A jury acquitted Tulsa Police Officer Betty Shelby of manslaughter in the death of Terence Crutcher.
A jury acquitted Tulsa Police Officer Betty Shelby of manslaughter in the death of Terence Crutcher.
The jury reached the decision after more than nine hours of deliberation.
5/17/2017 Related Story: Jury Reaches Verdict In Betty Shelby Trial After 9 Hours
The jury was given the case just after noon Wednesday after hearing closing arguments from the District Attorney and the defense.
Seven hours into deliberations, the jury sent Judge Doug Drummond a note, asking if it could explain its verdict. Drummond said the jurors could announce the verdict in open court but could not give an explanation in open court.
Also during deliberations, Shelby’s team emailed the judge to ask for a mistrial, saying prosecutors used defense exhibits as their own during the trial but then misled the jury during closing arguments.
Drummond overruled the request for a mistrial.
Shelby shot and killed Crutcher, 40, near 36th and Lewis on Friday, September 16,2016.
Special Coverage: Terence Crutcher Police Shooting
Shelby was en route to another call when she encountered Crutcher’s SUV stopped in the roadway. She testified Crutcher ignored her commands and walked back to the driver’s side of his vehicle and she shot him when he reached inside the open window.
The shooting drew international attention and sparked protests and rallies in Tulsa in support of both Crutcher and Tulsa Police.
City leaders and Tulsa pastors appealed for calm in the wake of the shooting.
Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler released a statement saying:
“The rule of law is paramount to an ordered and just society. Men and women have fought and died to protect our way of life. Among the rights we all enjoy in this free society is a right to a trial by jury.
“This case had to be tried by a jury. It was, is and will continue to be a difficult issue to discuss for my community. Men and women from every corner of our community committed themselves to the difficult task of sitting in judgment of one of their fellow citizens – Tulsa Police Officer Betty Shelby. There can be no doubt that the decision rendered by this jury was only after a long and deliberative process.
“I commend these jurors for their courage to step into a courtroom, give up their own precious time, and dedicate themselves to upholding the rule of law.”
Mayor G. T. Bynum and Chief of Police Chuck Jordan scheduled a news conference on the verdict for 10 a.m. Thursday. The mayor released the following statement on the case:
“After considering days of testimony and undergoing its own deliberation, the jury has spoken. I appreciate the jurors’ service to our community and respect their verdict. But this verdict does not alter the course on which we are adamantly set. It does not change our recognition of the racial disparities that have afflicted Tulsa historically. It does not change our work to institute community policing measures that empower citizens to work side by side with police officers in making our community safer. And no one has been calling for the resources to implement community policing more actively over a longer period of time than the men and women of our Tulsa Police Department. So we are moving forward together – Tulsans from all parts of the city, police officers and everyday citizens – with a unified purpose to make this a better place for all of us.”
Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin also released a statement after the verdict was read Wednesday night saying:
“I ask Oklahomans to respect our criminal justice system and especially the jurors, who heard the evidence from both sides in this case. Those who disagree with the verdict have the right to express their opinions; I just ask that they do so in a peaceful manner. I appeal to Tulsans and others to remain calm. Our thoughts and prayers should be with the Terence Crutcher and Betty Shelby families during this difficult time.”
