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Prosecutor Appeals Brelo Verdict

The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office today filed an appeal in the case of Cleveland officer Michael Brelo.

Brelo was acquitted last weekend for his role in the 137-shot barrage fired by police at unarmed suspects after a high-speed chase.

In a statement today, the prosecutor's office said there were three errors in the verdict, which, quote, "contaminate future rulings in the trial court."

Among the alleged errors cited in the appeal, prosecutors say Judge John O'Donnell used the wrong standard on causation, meaning the State did not have to prove shots fired by Brelo were solely responsible for the deaths of Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams.

The appeal also argues that the court should have considered different lesser charges, after Brelo had been found not guilty of voluntary manslaughter. 

The appeal does not affect Brelo's acquittal.

Annie Wu is the deputy editor of digital content for Ideastream Public Media.