May 28, 2003
CALLED IT
In the item immediately below [see NO GOOD, 5/27/03], I
wrote that I didn't understand why the death of Alberta Spruill in the
course of a no-knock raid mistakenly directed to her apartment was
being handled as a civil matter by Johnny Cochran and not a criminal
case. The first steps were taken in that direction yesterday. The
New York Sun [subscription required] reports this morning that the
medical examiner's office has ruled Spruill's death a homicide.
Alberta Spruill, 47, a longtime city employee, died of "hypertensive heart disease," according to a spokeswoman for the medical examiner's office, Ellen Borakove. Police entered her apartment May 15 in a misguided hunt for guns and drugs.This does not mean that criminal charges will be filed against those involved in Alberta Spruill's death. The classification of it as a homicide simply means that Spruill died at the hands of others. I think it's a good first step, however, and an important one in making sure that those responsible are held accountable. I also think it's a good distinction that Spruill's death was not the result of an "Oops! Our bad." mistake, but as direct consequence of excessive no-knock raid tactics.
"It's clear now that Ms. Spruill die not die of natural causes, that her death was precipitated by the excessive force, meaning the use of the greande, the use of handcuffs," said Derek Sells, an attorney representing Spruill's family in civil litigation against the city. "The raid itself, as well as the handcuffing of Ms Spruill, were direct causes of her death," he said.
Posted by Lexiphane at May 28, 2003 9:20 AM
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