low graphics version | feedback | help
Diallo officers urged to resign
Passers-by look at tributes laid at Mr Diallo's door
The district attorney in the Amadou Diallo case has called for the resignation of the four white police officers acquitted of murdering the unarmed Guinean immigrant.
Somebody who policed in the way these four officers policed that night, they should resign.  |
District Attorney Robert Johnson
|
The officers still face a police review, and the possibility of a federal probe and civil lawsuit by the family of Mr Diallo, who died last February in a hail of police gunfire.
The officers fired 41 bullets at Mr Diallo as he stood on the doorstep of his Bronx apartment, mistakenly thinking the wallet he pulled from his pocket was a handgun. He was hit 19 times.
"Somebody who policed in the way these four officers policed that night, they should resign," District Attorney Robert Johnson said.
Jurors under fire
He also criticised the jurors who acquitted the officers, saying the evidence merited convictions.
The officers fired 41 bullets at Mr Diallo as he stood on the doorstep of his Bronx apartment, mistakenly thinking the wallet he pulled from his pocket was a handgun. He was hit 19 times.
"Somebody who policed in the way these four officers policed that night, they should resign," District Attorney Robert Johnson said.
Jurors under fire
He also criticised the jurors who acquitted the officers, saying the evidence merited convictions.
 Kenneth Boss (right) and Sean Carroll after the verdict
|
Several jurors said prosecutors gave them nothing upon which to base convictions.
Mr Johnson said the prosecutors did "a very good job."
The case was made "loud and clear that Amadou Diallo was prejudged," he said.
"I don't think anybody can say that they couldn't come to those conclusions if they wanted to."
Desk duties
The officers - Kenneth Boss, Sean Carroll, Edward McMellon and Richard Murphy - remain on duty.
Mr Johnson said the prosecutors did "a very good job."
The case was made "loud and clear that Amadou Diallo was prejudged," he said.
"I don't think anybody can say that they couldn't come to those conclusions if they wanted to."
Desk duties
The officers - Kenneth Boss, Sean Carroll, Edward McMellon and Richard Murphy - remain on duty.
 Amadou Diallo: Unarmed
|
But they have been assigned to desk jobs, and their badges and guns have been taken away.
It could be months before Police Commissioner Howard Safir considers restoring them to full duty, or pursues disciplinary action that could include dismissal.
Lawyers acting for the officers said the men had not decided if they will return to policing.
After a weekend of protests in New York, a crowd of 200 gathered in Minneapolis on Monday, and dozens assembled in Baltimore.
The protesters said they wanted to send the message that police brutality can happen anywhere.
"The next 41 could hit you," read one placard.
Force under fire
The Diallo case is just one of a series of controversies surrounding police forces on both sides of the US.
In New York last year two officers were convicted for their part in an assault on Abner Louima.
As the Diallo verdict was being digested across the US, three New York policemen - including one of those convicted last year - were in court charged with obstruction of justice in the Louima case.
In California, the Los Angeles Police Department's Rampart Division - the anti-gang crime unit - is at the centre of a long-running corruption investigation.
And two officials with the Immigration and Naturalization Service have begun legal action claiming Los Angeles officers threatened and assaulted them.
It could be months before Police Commissioner Howard Safir considers restoring them to full duty, or pursues disciplinary action that could include dismissal.
Lawyers acting for the officers said the men had not decided if they will return to policing.
After a weekend of protests in New York, a crowd of 200 gathered in Minneapolis on Monday, and dozens assembled in Baltimore.
The protesters said they wanted to send the message that police brutality can happen anywhere.
"The next 41 could hit you," read one placard.
Force under fire
The Diallo case is just one of a series of controversies surrounding police forces on both sides of the US.
In New York last year two officers were convicted for their part in an assault on Abner Louima.
As the Diallo verdict was being digested across the US, three New York policemen - including one of those convicted last year - were in court charged with obstruction of justice in the Louima case.
In California, the Los Angeles Police Department's Rampart Division - the anti-gang crime unit - is at the centre of a long-running corruption investigation.
And two officials with the Immigration and Naturalization Service have begun legal action claiming Los Angeles officers threatened and assaulted them.
|
Search BBC News Online |
|
|
 Advanced search options | |
| |
 | |
 | |
| |
 | BBC RADIO NEWS |
| |
| |
 | BBC ONE TV NEWS |
| |
| |
| WORLD NEWS SUMMARY |
| |
| |
| |
| |
 | PROGRAMMES GUIDE |
Country profiles
See also:
Internet links:
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
E-mail this story to a friend
~RS~a~RS~international~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~09~RS~)