Lawyers for three Washington state officers charged in the death of a Black man say Manuel Ellis died from drugs, not excessive force.

Lawyers for three Washington state police officers charged in the 2020 death of a Black man told the jury Tuesday that his death was the result of drug use, not excessive force that included officers choking, shocking and holding him facedown.

Manuel Ellis was addicted to methamphetamine, and it caused him to be violent, unpredictable, and paranoid, said Wayne Fricke, who represents Tacoma police Officer Christopher Burbank.

“This is a situation where he created his own death,” Fricke said during closing arguments in the officers’ nine-week trial on murder and manslaughter charges. “It was his behavior that forced the officers to use force against him because he created a situation that required them to act.”

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.

    • @funkless_eck
      24•7 months ago

      lots of people’s grandparents are on pharmaceutical drugs that impair their ability, are often unwell and have trouble breathing.

      I dont see why that should be a good reason for putting my full weight on gamgam’s windpipe with my knee.

    • Kalash
      2•7 months ago

      Well, that happened in 2020 and he did have trouble breathing … probably covid related.

      • @[email protected]
        22•7 months ago

        A police officer had his knee crushing his neck as Floyd pleaded that he couldn’t breath until his was murdered. I don’t think Covid has fuck all to do an with his death

      • @girsaysdoom
        1•7 months ago

        I think you’re proving their point even moreso. If there are less issues associated with drugs in this man’s death then the police action was consequentially more of a factor.

        • Kalash
          4•7 months ago

          then the police action was consequentially more of a factor.

          This is very much my point.

          I thought suggesting that George Floyd died due to covid was ridiculous enough of a statement for not having to add an /s. The joke is that it’s something absurd that police might say as a defense …

          • @girsaysdoom
            1•7 months ago

            Oh, yup. I definitely missed that one.

            I think other people downvoting the comment above yours made it confusing.

    • proleEnglish
      2•7 months ago

      Two completely different cases, my dude. That’s not really how the justice system works.

      • @[email protected]
        15•7 months ago

        1. Wait for someone to take medication.

        2. Choke them to death

        3. Be found but guilty because they were on drugs.

        Congrats you legalized murder.

        • @[email protected]
          2•7 months ago

          I don’t know that people really consider Floyd a hero… A martyr, maybe. He wasn’t fighting for anything except his own life, and it’s enough of a crime that it was taken away from him for allegedly using a fake $20 bill. Whatever kind of symbolic figure he is, is because of things that were done to him, not things that he did himself. The situation didn’t even warrant his arrest, but Thomas Lane walked up behind him sitting in his car and tapped on his window WITH A FUCKING GUN. Is that what they’re teaching in police gun safety classes? At no point did any one of those absolute shitbirds do a single thing right in their interaction with Floyd.