Is this Murder? Kelly Thomas Killed by Fullerton, CA Police Officers

[HairOfTheDog]

In American courts it all seems to be about villifying and besmirching the reputation of the victim.

The police in America seem to be like the Met police here a law unto themselves.

It's my opinion that most police officers here in the US are committed to public safety and doing their jobs in good faith. But, there are a lot of asshole power-abusing cops out there too.

Smearing the victim is definitely a common defense tactic, whether the defendants are police officers or serial killers. It's a tactic that often succeeds if the victims have any trouble in their backgrounds and the defendants/suspects have cleaner images or savvy attorneys; sometimes because the defendants'/suspects' actions were truly justified under the circumstances and too often because the victims aren't alive to defend themselves against self-serving bullshit claims. IMO.

In this case, I'm convinced that Kelly Thomas died unnecessarily at the hands of abusive asshole cops and I really hope that they are convicted. We should know soon. Closing arguments are likely to finish up today and then jury deliberations will get underway.