Fury as US cop cleared of killings
POLICE arrested more than a dozen people in the US city of Cleveland as crowds protested against the acquittal of a white officer who killed an unarmed black couple.
Michael Brelo, 31, was one of 13 officers to open fire on Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams.
Their deaths occurred following a high- speed car chase after their Chevrolet Malibu backfired outside police headquarters in 2012 and officers mistook the noise for gunshots.
Russell, 43, and Williams, 30, were each shot more than 20 times.
Mr Brelo was the only officer to face charges because he climbed on to the bonnet of the vehicle and fired directly through the windscreen at the pair – no longer deemed a threat.
Mr Brelo, who fired a total of 49 shots, including 15 through the wind- screen, faced up to 22 years in prison had the judge convicted him on two counts of voluntary manslaughter.
Judge John P O’Donnell said he could not rule beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Brelo was responsible for the deaths because 12 other officers had fired in the 137- shot barrage.
“In many American places people are angry with, mistrusting and fearful of the police,” Judge O’Donnell told the court in Cleveland.
Mr Brelo’s lawyer, Patrick D’Angelo, said his client had risked his life during the chase and the prosecution was “vicious and unprofessional”.
Mr Russell’s sister, Michelle Russell, said: “He’s not going to dodge this just because he was acquitted. God will have the final say.”
The case follows a string of police killings of unarmed black people.