Update: No Black Jurors Selected For Oscar Grant Trial

POLITICS

» by Danielle Canada June 9, 2010, 10:37am

Less than a week after potential jurors were asked if they could overlook race in the Oscar Grant murder trial, a jury has been selected.

Seven whites, four Hispanics, one East Indian and NO Blacks will determine if a former BART official intentionally killed Oscar Grant in cold blood.

Former Bay Area Rapid Transit official Johannes Mehserle is facing trial for the shooting death of the unarmed Black man after video surfaced showing him fatally shooting a restrained Grant at an Oakland train station New Years Day 2009.

Mehserle says he didn't intentionally murder Grant and his attorneys claim that he meant to use his taser but fired his weapon by mistake.

The Associated Press reports that Jack Bryson of Oakland and his two sons Nigel and Jackie---who were with Grant when he was killed, left an L.A. court room in disgust after hearing that no Blacks were selected to hear the trial.

A disappointed Bryson tells the AP,

"This is like a slap in the face. This case came all the way to Los Angeles after the judge in Alameda County said they couldn't get a fair and impartial jury there. This is the best you can do, and you did this in two days. We could've stayed back in Oakland for this."


Cephus “Bobby” Johnson, Grant's uncle, also tells the Associated Press that he was “extremely surprised” that no Blacks were selected considering the L.A. County area's large Black population.

Comment Comments 8 Tags Tags: , , ,
  • zoriansmom

    I'm not surprised at all especially when I read that the bart cop's attorney wants to bring into evidence Oscar Grant's juvenile arrest record to determine his character ? What does have to do with anything? Is the trial being held in Simi Valley?

  • StayC

    This is sick. I'm from the bay and I'm white and in no way, shape or form is this ok. I am scared that justice will not be served and that this stupid BART "cop" will get off, free and clear. I've seen countless videos and Oscar Grant did NOTHING to provoke Mehserle. I pray for Grant, his family, and the people of Oakland.

  • Anthony

    Even if the cop shot him by mistake, he still shot him. He still should have to pay for his mistake. It wouldn't even be a trial if it were someone else that mistakingly shot someone. Mistake or not. His A$$ should be going to jail. Point blank period.

  • TheGreat

    How is race not being considered SEVEN flippin white ppl on the jury and the defendant is white! Impartial would be and even number of white and black with other races present as well. This is modern day race favoritism where the white man gets his way and it's 10x worse cuz he's a COP. White ppl can get away wit alot but a white cop can get away wit murder.

  • TheGreat

    LITERIALLY

  • zoriansmom

    I think the trial is being held in Simi Valley which is not a lot of blacks there.

  • Mayra A.

    This is so unjust! Trial was brought down to LA County in order to minimize the uprising in Oakland...are they serious? The trial is being held at Los Angeles Criminal Court in downtown L.A. On June 14 there will be a m*****ive protest outside the court it will start at 7am- the time has come to stop police brutality!

  • Tom

    If JM is suppose to have a jury of his peers, why aren't their any police officers on the jury? Obviously the prosecution and defense will pick the best jury members to suit their case, so thats why there are no black on the jury.