[Illusion]

Two former police officers were acquitted of all charges Monday in the 2011 beating death of a homeless man at a Fullerton, Calif., transit station.

It took a single day of deliberations for jurors to reach their verdicts regarding the roles played by former Fullerton Officer Manuel Ramos and former Cpl. Jay Cicinelli in the death of 37-year-old Kelly Thomas.

Ramos, the first police officer in Orange County to be charged with murder while on duty, was found not guilty of one count each of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. Cicinelli was found not guilty of one count each of involuntary manslaughter and excessive use of force.

Reaction was emotional on both sides after the verdict was read. Ramos and Cicinelli began to cry when they were acquitted, with Cicinelli hugging his attorney. Thomas’ father, Ron, burst into tears, kicking or stomping his foot.

The Kelly Thomas Case: Timeline | Fullerton Police Ignored Misconduct, Report Finds

"Where do we really find justice any more in our justice system?" Ron Thomas said after the verdict. "It has been proven right here today that they will get away with it. They will get away with it."

The case ignited outrage in the community and led to the recall of three Fullerton City Council members, the departure of the city’s police chief and a scathing report that accused the department of ignoring misconduct among its ranks.

Dozens of people attended the trial each day wearing yellow ribbons and buttons bearing Thomas' image.

"It's a disappointing day. It's a sad day," Julie McDonnell, a concerned citizen and 22-year resident of Fullerton, said outside the courtroom. “Unfortunately, we didn’t get the outcome we wanted.”

The American Civil Liberties Union also called the verdict "disappointing."

“Today’s not guilty verdict in the criminal trial of Fullerton police officers Jay Cicinelli and Manuel Ramos, who were charged in the beating death of Kelly Thomas is disappointing, and demonstrates the need for civilian police review boards in Fullerton and elsewhere in Orange County,” said Hector Villagra, executive director of the ACLU of Southern California.

In a statement, the Fullerton police chief said he respects the jury’s decision and referenced changes made in his department since Thomas’ death.

“We respect the jury's verdict, and appreciate the consideration the jury gave to the evidence. We understand that there may be a wide variety of reactions to the verdict and encourage anybody who wishes to express their feelings to do so respectfully,” Chief Dan Hughes said.

“Over the course of the past two and a half years the City of Fullerton Police Department has taken significant steps to make it the best department possible. As Fullerton’s new Police Chief, I will make sure those efforts continue so that our police department serves the community with honor, integrity and professionalism."

Read: Kelly Thomas "Just Trying to Survive"

Jurors were handed the case on Jan. 9 and entered into deliberations on Monday, hours before the verdict came down.

The trial included five weeks of testimony highlighted by a key piece of surveillance video and audio recordings from the night of July 5, 2011, when Kelly Thomas encountered officers as they investigated a report of someone trying to break into vehicles near the Fullerton Transportation Center.

The video shows the confrontation escalate to violence involving six officers and Thomas, who suffered from schizophrenia. Thomas could be seen on the ground crying out for his father nearly 30 times, apologizing and begging for air.

Thomas struggled with officers, but only because he "was just trying to survive," the district attorney told jurors, adding that Thomas was never informed of intent to arrest him.

Thomas was taken to a hospital and placed on life support. He died at a hospital five days later.
Investigators later determined that Thomas was not responsible for the break-in attempts.

Read: Kelly Thomas Was "In Fight That He Started"

Defense attorneys claimed Thomas was a violent, unpredictable man who was to blame for the altercation because he was combative and ignored officers’ orders.

The coroner's report determined Thomas died from chest compression during the struggle.

[bigjoe]

I feel bad for the guy who died. I don't feel bad for his father.

How many other people were killed by his fellow officers while he wrote the badge? Not once has that man spoken out when he had the chance.

Now that brutality his home, he speaks out.

[Illusion]

Some people are suspecting jury tampering. These guys always get away with it. Fucking shameful.

[Pyramid_Head]

Pigs always get let off. Just another reason to hate them.

[Azimuth]

This is so incredibly fucked up.

[Megamel29]

Originally Posted by bigjoe ↗

I feel bad for the guy who died. I don't feel bad for his father.

How many other people were killed by his fellow officers while he wrote the badge? Not once has that man spoken out when he had the chance.

Now that brutality his home, he speaks out.

His dad was a cop? I didn't know that.

[Azimuth]

Look at these disgusting fat bodies. And then look at Thomas, a normal sized man. There were six of those disgusting fat pigs sitting on him. Motherfuckers. This verdict is infuriating!!

[gatagato]

Originally Posted by Megamel29 ↗

His dad was a cop? I didn't know that.

Yes, he's a a former Orange County sheriff's deputy.

I was expecting this outcome, but it still came as a shock; the messages that are being sent are that their behavior is acceptable ONLY because they're cops, and that they're more credible as witnesses ONLY because they're cops.
That poor man, i couldn't watch that video anymore


Kelly Thomas verdict: FBI to examine trial evidence, testimony

[K9Grip]

Originally Posted by gatagato ↗

Yes, he's a a former Orange County sheriff's deputy.

I was expecting this outcome, but it still came as a shock; the messages that are being sent are that their behavior is acceptable ONLY because they're cops, and that they're more credible as witnesses ONLY because they're cops.
That poor man, i couldn't watch that video anymore


Kelly Thomas verdict: FBI to examine trial evidence, testimony

I've never been able to watch the entire video, but it's clear as day what happened and those cops and the jury fucking suck.
Six on one, yeah, you're really tough guys.

[Rednose]

Wow, something went badly wrong in this trial.
That's just sad.