A federal judge in Kentucky ruled that prosecutors won’t be allowed to use evidence of former Louisville police detective Brett Hankison’s prior reckless actions in his upcoming trial for his role in the raid. In this raid, Breonna Taylor was shot and killed unless stronger proof is presented.
According to Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings, the prosecution had failed to prove that Hankison’s earlier incidents-2016 and 2017 were in all essence similar to those of March 13, 2020, the day Taylor was murdered.
Hankison stands accused of civil rights violations and excessive force for shooting multiple rounds during the raid on Taylor’s residence, where stray bullets hit an adjacent apartment, home to a family.
Prosecutors had hoped to capitalize on the prevailing pattern of hazardous acts in previous charges that Hankison faces, such as reckless driving while conducting a police operation.
But Jennings said she cannot tie that type of dangerous behavior to these charges because there had been no formal investigation or record of the alleged incidents. She did not totally rule out the possibility of reconsideration if more evidence is presented.
Hankison will face trial on a charge in this raid that occurred October 15, 2024. In that raid, Breonna Taylor was killed by police gunfire. This is Hankison’s third trial related to the case; he was acquitted in one, and another was a deadlocked jury.
In addition, the trial judge admitted evidence of rifle casings at the scene and let that in, although later Hankison admitted that he was wrong in claiming that police were fired at during the raid with a rifle. Relevancy is up to the jury in how this evidence will play into the case.
The trial is estimated to last about two or three weeks.
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