Brett Hankison Mistrial: Federal Indictments Unsealed
Former Louisville Detective Faces Civil Rights Violations
Mistrial Declared in Hankison's Assault Trial
In a dramatic turn of events, a judge has declared a mistrial in the civil rights trial of Brett Hankison, the former Louisville police detective who fired 10 bullets through Breonna Taylor's window during a no-knock raid in 2020. The mistrial occurred on Thursday after the jury deliberated for approximately three hours following closing arguments.
Separately, a federal grand jury in Louisville has returned two indictments against Hankison, which were unsealed on Friday. The federal charges include one count of deprivation of civil rights under color of law and one count of using excessive force.
The mistrial in the assault trial raises questions about the accountability of police officers involved in fatal shootings. The verdict in the federal case, which is expected to proceed in the coming months, will be closely watched as it could have significant implications for future prosecutions of law enforcement officers.
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