The prosecutor in the case of former NYPD officer Peter Liang is suggesting that he serve no jail time and instead be placed on house arrest. Liang, who shot and killed unarmed Black man Akai Gurley in a Brooklyn apartment hallway in 2014, was convicted of manslaughter last month in the matter and the decision by the district attorney has angered the family of Gurley.
The Brooklyn district attorney’s office issued a letter to the judge presiding over the case to not seek jail time for Liang. Brooklyn DA Kenneth Thompson is suggesting that Liang serve five years probation along with six months of house arrest as reported by the New York Post. Thompson’s reasoning is that Liang does not appear to be a future threat to society so jailing him would be counterproductive.
The Post reports:
District Attorney Ken Thompson said he is recommending five years of probation for former cop Peter Liang — who was convicted of manslaughter in February in the death of Akai Gurley — as well as six months of home confinement with electric monitoring and 500 hours of community service.
“Peter Liang was indicted, prosecuted and subsequently convicted by a jury because his reckless actions caused an innocent man to lose his life,” Thompson said in a statement.
“There is no evidence, however, that he intended to kill or injure Akai Gurley. When Mr. Liang went into that building that night, he did so as part of his job and to keep the people of Brooklyn and our city safe.”
Gurley’s aunt, Hertencia Petersen, called Thompson’s letter a “modern-day lynching” and blasted Thompson, a Black man, for not informing the family of his decision to reccommend the lighter treatment of Liang.
Further, Gurley’s mother, Sylvia Palmer, says she heard about Thompson’s moves via the media reports the New York Daily News. Petersen further added that Thompson, Liang and the justice system have “blood” on their hands.
Liang faces up to 15 years in prison during his April 14 sentencing.
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Photo: screen shot
