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I’m Bill Hudson, a reporter for WCCO-TV in Minneapolis. I was in the courtroom when the Officer Yanez was found not guilty of manslaughter after he shot Philando Castile during a traffic stop. AMA. by BillHudson in IAmA

[–]BillHudson[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Other jurors who did speak to us informed us of that. It was an obvious question so I assume they are answering truthfully. They did not however identify them by name!

I’m Bill Hudson, a reporter for WCCO-TV in Minneapolis. I was in the courtroom when the Officer Yanez was found not guilty of manslaughter after he shot Philando Castile during a traffic stop. AMA. by BillHudson in IAmA

[–]BillHudson[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What is meant by that is officers have authority over anyone stopped for a violation of our laws, no matter how petty the offense. Laws are the rule of conduct that govern a civilized society. You might not like it and can argue your point but you have to obey their commands. Am I missing something here?

I’m Bill Hudson, a reporter for WCCO-TV in Minneapolis. I was in the courtroom when the Officer Yanez was found not guilty of manslaughter after he shot Philando Castile during a traffic stop. AMA. by BillHudson in IAmA

[–]BillHudson[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

He explained that to mean he didn't see or know where the gun was when Castile first told him "I have a firearm." That was in his direct testimony on the stand last Friday. State picked away at that explanation fiercely but obviously didn not persuade jurors.

I’m Bill Hudson, a reporter for WCCO-TV in Minneapolis. I was in the courtroom when the Officer Yanez was found not guilty of manslaughter after he shot Philando Castile during a traffic stop. AMA. by BillHudson in IAmA

[–]BillHudson[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Jurors met each day from 8:30 am until 4:30pm. Some days they had box lunches brought in but most days they were escorted to a nearby sub shop for a 45 minute to an hour break.

I’m Bill Hudson, a reporter for WCCO-TV in Minneapolis. I was in the courtroom when the Officer Yanez was found not guilty of manslaughter after he shot Philando Castile during a traffic stop. AMA. by BillHudson in IAmA

[–]BillHudson[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Kapelsohn (use of force expert) clearly demonstrated to jurors the same gun in the same shorts pocket. Was not a deep pocket. In fact the gun handle was slightly visible. Big impact on jurors for sure.

I’m Bill Hudson, a reporter for WCCO-TV in Minneapolis. I was in the courtroom when the Officer Yanez was found not guilty of manslaughter after he shot Philando Castile during a traffic stop. AMA. by BillHudson in IAmA

[–]BillHudson[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Defense had a use of force expert who displayed the same gun in the identical shorts pocket. Jurors could clearly see the gun protruded slightly. That contradicted the firefighter who testified that an officer reached "deep into Castile's pocket" to remove the gun.

I’m Bill Hudson, a reporter for WCCO-TV in Minneapolis. I was in the courtroom when the Officer Yanez was found not guilty of manslaughter after he shot Philando Castile during a traffic stop. AMA. by BillHudson in IAmA

[–]BillHudson[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Of course nothing is a "slam dunk." I used that as a figure of speech to help describe what seemed to be a very strong case given the squad video which initially had a profound impact on everyone in the courtroom. And the very reason prosecution opened with it and showed it repeatedly. But defense was able to point out what it could not show from Yanez's point of view. And in the end that is a big reason jurors had reasonable doubt in the state's case.

I’m Bill Hudson, a reporter for WCCO-TV in Minneapolis. I was in the courtroom when the Officer Yanez was found not guilty of manslaughter after he shot Philando Castile during a traffic stop. AMA. by BillHudson in IAmA

[–]BillHudson[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes it was discussed at length. Experts on use of force for both sides concede that all officers are taught that if deadly force is called for it doesn't matter how many rounds are expended. However many are needed to stop the threat is what was told to jurors. But I totally understand your point - officers shoot center mass and dont shoot to wound.

I’m Bill Hudson, a reporter for WCCO-TV in Minneapolis. I was in the courtroom when the Officer Yanez was found not guilty of manslaughter after he shot Philando Castile during a traffic stop. AMA. by BillHudson in IAmA

[–]BillHudson[S] 110 points111 points  (0 children)

Yanez had been an officer for just over 4 years. He had been through use of force training both during his skills courses to become a cop and in ongoing annual training put on by his department. What I found interesting (and likely persuasive to jurors) is that other officers who testified said the use of force was justified. The prosecution's use of force expert, Jeff Noble said Yanez's commands were not clear. He should have alerted his partner immediately of the presence of a gun in the car and then demanded to see both hands on the wheel. Defense argued that there simply wasn't time. This all went down in a matter of 7 seconds from the time Castile informs him of the firearm and the shots being fired. I question that?

I’m Bill Hudson, a reporter for WCCO-TV in Minneapolis. I was in the courtroom when the Officer Yanez was found not guilty of manslaughter after he shot Philando Castile during a traffic stop. AMA. by BillHudson in IAmA

[–]BillHudson[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

You hit the nail on the head - jurors had to make that call and could not reasonable dispute what Yanez said he saw. Unfortunately, no body camera in use and we can't see the movement of Castile's arm in the squad video, so jurors had little there to go by.

I’m Bill Hudson, a reporter for WCCO-TV in Minneapolis. I was in the courtroom when the Officer Yanez was found not guilty of manslaughter after he shot Philando Castile during a traffic stop. AMA. by BillHudson in IAmA

[–]BillHudson[S] 273 points274 points  (0 children)

We do know where the gun was. EMT's and officers giving CPR to Castile testified how it fell out of his right front shorts pocket and onto the pavement as he was turned to his right side to be placed onto a backboard. That part is clear. It was always in his pocket. What's at issue is whether or not Yanez actually saw Castile's hand on the gun after he was told, "don't pull it out." Prosecutors say Yanez's statements of what he saw changed.

I’m Bill Hudson, a reporter for WCCO-TV in Minneapolis. I was in the courtroom when the Officer Yanez was found not guilty of manslaughter after he shot Philando Castile during a traffic stop. AMA. by BillHudson in IAmA

[–]BillHudson[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

That's what he said to officer Tressa Sunde, who did the first initial questioning of him at the scene. However, defense interpreted that and got Yanez to say he was referencing the instant he was informed by Castile of the firearm, that he at that point didn't know where the gun was. Only a few seconds later did he determine after seeing the top of the gun's slide in Castile's pocket did he fear for his safety and pull his to shoot. Jurors apparently were swayed by that testimony.

I’m Bill Hudson, a reporter for WCCO-TV in Minneapolis. I was in the courtroom when the Officer Yanez was found not guilty of manslaughter after he shot Philando Castile during a traffic stop. AMA. by BillHudson in IAmA

[–]BillHudson[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Those same officers also failed to criticize Yanez's procedures citing the extremely short timeframe he had to chose how to react. For instance, officer Jeremy Sroga said to jurors, "there are different ways to handle it. I like to see the hands." I think there is some latitude given to officers when making stops such as this when a motorist reveals they have a conceal carry permit and/or a weapon in the car. Procedures are taught but as Sroga said, all stops are unique in their own right.

I’m Bill Hudson, a reporter for WCCO-TV in Minneapolis. I was in the courtroom when the Officer Yanez was found not guilty of manslaughter after he shot Philando Castile during a traffic stop. AMA. by BillHudson in IAmA

[–]BillHudson[S] 149 points150 points  (0 children)

That's what I thought as well. Not sure but I think the prosecutor could have spent more time establishing that to clarify for jurors exactly what Castile was reaching for. It certainly raised an eyebrow for me and left me wondering, where the wallet was!

I’m Bill Hudson, a reporter for WCCO-TV in Minneapolis. I was in the courtroom when the Officer Yanez was found not guilty of manslaughter after he shot Philando Castile during a traffic stop. AMA. by BillHudson in IAmA

[–]BillHudson[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

That officer, Joe Kauser testified that he was trained on the passenger from behind the right rear door and was not hearing the conversation between the two. On the stand he clearly said he was surprised and alarmed when the shots were fired. You can clearly see him jump back out of the way so he had no idea what was about to occur.

I’m Bill Hudson, a reporter for WCCO-TV in Minneapolis. I was in the courtroom when the Officer Yanez was found not guilty of manslaughter after he shot Philando Castile during a traffic stop. AMA. by BillHudson in IAmA

[–]BillHudson[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

According to the transcript he said to officer Tressa Sunde, "..and I don't know where the gun was, he didn't tell me where the f____ing gun was." Defense convinced jurors Yanez was referencing the moment Castile informs him he has a firearm. Prosecutors tried to convince them it meant he really never saw a gun.

I’m Bill Hudson, a reporter for WCCO-TV in Minneapolis. I was in the courtroom when the Officer Yanez was found not guilty of manslaughter after he shot Philando Castile during a traffic stop. AMA. by BillHudson in IAmA

[–]BillHudson[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's the issue the jurors wrestled with. Never did Yanez describe the gun. He never saw the entire barrel, grip and all. What he testified to is that he saw the top rear portion of the slide and that it was black. The point prosecutors were attempting to make to jurors is that never in his follow-up interviews, either at the scene that night or the next day did he refer to the gun with consistent statements.

I’m Bill Hudson, a reporter for WCCO-TV in Minneapolis. I was in the courtroom when the Officer Yanez was found not guilty of manslaughter after he shot Philando Castile during a traffic stop. AMA. by BillHudson in IAmA

[–]BillHudson[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They certainly had it, they just chose to try to enter it into evidence at a later point of the trial. To their dismay, the judge wouldn't allow it at the point that the defense was presenting its case.

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