Anthony Lamar Smith killed in St Louis, killer scot free

This 22 September 2017 video from Missouri in the USA says about itself:

“That verdict was a travesty”

Watch: St. Louis workers denounce acquittal of killer cop, crackdown on protests

By Genevieve Leigh and George Gallanis reporting from St. Louis

23 September 2017

Protests in St. Louis against the acquittal of Jason Stockley, the police officer who shot and killed Anthony Lamar Smith on camera in 2011, have now entered their second week. Police in riot gear have arrested hundreds of mostly peaceful protesters and journalists in what amounts to a military-style lockdown of the city using pepper spray and tear gas.

WSWS reporters spoke with protesters and St. Louis workers about the verdict and the suppression of protests by the police.

By Niles Niemuth in the USA, 23 September 2017:

The 2011 killing of Anthony Lamar Smith by St. Louis police officer Jason Stockley was an open-and-shut case of police murder.

Smith was a 24-year-old African-American who was driving away from police after they burst in on what they claim was a drug deal. Stockley, who is white, was recorded on a dashboard camera saying, “I’m going to kill this motherfucker, don’t you know it.” Less than 45 seconds later, his partner Brian Bianchi rammed their police SUV into Smith’s car. Video of the incident shows that Smith remained in the car and made no attempt to flee.

Stockley jumped out of the SUV and shot Smith five times. Forensic evidence revealed that Stockley fired the “kill shot” from six inches away. The officer then returned to his vehicle, rummaged through a duffel bag and returned to Smith’s car to plant a throwaway gun on the dead victim. Tests showed the gun had only Stockley’s DNA on it.

In addition to his police-issued handgun, Stockley was carrying his personal AK-47 in violation of official department protocol.

St Louis protests: Journalists say they were beaten and arrested by police while covering demonstrations. Exclusive: Journalists tell The Independent about being kicked, pepper sprayed: here.