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Opening statements begin at NYC police officer's trial
Published January 25, 2016
The latest from the manslaughter trial of New York police officer Peter Liang, who fatally shot Akai Gurley in a pitch black stairwell in 2014 (all times local):
11:30 a.m.
A prosecutor has told a jury that a New York City police officer killed an innocent man by recklessly pulling his gun and firing into a darkened stairwell in 2014.
Prosecutor Marc Fliedner (FLEED'-nuhr) made the accusation Monday in opening statements at the manslaughter trial of Peter Liang (lee-ANG').
Fliedner also said that Liang and his partner failed to assist Akai Gurley as he was dying.
Investigators say Liang was holding his flashlight and his gun when he fired a single round in a pitch black stairwell. The bullet bounced off a wall before striking Gurley, who was on the floor below him.
His lawyers have said the shooting was an accident, not a crime. Prosecutors agree that Liang didn't mean to shoot and kill Gurley.
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3 a.m.
A rookie New York Police Department officer who shot an unarmed man inside a housing project is going on trial.
Opening statements are set for Monday morning in the manslaughter case against Officer Peter Liang (lee-ANG'). The officer shot and killed 28-year-old Akai Gurley in 2014.
His lawyers have said the shooting was an accident, not a crime. They've also indicated Liang will take the witness stand.
Investigators say Liang was holding his flashlight and his gun when he fired a single round in a pitch black stairwell. The bullet bounced off a wall before striking Gurley, who was on the floor below him.
Prosecutors also say that the officer and his partner argued over whether to report the shooting to supervisors.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/opening-statements-begin-at-nyc-police-officers-trial