Close X
Sunday, November 10, 2024
ADVT 
International

US Policeman Charged With Slamming Indian Grandfather Acquitted

IANS, 14 Jan, 2016 12:42 PM
    To the shock of the Indian American community, a US judge has acquitted an Alabama police officer who slammed a visiting Indian grandfather to the ground while taking a walk outside his son's home.
     
    Federal Judge Madeline Hughes Haikala threw out the case against Madison Police officer Eric Parker, who faced up to 10 years in prison for using excessive force against 57-year-old Sureshbhai Patel down in February last year, Al.com reported.
     
    Turning down the prosecutors' plea for a third trial after two mistrials, Haikala late on Wednesday filed a 92-page opinion, saying: "The government has had two full and fair chances to obtain a conviction; it will not have another."
     
    "The result in this case is by no means satisfying. Hindsight brings clarity to a calamity," she wrote in the conclusion of her opinion.
     
    "Mr. Patel's celebrated arrival in this country to begin a new life with his son was interrupted in two tragic minutes."
     
    "If Mr. Parker or Mr. Patel could take that time back, both would surely do things differently and avoid the events that have forever changed both of their lives."
     
    "Mr. Patel had-and has-just as much right to be free from excessive force as every citizen of this country. He is welcome here, and it is appropriate to grieve his injury."
     
    "However, that injury, standing alone, does not provide the basis for a criminal judgment against Mr. Parker under 18 U.S.C. 242."
     
    A team of three federal prosecutors had twice tried Parker last year for the takedown of Patel on the morning of February 6, 2015. Both trials ended with a deadlocked jury.
     
     
     
    On Wednesday, federal prosecutors had filed a motion against acquittal, arguing that a reasonable jury could view the video and listen to testimony and decide Parker intentionally used excessive force in slamming Patel into the ground.
     
    Parker twice testified that he lost his balance and fell. He also testified that Patel repeatedly jerked his hand away from Parker. "It concerned me that he was going for that weapon I presumed he had," testified Parker.
     
    Patel, who had just arrived from India to help care for his grandson, testified he does not speak English and did not resist.
     
    "I did not try to run away but I did go back a couple of steps to show them my house, my house," testified Patel through an interpreter at the second trial. "They put their hands on me and I was just standing and did not move."
     
    On the morning of February 6, a neighbour called police to complain of a "skinny black guy" who is "just kind of walking around close to the garage".
     
    Police found Patel walking along the sidewalk. But Patel could not answer questions and the confused encounter ended with Patel in an ambulance.
     
    Cheng Tao, the neurosurgeon who operated on Patel at Huntsville Hospital, twice testified that the takedown left Patel unable to walk or grip his hands.
     
    Tao told both juries that he replaced one vertebra in Patel's neck with a metal cylinder and plate.
     
    Parker still faces a state charge of misdemeanour assault in Limestone County.
     
     
    The case drew international interest prompting Governor Robert Bentley to issue a letter apologising to Patel and to India.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Proposed One-Metre Rule For Cars And Cyclists 'A Great Idea:' Manitoba Premier

    Proposed One-Metre Rule For Cars And Cyclists 'A Great Idea:' Manitoba Premier
    Selinger says a call to force drivers to move over at least one metre when passing a cyclist is "a great idea" that he would like to see become law.

    Proposed One-Metre Rule For Cars And Cyclists 'A Great Idea:' Manitoba Premier

    Indian Consulate In Afghanistan Attacked, Two Terrorists Killed

    Indian Consulate In Afghanistan Attacked, Two Terrorists Killed
    A group of armed men late Sunday attacked the Indian consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif, the capital of northern Balkh province, the provincial governor spokesperson told media.

    Indian Consulate In Afghanistan Attacked, Two Terrorists Killed

    In Conversations With Prominent Figures, Obama Tries To Reconnect Before Presidency Runs Out

    In Conversations With Prominent Figures, Obama Tries To Reconnect Before Presidency Runs Out
    President Barack Obama has held a series of "conversations" with figures in arts, letters and entertainment as the White House experiments with ways to reconnect Americans to the president before they say goodbye to him.

    In Conversations With Prominent Figures, Obama Tries To Reconnect Before Presidency Runs Out

    Saudi Beheadings Soar In 2015 To Highest In 2 Decades Under Discretionary Rulings By Judges

    Saudi Beheadings Soar In 2015 To Highest In 2 Decades Under Discretionary Rulings By Judges
    Coinciding with the rise in executions is the number of people executed for non-lethal offences that judges have wide discretion to rule on, particularly for drug-related crimes.

    Saudi Beheadings Soar In 2015 To Highest In 2 Decades Under Discretionary Rulings By Judges

    Universities Tap Into Growth In Craft Beer Industry By Offering Business Classes

    Universities Tap Into Growth In Craft Beer Industry By Offering Business Classes
    In the last decade, the number of craft breweries has grown to more than 4,000 in the U.S. today, from more than 1,400 in 2005, according to the Brewers Association.

    Universities Tap Into Growth In Craft Beer Industry By Offering Business Classes

    Yukon First Nation Chief Roger Kyikavichik Charged With Sexual Assault; Court Date In February

    Yukon First Nation Chief Roger Kyikavichik Charged With Sexual Assault; Court Date In February
    RCMP say charges were sworn against Roger Kyikavichik in Yukon territorial court on Wednesday and he was released on strict conditions.

    Yukon First Nation Chief Roger Kyikavichik Charged With Sexual Assault; Court Date In February