There will be no verdict on Monday in the trial of Cleveland police officer Michael Brelo, according to a statement from Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Administrative and Presiding Judge John Russo. He said a verdict could be days or weeks away. Citing Judge John O’Donnell’s additional responsibilities, Judge Russo said O’Donnell is still reviewing evidence from the trial while also managing his docket of other cases. “This is why verdicts in a bench trial often take longer than in a jury trial where the panel deliberates until a decision is reached,” said the statement issued Saturday evening.
Cleveland Police Officer Michael Brelo is charged with two counts of voluntary manslaughter following a 2012 cross-town chase that ended in police shooting 137 bullets at two unarmed suspects. Brelo chose to forego his right to a jury in favor of a bench trial. The four week trial concluded with Judge John O’Donnell saying he would not have a verdict before Monday, May 18.
