© 2024 Ideastream Public Media

1375 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115
(216) 916-6100 | (877) 399-3307

WKSU is a public media service licensed to Kent State University and operated by Ideastream Public Media.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
News
To contact us with news tips, story ideas or other related information, e-mail newsstaff@ideastream.org.

Cleveland Police Officer Michael Brelo Found Not Guilty

Cleveland officer Michael Brelo has been found not guilty in the shooting deaths of two unarmed suspects.
 
The judge's verdict today for 31-year-old Brelo comes after a four-week bench trial on two counts of voluntary manslaughter in the deaths of Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams on Nov. 29, 2012.
 
Judge John O'Donnell ruled Brelo was not guilty of voluntary manslaughter. 

He said prosecutors did prove felonious assault, but defendant proved he was legally excused because he caused the harm in a constitutionally justified manned, given his perception of risk. Not guilty of felonious assault.

Before reading the verdict, Judge O'Donnell emphasized that the verdict in this case was not a decision of the police department as a whole.

ideastream's Nick Castele was in the courtroom today.