2 Plead Guilty in Police Drug Raid Death

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Officers plea guilty in killing of elderly woman in her home
Murder charges dropped because men agree to help federal investigation of APD

By RHONDA COOK and BILL TORPY
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 04/26/07

Earlier in the day, the men were in Fulton Superior Court where they admitted to voluntary manslaughter charges along with several other state felony counts.

Sentencing in both courts has been deferred until later to allow the men to cooperate with a federal investigation into the Atlanta police department's narcotics unit. The men are expected to serve at least 10 years in prison on the federal charges alone.

Before the hearing before U.S. District Court Judge Julie Carnes the two officers sat side-by-side on a bench. Junnier stared ahead while Smith read silently from a Bible opened to the book of John. Junnier was direct and spoke clearly as he answered Carnes' questions. Smith, with a few tears, could barely be heard as he agree he was guilty to the federal charges.

Atlanta police chief Richard Pennington sat in the back corner of the courtroom watching his officers admit they had broken the law.

"Justice was served," Pennington said after the pleas. "We don't condone criminal misconduct. It's unfortunate any time you have a police officer [who feels] that they have to create false reports to enforce the law. It's a terrible day. And it's a sad day for them."

www.ajc.com/

[TNBear]

Just a reminder that this particular police action resulted in the death of an elderly lady because she fired ONE round through the door of her home at people who were breaking into it unannounced. The wounds suffered by some of the arrresting officers which were initially said to be from her weapon have now been identified as "friendly" fire.
As for Chief Pennington, it's an extremely sad day when good police officers feel that they have to do shit like this to keep their jobs.