Judge denies request by ex-detective convicted in Breonna Taylor raid to delay prison

Louisville, Ky. – Louisville, Ky. (AP) – A former detective from the Louisville police found guilty of having used excessive force during the deadly raid of Breonna Taylor should come to prison this week, after a judge has rejected his attempt to remain free while he calls the penalty.

Brett Hankison became the first officer involved in the RAID to be sentenced to criminal charges when a jury found him guilty of having used excessive force in November. He was sentenced to 33 months in prison in July, but quickly appealed asking a judge to let him remain free.

US district judge Rebecca Grady Jennings rejected Hankison’s surety request on Monday. He has to go to prison on Thursday. Jennings wrote in his decision that Hankison “has not demonstrated a substantial question of law or de facto to his call to justify the surety”.

Hankison drew his handgun and pulled 10 strokes in the windows of Taylor’s apartment on the night of the mortal raid, but did not hit anyone. Some of his blows stole in a neighboring apartment, hitting almost two people inside.

Jennings said during Hankison’s conviction that she had been “surprised” that no one was injured by Hankison shots. Hankison’s first federal trial on excessive accusations of force ended with a trial in 2023, and the statement of endangering in 2022 was acquired.

Before his conviction, the United States Ministry of Justice asked that Hankison has no prison.

Jennings expressed his disappointment with regard to the request, saying that the Ministry of Justice treated Hankison’s actions as “a crime without consequences”.

Two other police officers shot Taylor when he returned the fire, after Taylor’s boyfriend opened fire when the police broke down. Hankison was behind the officers and when the shooting started, he ran to the side of the apartment and pulled by the windows.

Hankison told the trial that he was trying to protect his colleagues officers, who, according to him, were under someone’s fire inside with a rifle.