delcocait t1_iycd4b5 wrote
Reply to comment by NonIdentifiableUser in Philly DA files motion to reconsider sentence for former officer convicted of voluntary manslaughter by redeyeblink
Honest question, are non police getting as little as 11.5 months for voluntary manslaughter?! Have you seen comparable sentences for non police? Cause that seems crazy. Like maybe we have bigger problems than Krasner if that’s the case.
oliver_babish t1_iyd85gm wrote
Let's take a look. (2019)
A Philadelphia judge on Friday sentenced a former Center City real estate agent to 3½ to seven years in state prison in the fatal shooting of her boyfriend in her Fishtown apartment building two years ago.
Common Pleas Court Judge J. Scott O’Keefe had convicted Jeanette Wakefield, 39, of voluntary manslaughter and possession of an instrument of crime after a nonjury trial in July. He added two years of probation and ordered her to get counseling.
Another (2018), but with guilty pleas:
Saying that three Philadelphia women had "unleashed a savage act" on a homeless man when they brutally beat him outside an Olney gas station three years ago, leading to his death seven months later, a judge on Friday sentenced the women to prison terms of more than a decade.
During a nearly three-hour hearing, Common Pleas Court Judge Sandy Byrd said the beating death of Robert Barnes, 51, which was captured on surveillance video, "is one in which we all witnessed the very worst attributes of humanity."
The three women — Aleathea Gillard, 37; Kaisha Duggins, 27; and Duggins' sister, Shareena Joachim, 26 — pleaded guilty Jan. 29 to charges of voluntary manslaughter, conspiracy, and possession of an instrument of crime in Barnes' death.
Byrd sentenced Gillard and Duggins to the maximum term of 22½ to 45 years in state prison. He sentenced Joachim to 12½ to 25 years.
Next link (2009), again after guilty pleas:
Three men who pleaded guilty to beating a Phillies fan to death outside Citizens Bank Park in 2009 have been sentenced. The altercation followed spilled drinks in a crowded bar, and there were running alcohol-fueled brawls that ended in the parking lot.
After a mistrial was declared in September, the following month, all of the defendants pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter. ..
Each of the defendants received different sentences, based on culpability. Judge Shelley Robins New sentenced Francis Kirchner to 9-18 years, for meting out what could have been the fatal kick to the victim's head. Charles Bowers received 5-10 and James Groves got 2-4 years.
Paparddeli t1_iycovm1 wrote
Honest question, how many voluntary manslaughter sentences are the average reddit users even aware of? People have no idea about this stuff, including probably you.
delcocait t1_iycs3ha wrote
This was a legitimate question. Of course I don’t know how long a typical sentence for voluntary manslaughter is, that’s the point. It seems absurdly low.
Krasmaniandevil t1_iyd1j8j wrote
Paparddeli t1_iydl9h2 wrote
Thank you - that exactly answers the question. So 1 out of 13 in 2019 were below the mitigated range, like this sentence. I would imagine most cases nationally where a cop is involved they would be far below the standard recommended sentence, assuming the state has guidelines.
Edit: also, Kim Potter the Minnesota cop who accidentally pulled a gun instead of a taser and was convicted of manslaughter got a very similar sentence to this one.
Krasmaniandevil t1_iydtryk wrote
One limitation of the data is that it doesn't tell you the degree of the departure (i.e., 10% below the mitigated range vs. 80% below).
This deviation is pretty substantial, but it's important to realize that if the officer received a longer sentence that he would have had to go to a state facility instead of the Philadelphia jail. It's pretty common for judges to round down to 11.5-23 months to avoid sending someone upstate, which would be even more dangerous for a police officer.
Paparddeli t1_iye0o29 wrote
Yes, that's definitely a key part of this sentence. Most people wouldn't realize that he got under 2 years so he could serve it in the county.
libananahammock t1_iydb9t0 wrote
Everyone is posting links and sources claiming otherwise and yet here you are with nothing but playground taunts lol
Paparddeli t1_iydn3zx wrote
Well look, I know that sentences below the guidelines aren't that rare. And I can surmise that that's especially true when there's a good reason for it (like the defendant having a really tough job where they are expected to maybe have to pull their gun and maybe shoot someone). The links posted elsewhere in this thread back that up.
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