Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone
Originally posted by: JS80
Is it possible they don't let him plea? I feel like the animals of Oakland will demand murder charge.
Certainly possible, but IMO the cost-benefit doesn't make that a smart move.
Assuming (and I am fully aware this is an assumption based on evidence which doesn't yet exist) he claims he intended to use his taser and this was a complete mistake on his part, I don't see how any fair jury could find him guilty of murder beyond a reasonable doubt based on what they see on the video. I'd argue the same will hold true even if he doesn't testify, based on the video. Ergo, the City would be encumbered with the expense of a trial and the prospect that he will probably only be convicted of manslaughter anyway. If they're foolish enough not to instruct the jury on the lesser included offense of manslaughter, he will walk 9 times out of 10, and imagine the riots that will result then.
I suppose there's some chance that there is other evidence that this was an intentional shooting that might tend to obviate what we see in the video. In that case, I guess it's possible, albeit very unlikely (I'd set the odds at 5% or less) that he will simply plead to murder or voluntary manslaughter. I would find that VERY surprising, but criminal law is like that sometimes.
I still say that at the end of the day, whether he pleads guilty or not, he ends of convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced accordingly.