The first 2 verdicts are in, regarding the death of Elijah McClain… a conviction, and an acquittal…
Four years after her son’s death, Elijah’s mother Sheneen (shuh-NEEN) McClain is far from “satisfied…”
231013 Verdicts and Ms McClain :17 Q:…taxpayer money…
She says those decisions Thursday aren’t enough. After 2 full days of deliberation, the jury has convicted Aurora Police Officer Randy Rodema (roh-DEE-muh) of the criminally negligent homicide of her son, and 3rd-degree assault. Those are lesser crimes than he was originally charged with. The same panel acquitted fired officer Jason Rosenblatt of all charges. Rodema faces up to 6 years in prison for his convictions. Ms. McClain says that potential doesn’t reflect the brutality and negligence her late son experienced 4 years ago…
231013 S McClain- far from enough :18 Q:…on their hands…
She only had hours to process those first 2 verdicts, before the second of 3 trials over her son’s death begins today, with jury selection. The defendant will be Nathan Woodyard, the first officer who encountered Elijah walking home from a convenience store, accused of reckless manslaughter. Two paramedics will be tried next month. Rodema is due to be sentenced to anything from probation to 6 years behind bars, January 5th.
State Attorney General Phil Weiser said it was critical the case went to a jury…
231013 AG Phil Weiser on McClain Case :12 Q:…ahead of him…
Elijah McClain’s death has had ripple effects. It’s led to significant statewide police reform, affecting how every officer in Colorado does that job. More than 2 years after Elijah died, Aurora Police and the local fire-rescue department entered a consent decree, part of an agreement with the Attorney General’s office. Police had to develop new policies to tackle what state investigators called in these words, “routine racially-biased policing,”
with officers repeatedly using unlawful excessive force. State legislators also passed sweeping police reform laws, banning choke-holds like the one used on McClain, and required every law enforcement agency statewide to use body cameras. Another new law prohibits officers from ordering paramedics to give sedatives like ketamine (KEHT-uh-meen), which was injected into Elijah, as part of an arrest.