Justice Served In Atlanta ?

Justice has prevailed in the city of Atlanta. Two
police officers pleaded guilty to reduced charges
of manslaughter in exchange for their cooperation
in a ongoing federal investigation into police corrup-
tion. After reading the article below should the
officers have gotten more time? Please feel free to
comment.


Two police officers pleaded guilty Thursday to fatally shooting a 92-year-old woman during a botched drug raid on her home, but prosecutors warned that an investigation into corruption in the Atlanta Police Department continued. Gregg Junnier, 40, and Jason R. Smith, 35, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, violation of oath by a public officer, criminal solicitation, making false statements and civil rights conspiracy.

In exchange for cooperating with the federal corruption probe, the prosecutors dropped state murder charges against Smith and Junnier, meaning they will avoid life in prison. Sentences have not been set, but Junnier, who retired from the force in January, is expected to get about 10 years in prison; Smith, who is on administrative leave, is expected to be sentenced to about 12 years. On the night of Nov. 21, plainclothes Atlanta police officers burst through the front door of Kathryn Johnston's home after obtaining a no-knock warrant based on false information that drugs were sold there.

Johnston fired a single shot from a .38-caliber revolver, according to the Fulton County prosecutor. Ballistic evidence showed that she did not hit any of the six officers, but that they fired 39 shots, striking Johnston five or six times, including a fatal blow to her chest. Assistant U.S. Atty. Yonette Sam-Buchanan said officers lied to a magistrate to get the no-knock warrant, claiming that a confidential informant had made a purchase at the address and that the house was fitted with electronic surveillance. After the shooting, Smith allegedly planted three bags of marijuana in the basement of Johnston's home and then called an informant to ask him to pretend the three officers had sent him to the address earlier to purchase drugs.





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