Former Atlanta Officers Apoliogize for Shooting Woman

ATLANTA

A sentencing hearing got under way Monday for three former Atlanta police officers who pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy charge in connection with the death of an elderly woman during a botched drug raid.

Jason R. Smith, Gregg Junnier and Arthur Tesler appeared in federal court for sentencing on a charge of conspiracy to violate civil rights resulting in death.

During the hearing Smith apologized for the shooting.

"I am very sorry for my conduct and apologize to everyone for what I did," Smith said. "There is no excuse for this conduct and I accept the sentence of this court."

"I pray daily for Ms. Johnston. I also pray other officers in Atlanta will have the moral fortitude I didn't have," Smith added.

Kathryn Johnston, a 92-year-old woman, was killed by police gunfire during the 2006 raid at her home.

"Her death was the foreseeable culmination of a long-standing conspiracy in which the officers violated their oaths of office," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Jon-Peter Kelly during the hearing.

The officers "regularly swore falsely" to get warrants and make cases, he said.

Johnston fired one shot went through the door and over the heads of six police officers as they rushed into her house. Police shot back, firing 39 times; hitting Johnston five times. They handcuffed her on the floor, as she died.

Junnier and two other officers were wounded by shots fired by fellow officers.

"She died a violent death at the hands of people who were supposed to protect her," neighbor Kellie Hill told WSB-TV Channel 2 reporter Jeff Dore at the federal courthouse.

"I miss my friend very much," she sobbed.

Kathryn Johnston's family was not in court.

"Those guys obstructed justice not just that night, but for years," Atlanta City Councilman Ivory Young testified during the hearing. "This is how they regularly operated."

"What happens in a community," Young asked, "when the police are the most consistent violators of human rights?"

The judge heard a letter from Johnston's niece, who could not be in court because of her health, as well as state Sen. Vincent Fort.


Previous Post: http://whathappenedtoprotectandserve.blogspot.com/2008/11/investigation-continues-into-death-of.html

http://whathappenedtoprotectandserve.blogspot.com/2008/05/trial-begins-for-92-year-old-woman.html