Yanez Attorney Calls for End to Protests
Minneapolis, MN (Learfield Wire Services/TTWN Media Networks) - A lawyer for Saint Anthony police officer Jeronimo Yanez takes issue with the strong public reactions to the dashcam video showing how the officer killed Philando Castile last July.
Yanez’ defense attorney Earl Gray says people have a right to their opinion, but adds “the bottom line is [Yanez] went to a trial by a jury and under our criminal justice system and the jury decided he was not guilty, unanimously. So it should be ended there instead of people, vigilante-type people wanting to do things that are not within our system.”
Yanez was acquitted of manslaughter charges following nearly 30 hours of deliberation. Gray blames media coverage for misperceptions of Officer Yanez’ guilt and says “it would seem to me that anybody who sat through the trial would understand why the jury found Officer Yanez not guilty, unanimously. People outside the courtroom, who have opinions and are up in arms, they have a right to their opinion, but thank god we have a criminal justice system that allows jury trials so that the opinion of the public does not rule.”
Democratic Governor Mark Dayton says the video released Tuesday indicates that Minnesotans are not "treated equally."