LIFE GOES ON –
Dec. 14, 2023 – More than a week after an officer involved in the 2020 death of Manuel Ellis claimed that he wouldn’t do anything differently when attempting to arrest the Black man, the legal representation for all the officers said that their clients aren’t even responsible for his death, instead blaming the actions of Ellis.
He further claimed that Ellis’ behavior forced the three Washington state police officers “ to use force against him because he created a situation that required them to act.”
As you can see, this case relates to the death of George Floyd in more ways than one. Ellis died nearly two months before Floyd, he also said, “I can’t breathe,” and just like in the trial of Derek Chauvin, the defense is arguing that the drug use of these Black men is what caused their deaths.
It is something that didn’t work for Derek Chauvin’s defense. Let’s see if it does for Officers Burbank, Matthew Collins, and Timothy Rankine.
Fricke’s remarks followed closing arguments by special prosecutor Patty Eakes, who urged the jury to compare the officers’ statements with videos and witness testimony to determine the officers’ credibility. Eakes is prosecuting the case on behalf of the Washington Attorney General’s Office.
