A federal jury on Friday convicted former Louisville, Kentucky police detective Brett Hankison of using excessive force during the 2020 raid that resulted in the death of Breonna Taylor.
After 20 hours of deliberation over three days, the jury found the former officer guilty of violating Taylor’s civil rights. This marks the first conviction of any of the officers who participated in the raid.
Taylor’s case, along with George Floyd’s in Minneapolis, Minnesota, sparked widespread protests and unrest against police misconduct across the country.
“Breonna Taylor’s life mattered,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, in a press release after the decision. “We hope the jury’s verdict recognizing this violation of Ms. Taylor’s civil and constitutional rights brings some small measure…
