A judge in Kentucky dismissed core charges against former Louisville police officials involved in the raid that resulted in Breonna Taylor’s death. Judge Charles R. Simpson III stated that Taylor’s death was caused by her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, who opened fire when police arrived. The judge ruled that the officers, Joshua Jaynes and Kyle Meany, were not directly responsible for Taylor’s death since they were not present during the raid. The charges related to a falsified search warrant and lying to investigators will remain. The U.S. Justice Department is reviewing the decision and considering next steps.
The case has been a focal point for civil rights activists, particularly after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The federal charges against Jaynes and Meany were based on depriving Taylor of her constitutional rights, resulting in her death. The judge’s ruling downgraded the charges to misdemeanors, reducing the maximum sentence to life in prison.
The family of Breonna Taylor expressed disappointment with the ruling but stated they will continue to fight for justice. The federal case also included charges against two other former police officials, one of whom pleaded guilty to conspiracy. Another former officer, Brett Hankison, faced a mistrial, and prosecutors plan to retry him in October. Dennis Romero is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital, with contributions from the Associated Press.
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