Washington: In a jolt to a paralysed Indian grandfather’s bid to seek justice, an American police officer who brutally assaulted him has been acquitted by a US court after two mistrials could not establish his guilt beyond doubt.
Judge Madeline Hughes Haikala threw out the case against Alabama police officer Eric Parker, who faced up to 10 years in prison for using excessive force against 58-year-old Sureshbhai Patel in the February 6 incident last year.
Parker knocked Patel down to the ground when he was walking on a lane near his son’s home in Alabama, an incident that left him partially paralysed and angered the Indian-American community.
Haikala, on Thursday filed a 92-page opinion, ending with, “The Government has had two full and fair chances to obtain a conviction; it will not have another.”
Parker still faces a state charge of misdemeanour assault in Limestone County.
“The result in this case is by no means satisfying. Hindsight brings clarity to a calamity,” Haikala was quoted as saying by AL.com.
“The injury does not provide the basis for a criminal judgement against Mr Parker,” the judge said.
