COP CONVICTED OF CRIMINALLY NEGLIGENT HOMOCIDE
- OFR -
On March 9, 1999, Peter Nichelson, a white police officer from the
Millington, Tennessee, police department, went on trial in Memphis
charged with second-degree murder in the brutal killing on July 7,
1997,
of a 17-year-old Black youth, Rodie Gossett. What was Gossett's crime?
He ran a stop sign, was driving a car that did not belong to him with
the trunk lock punched out, and then he led police on a car chase.
(Although the car did not belong to him, it was not stolen). At some
point in the chase, the car Gossett was driving collided with two
police
squad cars. However, Gossett and Reginald Miller, a passenger in the
car with Gossett, were eventually cornered at a Memphis gas station by
several Millington police officers and Shelby County sheriff's
deputies,
with at least one holding a shotgun on Gossett. The situation was
completely under control and both Gossett and Miller were unarmed and
had their hands up in the air when Nichelson walked up to Gossett and
shot him in the back of the head .
Nichelson admits shooting Gossett but his defense is that the shooting
was accidental. He claims the gun discharged when it accidentally hit
Gossett's shoulder as Nichelson was trying to restrain him. However,
witnesses indicate that it was nothing but cold-blooded murder. There
was no scuffle at the time Nichelson shot Gossett. Gossett's hands
were
in the air.
If Nichelson had been convicted of second degree murder, he could have
faced 15 to 25 years imprisonment. However, jurors decided to let
Nicholson off with a conviction of criminally negligent homocide,
finding his actions reckless, but not intentional. Criminally
negligent
homocide was a lesser included offense of the second-degree murder
charge. Now Nicholson will only face a maximum of 1 to 2 years
imprisonment. His sentencing is set for April 15. As usual, we NEVER
receive justice when the police murder our people.
Gossett's family has sued the city of Millington, the Millington Police
Department, the Millington police chief, Nichelson, and Millington's
mayor for $15 million for violating Gossett's civil rights.
--
--
- Outlaw Frog Raper -
Schenectady Copwatch
(518) 356-4238
crick...@hotmail.com
On Thu, 09 Aug 2001 13:13:30 -0400, - OFR - <ofr...@hotmail.com>
wrote:
The Law
"- OFR -" <ofr...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3B72C4...@hotmail.com...
> COP CONVICTED OF CRIMINALLY NEGLIENT HOMOCIDE
>
> On March 9, 1999, Peter Nichelson, a white police officer from the
> Millington, Tennessee, police department, went on trial in Memphis
> charged with second-degree murder in the brutal killing on July 7,
> 1997
> He ran a stop sign, was driving a car that did not belong to him with
> the trunk lock punched out, and then he led police on a car chase.
Moral of the story... don't make the police have to chase you. When the
lights come on, STOP.
That poor officer and his family. If Gossett had just stopped when the
Police told him to, then he never would've ended up dead.
>
> Gossett's family has sued the city of Millington, the Millington Police
> Department, the Millington police chief, Nichelson, and Millington's
> mayor for $15 million for violating Gossett's civil rights.
Uh, yeah. Why doesn't Nichelson's family sue the family of Gossett for not
stopping when the police told him to stop, thus causing the chase, and the
accidental discharge of the weapon that Nicholson was forced to draw because
Gossett didn't stop when he was told to. Take the blame off the Police and
cause the violator to become accountable.
Svar Kleng
> That poor officer and his family. If Gossett had just stopped when the
> Police told him to, then he never would've ended up dead.
Don't excuse this cops negligence because of the irrationality of a 17
yr old. The law is still the law. You don't shoot people you are
taking into custody who have relented. No matter what. You leave the
prosecution and the punishment to the attorneys, the judge, and the
jury. Didn't you learn this in high school?
Or maybe you never made it that far?
> > Gossett's family has sued the city of Millington, the Millington Police
> > Department, the Millington police chief, Nichelson, and Millington's
> > mayor for $15 million for violating Gossett's civil rights.
>
> Uh, yeah. Why doesn't Nichelson's family sue the family of Gossett for not
> stopping when the police told him to stop, thus causing the chase, and the
> accidental discharge of the weapon that Nicholson was forced to draw because
> Gossett didn't stop when he was told to. Take the blame off the Police and
> cause the violator to become accountable.
>
The blame stays with the shooter. Rightfully so. If you can't even
draw your weapon without discharging it, then you shouldn't be
employed as a police officer. The Gossett family is entitled to the
law suit and will most definitely win. The difference, the boy didn't
kill anyone, the cop did. If Gossett had been taken into custody
lawfully, you wouldn't have heard anything about it. Gossett could of
learned from his mistake and perhaps become a more productive member
of society, but now the taxpayers will have to pay either for this
cop's mistake, or his twisted sense of justice.
For someone who likes to identify themself with the law, you don't
seem to value it in any way. Wake up. Making idiotic statements only
justifies hatred towards police officers in general.
Phil
>
OFR, usually you cut and paste news articles into the newsgroups,
including the paper and reporter. This time, you didn't. Spelling
homicide incorrectly makes me think that you wrote this up yourself.
What's your source on this story. I'd like to read it without your
spin.
Phil
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