Bill would make obstructing police, ‘causing death’ a felony in West Virginia

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The West Virginia Senate on Friday handed a invoice that might make interfering with a police officer and inflicting their dying a felony punishable by as much as life in jail.

The invoice calls for a similar doable penalties as a homicide conviction. The excellence is the invoice does not require the state to show the normal parts of homicide, which embody premeditation or malice, mentioned Morgan County Republican Sen. Charles Trump.

“For those who do it, we’re not going to listen to you in courtroom say, ‘I did not imply for anyone to die,’” Trump mentioned. “It does not matter. You can be handled below the legislation as for those who deliberate and supposed that dying.”

The invoice comes within the midst of a nationwide uproar over police brutality prompted by the deadly beating final month of Tyre Nichols by law enforcement officials in Memphis, Tennessee.

The West Virginia invoice, which has 18 co-sponsors, handed on a 31-0 vote, with three senators absent. It now goes to the Home of Delegates.

The invoice doesn’t clarify what would represent obstruction. It’s named after Charleston Patrol Officer Cassie Johnson, who was fatally shot in December 2020 as she was responding to a parking criticism.

The invoice would enable for parole after 15 years in jail. It additionally applies to probation, parole and corrections officers, courthouse safety, firefighters and emergency medical service employees, and fireplace marshal staff.

Joshua Phillips, of Charleston, was sentenced final yr to 40 years in jail for second-degree homicide in Johnson’s dying. He additionally received six extra months for drug possession.

A resident had mentioned that Phillips parked his sport utility car on her property, in keeping with a police criticism.

Prosecutors mentioned Johnson, 28, was anxious about her security as a result of Phillips had pulled a gun, prevented Johnson from attending to her service revolver and struggled together with her earlier than pictures have been fired.

Phillips fired six pictures, in keeping with testimony on the trial. Johnson was shot within the neck.