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January 26, 2016

Trial Begins for NYPD Officer in Fatal Shooting of Akai Gurley
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The criminal trial has begun for the New York City police officer
accused in the November 2014 killing of unarmed African American Akai
Gurley. Gurley was in the dimly lit stairwell of a Brooklyn housing
project when Officer Peter Liang opened fire. Liang faces charges of
manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, assault and official
misconduct. Defense attorneys say the shooting was accidental. At
Monday's opening hearing, prosecutors said Liang was more concerned with
protecting his job than he was with saving Gurley's life as he lay
dying. Liang reportedly did not call for help or respond to police radio
contact for several minutes after opening fire.


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