Cop executes homeless woodcarver

[GotGusto]

This is from December but I haven't watched tv lately.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX8RD4C8WFU

Note: it's legal to carry a knife that small in that US state.

Seattle Officer 'Surprised' That Woodcarver's Knife Was Found Closed

SEATTLE -- The Seattle police officer who fatally shot a Native American woodcarver in August testified at an inquest hearing on Wednesday that he was surprised to find that the knife the man was holding was closed after the shooting.

Officer Ian Birk shot John T. Williams on August 30.

In his second day of testimony on Tuesday, Birk said that Williams was not responsive the day of the shooting and took an aggressive stance when told to drop his knife.

Under questioning from the Williams family attorney, Tim Ford, Birk role-played as if he were Williams.

"The knife is up in front of him, and he's not doing anything like putting his hands up, or looking confused, or asking me what's going on, or showing any sign of compliance whatsoever," Birk said. "All I got from him, the only information I got from him, was aggression directed toward me."

Ford showed Birk the knife that Williams was carrying and said that when Birk approached the body, Birk saw that the knife was closed.
"Did you think, 'My God, the knife is closed'?" Ford asked.

"Nothing of that specific nature went through my mind," Birk said. "It did surprise me that the knife was closed, having just seen Mr. Williams holding the knife open in his hand. So I have no idea how that knife was closed (or) if it was the knife I saw initially or not."

A friend of Williams remained suspicious after the day's testimony.
"How did that knife get closed at that time at that specific time?" the friend asked.

Dashboard camera video indicated that Birk shot Williams four seconds after asking him to drop the knife.

Birk concluded his testimony on Wednesday.

The inquest jury's next task is to hear from witnesses.

At the end of the inquest, the jury will be asked a series of questions, which will help prosecutors determine whether to pursue criminal charges against Birk.

http://www.kirotv.com/news/26474404/detail.html

 

[Aardvark154]

Cop executes homeless woodcarver

No having made up your mind beforehand.

 

[GotGusto]

The facts of the case are clear. Did you arrive at a different conclusion?

 

[nottyboi]

What a fucking dirtbag. That was cold blooded murder. There was absolutely no time for the guy to even figure out if that shithead cop was talking to him. I hope he is charged. No one needs gun happy twits like that in uniform.

 

[Aardvark154]

The facts of the case are clear. Did you arrive at a different conclusion?

The truth of the matter is that I don't know all the pertinent facts, and I rather doubt that anyone here on TERB does. This very well may end up going before a jury who will have to make a decision based upon the evidence.

 

[GotGusto]

The truth of the matter is that I don't know all the pertinent facts, and I rather doubt that anyone here on TERB does. This very well may end up going before a jury who will have to make a decision based upon the evidence.

This occured in December and there has been a lot written about it.

The cop yells at a man who is walking in the opposite direction minding his own business, not doing anything illegal, and after 4 seconds pumps 5 bullets into him.

You can overhear bystanders yelling at the trigger happy cop in the video: "He wasn't doing anything!" Cop: "I told him to drop the knife and he didn't"

This cop had better start pampering his ass for the thorough pounding he's going to get behind bars. He'll have to make befriend guys like these http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyVmoCWIOrg

Out of curiosity, were you one of the folks that originally watched the Rodney King beating video and believed that without all the pertinent facts, it was impossible to determine the guilt of the cops involved?

 

[Aardvark154]

GotGusto, I highly suspect that unless you are part of the investigation, you only know what has been reported in the press or what you may have seen from what has been posted on youtube or where ever. Not infrequently when one is privy to facts not known to the general public, it is amazing how the story changes. Perhaps the shooting was unjustified, perhaps it was not, I don't know and really will not know until there is reporting from the trial.

Further, even if this case goes to trial, what evidence do you have at this time as to the Police Officer's state of mind? Did he, as from the title you gave to this thread say to himself, "oh Hell I think I'd like to go out and kill someone today" or was this a case of he overreacted or reacted overly quickly?