For @C-note, not exactly convicted of murder, but sentenced as if he had been. Good enough?

As good a time as any to have another look at how media reported on the incident prior to the publication of the video.

I don't know if it has the same sting, but at least he was sentenced compared to most of the other cops who walk. Crossing my fingers that one life is saved because a cop in the future sees this and takes one extra second before killing someone.

I get that it's not the same as an actual murder conviction, I'm just curious if this outcome satisfies the sifter that brings up the 'no cop ever convicted of murdering a black man' argument.

A statement about something that is absolutely true is a fact and not an argument.

Separate but equal has already failed the test of time. So being convicted of murder verses pleading guilty to violating a person's civil rights may have yielded similar results, but it still falls short.

The only lessons cops learned from this is to avoid getting caught on camera and don't ever plead guilty.

If it is an absolutely true fact, one would think you could provide supporting evidence, but you never do when asked. Unsupported claims are unverified argument, not accepted fact. I've never claimed you're wrong, but you've failed to prove you're correct repeatedly.

The judge used the sentencing guidelines for murder 2, which was part of the plea agreement, so the results were exactly the same. He may be in federal prison, which IS a much nicer place than the state pen. Is that how it falls short, or is your issue the specific charge no matter the sentence? Would it be better if he was convicted of murder 2 but was only sentenced to 5 years?

Avoid getting caught on camera, totally agree, but don't plead guilty?...he was facing life in State prison with a pretty hostile jury pool on top of up to decades in club fed for civil rights violations.. I think he made a good choice.

Thanks for the answer though...which I gather was "no, this does not satisfy".

If it looks like a murder, if its sentenced like a murder...why isn't it murder?

Gotta agree that this stinks of "separate but equal".

Good that the outcome was better than expected, bad that the expectation is so low.

It's only not murder because plea deals usually involve lesser charges that a conviction could.
The DA was going to try him again for murder and murder 2, but accepted this deal with the feds to avoid another possibly hung jury or even acquittal. That's how plea deals work.
I found it amazing he willingly took a 20 year sentence considering how cops usually fare in courts, I only wish it was in State prison gen pop instead of club fed's special unit.

I fully agree that the expectations for justice against bad cops are depressingly low, and I agree this outcome was far better than the average yet still not fully justice.

He will likely still be in PC lockup, cops don't fare well in prison.

That's what I meant by club fed's special unit....as if club fed isn't safe enough, I'm sure cops get extra special treatment.

I do understand that they never go into gen pop...but a newt can dream, can't he?

Curious... do you WANT him to go into gen pop?

Rationally, no, but my lizard brain sure does.

In reality, I don't want prison to be about revenge, I believe it works much better if it's about rehabilitation, no matter who the prisoner is. Also, I understand that prisoners lives and safety are the responsibility of the jailers (us) and I don't want to pay their survivors for their deaths or injuries.

That said, it is a satisfying fantasy to think about racist murderous cops at the mercy of a gang of pumped up vengeful Crips, but no, I don't really want that.