing death. , updated All rights reserved. By Moments earlier, Aiyana was sleeping beneath a "Hanna Montana" blanket on the couch next to her grandmother. ID 321.) This button displays the currently selected search type. We believe today's settlement is fair because it balances the needs of Aiyana's family and our responsibility for the city's finances. Photo by Thomas Alex Graves. After two mistrials, the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office dismissed the remaining misdemeanor charge of careless discharge of a weapon causing death. According to the Detroit Free Press, Weekley said during his 2013 trial that he'd executed 300 search warrants during his time on the Special Response Team, and had been the first man through the door in about 100 of those. Kelley joined the station on February 10, 1986, two months after graduating from the University of Florida. Available for both RF and RM licensing. When Detroiters rallied last year for Trayvon Martin, the unarmed Florida teen killed by a neighborhood watchman in 2012, Mertilla Jones addressed the crowd. However, the Clerk of Court, the District Attorneys Office, Marksville Police Department, and City Court noted that they did not have any warrants against him. Weekley, a member of an elite police unit, insists he accidentally pulled the trigger when Aiyana's grandmother grabbed his gun as officers burst through the door of her home. He has been profiled by the A&E show "Detroit SWAT.". A member of an elite Detroit police team failed to follow his training when he stormed a house looking for a murder suspect with his finger on the trigger and shot a 7-year-old girl who was asleep on the couch, a prosecutor said Thursday at the start of an involuntary manslaughter trial. Not only wasthe justice system unable to hold Weekley accountable for the slaughter of a young girl but he wasreinstated to the force in 2015. I don't understand how we could go through this again and have all this evidence brought forth and there not be a verdict, either way.. She died a short time later. He said the settlement "won't provide full justice. Joseph Weekley shot Aiyana Stanley-Jones in 2010 Officer charged with involuntary manslaughter Dominika Stanley, left, the mother of Aiyana Jones, seven, sits next to Aiyana's father Charles . Weekley was first tried in Stanley-Jones' death last year; a hung jury caused a mistrial. Jury selection starts on Monday in Wayne County court, 15 months after Weekleys first trial ended with jurors unable to agree on a verdict. 'There has not been one single day that has gone by since that day where I have not thought about the loss of Aiyana and I will be haunted by this tragedy for the rest of my life.'. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. According to attorneys for the Jones family, video evidence shows that at that point, Officer Joseph Weekley, a regular guest on reality television, shot inside the home, killing Aiyana. The trial featured a multicultural jury made up of eight women and four men, four of whom were African Americans. Fishman attempted to discredit her while requesting dismissal of the manslaughter charge. Weekley's new trial comes amid national conversations about police brutality and institutional racism -- conversations sparked by the death of Michael Brown, the unarmed black teen shot and killed by Officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri last month. They said that theynever agreed unanimously, but listened to each others view points, took three votes and had some jurors shift sides. In 2007, police raided the home of Martin Westbrook, who at that time was allegedly already in custody for an armed robbery. "I would only pray that [the prosecutor] would only use the same zeal he used on my client, Charles Jones, in trying to get a conviction in [Weekley's] case," Weiss told HuffPost this week. How A Police Officer Shot A Sleeping 7-Year-Old To Death, the militarization of U.S. law enforcement, charged with felony involuntary manslaughter, could have affected how the police executed their search warrant, prosecutors allege that Owens told Je'Rean, gave Owens the gun he used to kill Je'Rean, serving a prison sentence of 40 to 60 years, disputed the Westbrooks' version of events, cleared of wrongdoing in a non-fatal shooting in 2009. 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