January 7 has been set as the trial date for the police officer who shot an unarmed Black man in a dark stairwell of a New York public housing complex last year, reports AM New York.
Akai Gurley’s entire family has vowed to be there everyday of the trial.
“These last 10 months have been very hard,” said Kimberly Ballinger, Gurley’s domestic partner. “Akai’s death has been hard for not only me, but for both of my children.”
Officer Peter Liang has been characterized as a scapegoat by many of his supporters. He stood in the courtroom while the judge set the trial date, but offered no comment.
Others in the Asian American community say Liang was careless and say clearing him of the killing would be as unjust as the findings clearing White officers in other shootings of unarmed Blacks.
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You can read thoughts from Gurley’s attorney and a wrongful death suit filed against the city and officers involved in AM New York.
