Results tagged “johannesmehserle”

Declaring that he couldn't get a fair trial because of public outrage and we-are-all-Oscar-Grant fetishism, Judge Morris Jacobson ruled that Officer Johannes Mehserle, the BART cop accused of murdering Oscar Grant on New Year's Day, will get to have his trial moved out of Alameda County. In a court order, Jacobson wrote, "This case ... presents a grouping of factors that foreclose any real hope of insulating jurors from the pressure of the public outrage in Alameda County," Jacobson wrote in a 28-page order. "Defendant has met his burden of showing there is a reasonable probability that he cannot get a fair trial in Alameda County." A hearing at a later date will decide where, exactly, the trial will take place.

80% of black residents surveyed and 33% of white residents already believe Johannes Mehserle is guilty in the case of the New Year's shooting death of Oscar Grant, therefore his attorney Michael Rains is arguing for a change of venue. In papers filed last week, Rains said the trial should be moved out of the Oakland area on account of these racial divisions. Meanwhile, four of the six BART police officers involved in the incident that night have quietly returned to work, while Mehserle and one two other officers remain on paid leave.

The trial for a jury to decide whether Bart cop Johannes Mehserle, 27, intended to shoot and kill Oscar Grant at the Fruitvale Bart station on New Year's Day will happen on October 13, ruled Alameda County Superior Court Judge Morris Jacobson today. Set to spark a media frenzy in Alameda County, Jacobson also set a hearing on September 11th, "asking that Mehserle's trial be moved away from Alameda County because he doesn't think Mehserle can get a fair trial in the county," reports CBS 5. If you recall, just after the preliminary hearing earlier this month, Superior Court Judge C. Don Clay admitted the following: "There is no doubt in my mind that Mr. Mehserle intended to shoot Oscar Grant with a gun, not a Taser."

At 9 a.m. today, the preliminary hearing for BART officer Johannes Mehserle began. Mehserle is charged with the murder of Oscar Grant. The former officer's defense, most likely, will center around the idea that he meant to fire his Taser, not his pistol, that fateful morning. If you recall, Grant was shot on New Year's Day at the Fruitvale station after Grant and some pals were detained by BART officers.

In an amazing twist, murder charges were officially filed against Johannes Mehserle, 27, who (allegedly) shot and killed Oscar Grant on New Year's Day on the Fruitvale BART station platform. The amazing part is that Mehserle is being charged with murder, not manslaughter. (Even those cops in NYC who shot Sean Bell just hours before his wedding were just charged with manslaughter.) If you recall, Matier & Ross said if "Mehserle is charged with a crime in Grant's shooting, it will be a first."

Johannes Mehserle was arrested in Nevada today in connection with the shooting and killing of Oscar Grant on New Year's Day. According the Chronicle, "Mehserle, 27, was taken into custody in Douglas County, Nevada, said Deputy Steve Velez of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. The arrest was also confirmed by David Chai, chief of staff to Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums." (Due to death threats, Mehserle stashed himself in Nevada.) It seems an Alameda County judge signed an arrest warrant today, and Mehserle surrendered with no fuss or muss. A surprising update to this case for sure. We will update with more when more details of the arrest are made public on Wednesday.