Lawyers for three Washington state officers charged in the death of a Black man say Manuel Ellis died from drugs, not excessive force.

Lawyers for three Washington state police officers charged in the 2020 death of a Black man told the jury Tuesday that his death was the result of drug use, not excessive force that included officers choking, shocking and holding him facedown.

Manuel Ellis was addicted to methamphetamine, and it caused him to be violent, unpredictable, and paranoid, said Wayne Fricke, who represents Tacoma police Officer Christopher Burbank.

“This is a situation where he created his own death,” Fricke said during closing arguments in the officers’ nine-week trial on murder and manslaughter charges. “It was his behavior that forced the officers to use force against him because he created a situation that required them to act.”

Fricke’s remarks followed closing arguments by special prosecutor Patty Eakes, who urged the jury to compare the officers’ statements with videos and witness testimony to determine the officers’ credibility. Eakes is prosecuting the case on behalf of the Washington Attorney General’s Office.

  • fosforus@sopuli.xyz
    25·
    2 years ago

    Shouldn’t this apply to the George Floyd case then, as well? He was on meth and fentanyl at the time of his death, and with a heart disease, COVID-19, and a knee on your neck that cannot be a great combo.

    Seems how that case was declared as a 3rd degree murder already, this oughta be also.

    • funkless_eck@sh.itjust.works
      2·
      2 years ago

      lots of people’s grandparents are on pharmaceutical drugs that impair their ability, are often unwell and have trouble breathing.

      I dont see why that should be a good reason for putting my full weight on gamgam’s windpipe with my knee.

    • Kalash@feddit.ch
      11·
      2 years ago

      Well, that happened in 2020 and he did have trouble breathing … probably covid related.

      • fosforus@sopuli.xyz
        21·
        2 years ago

        I’ve heard it. I’ve also done some martial arts almost all my life. A knee to the neck like Chauvin did isn’t exactly a killing move, but also holding that position for 9+ minutes against a person who was co-operating and distressed, and eventually non-responsive was way fucking excessive. Especially when Chauvin had colleagues at the site and wasn’t being threatened by anyone else.

        Stlil, it seems to me more like an involuntary manslaughter and criminal amounts of stupidity rather than murder, but I’m not confident at all about that and I won’t really put up much of a fight for this opinion.

        George Floyd was clearly no hero though, and it’s fucking idiotic that he has been made into one.

      • nova_ad_vitum@lemmy.ca
        1·
        2 years ago

        1. Wait for someone to take medication.

        2. Choke them to death

        3. Be found but guilty because they were on drugs.

        Congrats you legalized murder.

        • fosforus@sopuli.xyz
          02·
          2 years ago

          I mean your overall point is valid, but

          Wait for someone to take medication.

          He was on several different types of recreational drugs, in addition to a few types of medication.