McClain died in 2019 after being put in a neck hold by a third officer and pinned to the ground, then injected by paramedics with an overdose of ketamine
BRIGHTON, Colo. — Jurors convicted a Denver-area police officer Thursday and acquitted another of charges in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain, a Black man whose name became a rallying cry in protests over racial injustice in policing.
Roedema and Rosenblatt were charged with manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and second-degree assault — all felonies. Roedema and another officer who wasn’t charged held down McClain while paramedics administered the ketamine. Rosenblatt’s attorney had pointed out during the trial that he was not near McClain at that point in the confrontation.
Roedema and Rosenblatt did not testify in their defense at trial. Their attorneys blamed McClain’s death on the paramedics for injecting him with ketamine, which doctors said is what ultimately killed him. Despite the emotional weight of McClain’s last words captured on body camera and a story about him playing the violin in an animal shelter, the trial did not include much testimony about him or his life.
The initial statement was heard on the body camera footage but exactly what happened is difficult to see. The prosecution urged jurors to be skeptical, saying Rosenblatt said he could not feel anyone reaching for his gun.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Jury deliberates in first trial in Elijah McClain's deathTwo officers are accused of killing Elijah McClain in 2019.
Read more »
Jury deliberates in first trial in Elijah McClain's deathTwo officers are accused of killing Elijah McClain in 2019.
Read more »
Jury deliberates in first trial in Elijah McClain's deathTwo officers are accused of killing Elijah McClain in 2019.
Read more »
Jury deliberates in first trial in Elijah McClain's deathTwo officers are accused of killing Elijah McClain in 2019.
Read more »
Jury deliberates in first trial in Elijah McClain's deathTwo officers are accused of killing Elijah McClain in 2019.
Read more »
Jury deliberates in first trial in Elijah McClain's deathTwo officers are accused of killing Elijah McClain in 2019.
Read more »