The Kelly Thomas Video: "The Unforgivable Beating That Took His Life"

Two former cops accused of unlawfully killing a schizophrenic California homeless man in July 2011 have been found not guilty.

Manuel Ramos and Jay Cicinelli had been charged with battering Kelly Thomas with a baton and a stun gun during a vicious beating in Orange County that left him unconscious.

He never recovered from the attack — which was captured on video tape — and died just five days later.
Former Fullerton police officer Manuel Ramos listens as the not guilty verdict is read in the Kelly Thomas murder trial in a Santa Ana, Calif., courtroom on Monday.

The acquittals came despite what appeared to be damning footage of the then-Fullerton officers continuing to beat the 37-year-old even as he begged for mercy and said he was sorry.

The ruling outraged Thomas’ family and supporters.

“Where do we really find justice any more in our justice system?” the victim’s father, Ron Thomas, told reporters. “It has been proven right here today that they will get away with it. They will get away with it.
Kelly Thomas, a schizophrenic, died five days after a violent confrontation with former Fullerton police officers in 2011.

“This is so egregious ... the audio, the video ... any bad cop can now just walk around and do what he wants to any of us,” the father added. “We’re all in trouble now.”

Ramos was acquitted of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. Jay Cicinelli was found not guilty of involuntary manslaughter and excessive use of force.

Former Fullerton police Officer Jay Cicinelli shows relief Monday, after he is found not guilty of involuntary manslaughter and excessive use of force for the 2011 beating of Kelly Thomas.

“(Cicinelli) was relieved, after 2 1/2 years of having this over your head,” the former cop’s lawyer, Mark Schwartz, told the Los Angeles Times. “We’re just going to have to take a deep breath and enjoy the moment.”

Prosecutors said the 33-minute grainy surveillance video showed the officers using undue force on the suspect, who had a history of run-ins with the police, the newspaper reported.

A county pathologist ruled Thomas died, in part, from a lack of oxygen to the brain caused by injuries sustained during the incident.
Ron Thomas, father of 37-year-old Kelly Thomas, is pictured in 2011 asking the Fullerton City Council about the death of his son during an arrest.

Defense attorneys, however, said Thomas was to blame for the fight after he disobeyed a lawful order and then fled police who were making an arrest.

They also said that Thomas was not a helpless man, but a violent and dangerous person with a history of drug use and was homeless after beating members of his own family.

After the verdict, Thomas's parents stood outside court to condemn the outcome.
Ex-Fullerton police officer Jay Cicinelli (r.) looks back into the court gallery as his attorney Michael Schwartz (c.) embraces the defense team after the acquittals on Monday.

"Just horrified," said his mom Cathy Thomas, with his father Ron adding: "It's carte blanche for police officers everywhere to beat us, kill us because the verdict proves they'll get away with it."

Six officers were initially believed to have been involved in the attack. Three were never charged, but one officer faced trial.

But Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas said prosecutors will no longer pursue charges against the third cop.

“I don’t intend to proceed with another trial when the two officers here were acquitted,” Rackauckas told reporters after the verdicts were read.

The FBI — which began to probe the incident back in 2011 to determine whether Thomas’ civil rights were violated during the beating — said it would examine evidence to “see if further investigation is warranted,” a spokeswoman said.
 

▁ ▂ ▄ ▅ ▆ ▇ █ Links To Research █ ▇ ▆ ▅ ▄ ▂ ▁

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Kelly_Thomas

http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/13/us/california-homeless-beating-verdict/

http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2014/01/a-california-jurys-baffling-verdict/283053/
 

๑۞๑,¸¸,ø¤º°`°๑۩ .R.I.P. ๑۩ ,¸¸,ø¤º°`°๑۞๑
 

(-_-) Kelly Thomas (-_-)

 April 5, 1974 – July 10, 2011

May You Rest In Peace

¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º° May The Heavens °º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸

Embrace You Forever