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Inglewood Police Brutality Case Goes to Jury
Aired July 24, 2003 - 13:37 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: A case that rekindled a national debate about police brutality has just been handed to the jury. It will decide whether former Inglewood, California Police Officer Jeremy Morse crossed the line when he slammed a handcuffed teenager on to the trunk of police car last year. You're familiar with the tape by now.
Our Dan Lothian is covering this trial. He joins us now live with an update. What is the latest, Dan?
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Miles, a jury made up of six men and six women, as you mentioned, are now -- or is now deliberating in Los Angeles. This is of course that case you that mentioned, in Inglewood, California. Took place a little more than a year ago.
Who can forget that videotape of young 16-year-old Donovan Jackson being put over the front end of a car? His -- slammed into the car, and also punched by police officer, now ex-police officer, Jeremy Morse. He's charged with assault under the color of authority. His ex-partner, Bijan Darvish, is charged with filing a false police report.
Now during the trial, which lasted seven days, the defense presented use of force experts. And what they were trying to portray to the jury is that what they saw on that tape, however disturbing it may have been, was carried out in the line of duty and along with policy. They wanted to show that whatever took place was reasonable. And they presented these use of force experts who did agree that what Morse did at the scene was reasonable.
Of course, the prosecution on the other hand presented witnesses who said just the opposite. And, in fact, the prosecution, in closing arguments yesterday, tried to portray Morse as an out of control police officer who was carrying out street justice.
They also put Donovan Jackson on the stand and he said that he, at no time, resisted. Morse said he did resist and that the reason he was punched is because the 16-year-old -- the then 16-year-old, grabbed him in the groin area. The young man saying that he at no time resisted.
Now, this case, as you mentioned has been quite controversial since the very beginning because in Inglewood and other inner city communities there is always that perception of police brutality. That concern continues. And now activists in the community asking for calm despite the verdict. Back to you. O'BRIEN: CNN's Dan Lothian, in L.A., thank you very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired July 24, 2003 - 13:37 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: A case that rekindled a national debate about police brutality has just been handed to the jury. It will decide whether former Inglewood, California Police Officer Jeremy Morse crossed the line when he slammed a handcuffed teenager on to the trunk of police car last year. You're familiar with the tape by now.
Our Dan Lothian is covering this trial. He joins us now live with an update. What is the latest, Dan?
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Miles, a jury made up of six men and six women, as you mentioned, are now -- or is now deliberating in Los Angeles. This is of course that case you that mentioned, in Inglewood, California. Took place a little more than a year ago.
Who can forget that videotape of young 16-year-old Donovan Jackson being put over the front end of a car? His -- slammed into the car, and also punched by police officer, now ex-police officer, Jeremy Morse. He's charged with assault under the color of authority. His ex-partner, Bijan Darvish, is charged with filing a false police report.
Now during the trial, which lasted seven days, the defense presented use of force experts. And what they were trying to portray to the jury is that what they saw on that tape, however disturbing it may have been, was carried out in the line of duty and along with policy. They wanted to show that whatever took place was reasonable. And they presented these use of force experts who did agree that what Morse did at the scene was reasonable.
Of course, the prosecution on the other hand presented witnesses who said just the opposite. And, in fact, the prosecution, in closing arguments yesterday, tried to portray Morse as an out of control police officer who was carrying out street justice.
They also put Donovan Jackson on the stand and he said that he, at no time, resisted. Morse said he did resist and that the reason he was punched is because the 16-year-old -- the then 16-year-old, grabbed him in the groin area. The young man saying that he at no time resisted.
Now, this case, as you mentioned has been quite controversial since the very beginning because in Inglewood and other inner city communities there is always that perception of police brutality. That concern continues. And now activists in the community asking for calm despite the verdict. Back to you. O'BRIEN: CNN's Dan Lothian, in L.A., thank you very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
