Current:Home > ContactMississippi court overturns conviction of ex-officer in death of man pulled from vehicle -TradeCircle
Mississippi court overturns conviction of ex-officer in death of man pulled from vehicle
View
Date:2025-04-19 05:40:40
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Mississippi Court of Appeals on Tuesday overturned the conviction of a former Jackson police detective in the 2019 death of a man who was pulled from a vehicle while officers were searching for a pastor’s killer.
In acquitting Anthony Fox of culpable negligence manslaughter, a majority of the appeals court wrote that prosecutors failed to prove Fox “acted in a grossly negligent manner” or that the death of 62-year-old George Robinson “was reasonably foreseeable under the circumstances.”
In August 2022, a Hinds County jury convicted Fox, and Circuit Judge Adrienne Wooten sentenced him to five years in prison — a 20-year sentence with 15 suspended.
An indictment accused Fox of pulling Robinson from a car on Jan. 13, 2019, and striking him in the head and chest as police were searching for a juvenile who was a suspect in the killing of a pastor. Robinson died in a hospital two days later.
An autopsy report listed Robinson’s death as a homicide caused by “at least three blunt injuries” to the head, according to court records.
A medical examiner, Dr. Mark LeVaughn, testified that an autopsy conducted by another physician showed abrasions on Robinson’s face but “no evidence of traumatic injury to the chest,” according to court records.
Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch filed papers last year asking the appeals court to overturn Fox’s conviction. She argued that prosecutors failed to prove the core element of culpable negligence manslaughter, which is “wanton disregard of, or utter indifference to, the safety of human life.”
Robinson received “a small, superficial abrasion on his forehead” but had no other visible injuries from the struggle with officers, Fitch wrote.
The Hinds County District Attorney’s Office said it could find no other case in which the attorney general, who represents the state in criminal appeals, argued to reverse a conviction.
In a dissenting opinion Tuesday, Appeals Court Judge John Emfinger wrote it was clear that Fox and another officer forcibly removed Robinson from a vehicle and that Robinson’s head hit the asphalt roadway as officers were restricting his hands.
“Based on the evidence presented and the jury instructions given, I find the evidence was legally sufficient for twelve ‘reasonable, fair-minded (jurors), in the exercise of impartial judgment’ to find Fox guilty of culpable-negligence manslaughter,” Emfinger wrote.
veryGood! (18)
Related
- Will the 'Yellowstone' finale be the last episode? What we know about Season 6, spinoffs
- Hybrid work still has some kinks to work out | The Excerpt
- Amazon Prime Day is a big event for scammers, experts warn
- Shop Amazon Prime Day's Back to School Deals: Classroom & Dorm Essentials for Every College Student
- What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
- Shop Amazon Prime Day's Back to School Deals: Classroom & Dorm Essentials for Every College Student
- Gareth Southgate resigns as England manager after Euro 2024 final loss
- Scientists have confirmed a cave on the moon that could be used to shelter future explorers
- Which apps offer encrypted messaging? How to switch and what to know after feds’ warning
- Soros’ Open Society Foundations say their restructuring is complete and pledge $400M for green jobs
Ranking
- As Trump Enters Office, a Ripe Oil and Gas Target Appears: An Alabama National Forest
- Rite Aid closing dozens of additional stores. Here's where.
- Winston, iconic gorilla among the oldest in the world, dies at San Diego Zoo Safari Park
- Save 62% on Kyle Richards-Approved Amazon Finds During Prime Day 2024
- $73.5M beach replenishment project starts in January at Jersey Shore
- Clean Energy Projects Are Stuck in a Years-Long Queue. Maryland and Neighboring States Are Pushing for a Fix
- Trump assassination attempt unlikely to have lasting political impact, observers say
- Detroit-area county to pay $7 million to family of man killed while jailed for drunken driving
Recommendation
Which apps offer encrypted messaging? How to switch and what to know after feds’ warning
Why Jenn Tran’s Bachelorette Contestant Devin Strader Was Called a “F--king Snake”
How to watch 'Hillbilly Elegy,' the movie based on Trump VP pick JD Vance's 2016 memoir
Trump expected to announce his VP running mate today as RNC gets underway
Former Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
Spain clinches record 4th European Championship title, beating England 2-1
Federal jury returns for third day of deliberations at bribery trial of Sen. Bob Menendez
Creature that washed up on New Zealand beach may be world's rarest whale — a spade-toothed whale