Did BART Officer Johannes Mehserle's Crime Fit the Punishment of Involuntary Manslaughter?

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) two year veteran police officer Johannes Mehserle gets involuntary manslaughter. Mehserle has been on trial surrounding the "accidental" murder by Taser gun mix up when Mehserle grabbed the wrong item from his side, shooting and killing Oscar Grant, 22.

The less than Taser educated white cop has fallen under the microscope between an act of racism since Grant was black and an act of aggressive behavior due to the circumstances. However, during the closing arguments Mehserle's attorney, Michael Rains, poured it on thick when it came to commonsense that no officer would shoot a man with witnesses all around him. Evidently Rains has never seen North Carolina's past track record.

Who could forget 18-year-old Peyton Strickland, Cape Fear Community College and UNC-Wilmington student, including class B thief. Strickland robbed another student of two Playstations then was visited by police. According to his roommate, a witness, and MSNBC (AP) Strickland most likely was holding the Playstations as cops came bashing through the door. Strickland was shot and died, unarmed - over Playstation.

Soon after his death N.C. was outraged over the turn of events, a lack of murder charges entered the mid-key story. But truth be told. Strickland may not have been in a train station like Grant. Strickland may have been a thief, unlike Grant. But Strickland is dead after being shot by an aggressive act by an officer, just like Grant. But we all must admit - not all cops would have responded the same.

We observe the video of the shooting compliments of YouTube and KTVU. As mentioned within the report from KTVU it does appear as if there is a few seconds of stand still as the cops compose the aftermath of the shot. It is not clear whether Mehserle appears surprised at mixing up his Taser with the gun or confused by his own aggressive act. View the video and judge for yourself.

What did the jury decide? Not second-degree murder nor the acquittal. Mehserle got involuntary manslaughter. What is he looking at? Far less time than second-degree murder by years. Two to four is the going rate for the Mehserle verdict - but then again, count on shorter time with good behavior. The judge ruled out first-degree murder.

As the Oakland verdict rages in short lived riots, including the 500 plus people expressing a flaw within the system outside of Oakland City Hall according to KTVU, it's a known fact that when the smoke clears and the crowds dim the news remains the same - Oscar Grant's memory lives on in the eyes of his family, friends, and videos shot by witnesses.

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Source(s):
MSNBC
YouTube - KTVU