Cleveland officer Michael Brelo has been found not guilty in the shooting deaths of two unarmed suspects.
The judge's verdict today for 31-year-old Brelo comes after a four-week bench trial on two counts of voluntary manslaughter in the deaths of Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams on Nov. 29, 2012.
Judge John O'Donnell ruled Brelo was not guilty of voluntary manslaughter.
He said prosecutors did prove felonious assault, but defendant proved he was legally excused because he caused the harm in a constitutionally justified manned, given his perception of risk. Not guilty of felonious assault.
Before reading the verdict, Judge O'Donnell emphasized that the verdict in this case was not a decision of the police department as a whole.
ideastream's Nick Castele was in the courtroom today.