UPDATED: Judge Sentences Peter Liang to No Jail Time for Death of Akai Gurley

Reported by Shirley Lew
AsAmNews New York Correspondent

Just minutes ago,  Judge Danny Chun handed down a sentence of 5 year probation and 800 hours of community service, but no house arrest for ex-NYPD Officer Peter Liang for the accidental shooting of Akai Gurley in November 2014.

Chun followed the recommendation of District Attorney Ken Thompson’s of no prison time.

Chun also reduced the sentence from second degree manslaughter to criminally negligent homicide.

Last week, Chun rejected the motion for a mistrial after two days of hearings on juror Michael Vargas. Chun was unconvinced that Vargas intentionally lied to become a juror on Liang’s trial.

A jury had convicted Liang of second degree manslaughter for Gurley’s death. His gun went off and the bullet richochetted off the wall in the darkened stairwell-striking Gurley. Prosecutors accused Liang of not immediately radioing for medical assistance and not applying CPR; Liang denied delaying calling for help and said he failed to apply CPR because he was not adequately trained. He also said Gurley’s girlfriend had already begun the process.

The case has deeply divided the Chinese American community largely along generational lines. First generation Chinese Americans feel Liang is being scapegoated for what they consider an accident. Those who have been in the country longer generally feel police must be held accountable for the death of innocent lives. Their sense of justice does not change, they say, even when White officers have been absolved in similar cases.

 
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