Kentucky Circuit Court Judge Charles Simpson dropped some felony charges against two former police officers charged in Taylor’s death when he ruled her boyfriend caused her death.
A federal judge has dropped some felony charges against two former Louisville, Kentucky officers charged in Breonna Taylor’s death.
Western Kentucky Circuit Court Judge Charles Simpson Simpson dismissed charges of “aiding and abetting a violation of Taylor’s Fourth Amendment right to be free from an unreasonable search” on Thursday. The charges were brought against officers Joshua Jaynes and Kyle Meany by the DOJ in 2022.
Additionally, Simpson further ruled that Taylor’s boyfriend was the cause of her death because he fired a shot at police officers upon their no-knock entry. “There is no direct link between the warrantless entry and Taylor’s death,” wrote Simpson.
He added, “[Kenneth Walker’s] decision to open fire, as alleged and argued, was the natural and probable consequence of executing the warrant at 12:45 a.m. on ‘an unsuspecting household.’ That decision prompted the return fire which hit and killed Taylor.”
Walker said in court testimony that he and Taylor asked police to identify themselves. Walker then fired one shot and was met with a volley of fire, and he called 911 during the exchange.
A DOJ spokesperson told the Daily Beast in an emailed statement: “The department is reviewing the judge’s decision and assessing next steps.”
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