Jury in Breonna Taylor federal civil rights trial opens deliberations in case of ex-officer
Associated PressLOUISVILLE, Ky. — A jury began deliberations Monday afternoon at the federal trial of a former Louisville police officer accused of violating Breonna Taylor’s civil rights by opening fire on her apartment the night she was killed in a botched raid. A federal prosecutor said in closing arguments Monday that Hankison “sent bullets flying” into Taylor’s apartment and an adjoining apartment. Prosecutor Michael Songer said that Hankison’s actions “dishonored” other police officers, adding that the role of police is to protect human life and that Hankison knew that “firing blindly was wrong.” Hankison was one of four former officers charged by the U.S. Department of Justice last year with violating Taylor’s civil rights, accused of endangering Taylor, her boyfriend and Taylor’s neighbors, who shared a wall with her apartment. Earlier, under questioning from his attorney, Hankison said he opened fire to “stop the threat” posed by the shooter in Taylor’s apartment.