Seattle to pay $1.5 million to family of slain woodcarver

[Locutus]

$1.5m seems rather paltry to me.

Yeah he was an alcoholic and partially deaf, and native. So what of it.

I wonder if it would be more if the victim was black or Hispanic (only because their 'voices' seem to be louder and squeakier)


Here's the video if you forgot about the story:


YouTube - ‪[BirkAction.com] Composite video of officer Ian Birk shooting of John T. Williams‬‏


Ending one chapter of a shooting that jolted the Seattle Police Department, the city has agreed to pay $1.5 million to settle claims brought by the family of John T. Williams, the First Nations woodcarver killed by a police officer.

The Aug. 30 shooting of Williams, a chronic street inebriate, was found to be unjustified by the Seattle Police Department's Firearms Review Board and led to the resignation of the officer, Ian Birk, earlier this year.

The agreement, announced Friday by the City Attorney's Office, followed a confidential mediation in which the city considered claims raised by Williams' mother and representatives of his estate.

No formal claim or lawsuit was filed by the family, although the family was prepared to file a federal suit.


more...


City to pay $1.5 million to family of slain woodcarver | Seattle Times Mobile

 

[JLM]

$1.5m seems rather paltry to me.

Yeah he was an alcoholic and partially deaf, and native. So what of it.

I wonder if it would be more if the victim was black or Hispanic (only because their 'voices' seem to be louder and squeakier)


Here's the video if you forgot about the story:


YouTube - ‪[BirkAction.com] Composite video of officer Ian Birk shooting of John T. Williams‬‏


Ending one chapter of a shooting that jolted the Seattle Police Department, the city has agreed to pay $1.5 million to settle claims brought by the family of John T. Williams, the First Nations woodcarver killed by a police officer.

The Aug. 30 shooting of Williams, a chronic street inebriate, was found to be unjustified by the Seattle Police Department's Firearms Review Board and led to the resignation of the officer, Ian Birk, earlier this year.

The agreement, announced Friday by the City Attorney's Office, followed a confidential mediation in which the city considered claims raised by Williams' mother and representatives of his estate.

No formal claim or lawsuit was filed by the family, although the family was prepared to file a federal suit.


more...


City to pay $1.5 million to family of slain woodcarver | Seattle Times Mobile

You can't replace a life with money. Having said that if he had dependents the dependents are certainly entitled to have the loss of income replaced as the killing was unjustified. The question is how many dependents for how long a period.

 

[taxslave]

Thats the way the US JUST-US system works. Every thing has a price. The cop should have been charged with murder.

 

[The Old Medic]

He had a a mother who did NOT depend on him for income. He was an alcoholic street bum, who had no occupation, only enough income to pay for his booze. Only an ultra-liberal place like Seattle would have even considered paying off this "family".

 

[Corduroy]

$1.5m seems rather paltry to me.

Yeah he was an alcoholic and partially deaf, and native. So what of it.

I wonder if it would be more if the victim was black or Hispanic (only because their 'voices' seem to be louder and squeakier)

Do you have any examples of the families of black or Hispanic victims receiving more compensation in similar cases to justify your feelings of discrimination?

 

[Cliffy]

He had a a mother who did NOT depend on him for income. He was an alcoholic street bum, who had no occupation, only enough income to pay for his booze. Only an ultra-liberal place like Seattle would have even considered paying off this "family".

Only a heartless conservative would think the police killing someone in cold blood was worth nothing.

 

[petros]

You can't replace a life with money. Having said that if he had dependents the dependents are certainly entitled to have the loss of income replaced as the killing was unjustified. The question is how many dependents for how long a period.

In Canada orphan benefits for education last until the age of 25. I'm not sure how America works on something like that.

 

[EagleSmack]

Only a heartless conservative would think the police killing someone in cold blood was worth nothing.

I don't know Cliff... I think the shooting was BS. Shot in the back and side. That isn't just.

 

[PoliticalNick]

He had a a mother who did NOT depend on him for income. He was an alcoholic street bum, who had no occupation, only enough income to pay for his booze. Only an ultra-liberal place like Seattle would have even considered paying off this "family".

I suppose you think the cop should get a medal. F*cking moronic attitudes like yours are why these PIGS think this is ok.

I have to question if he got his pension etc and unemployment benefits for resigning instead of getting fired and sent down for murder, which is what should have happened!

 

[Retired_Can_Soldier]

He had a a mother who did NOT depend on him for income. He was an alcoholic street bum, who had no occupation, only enough income to pay for his booze. Only an ultra-liberal place like Seattle would have even considered paying off this "family".

The guy wasn't doing anything and did not deserve to be gunned down. The cop should be charged have been charged with manslaughter at the very least.

Only a heartless conservative would think the police killing someone in cold blood was worth nothing.

Really, only a left wing Zealot would think such a thing. I know plenty of conservatives who think this was utter BS.

 

[EagleSmack]

Really, only a left wing Zealot would think such a thing. I know plenty of conservatives who think this was utter BS.

True, true. Police brutality, abuse of power, and excessive use of force makes me livid.

 

[petros]

There are people who got $12M a head for their lost kin. But that group seems to always get more than anyone else.

 

[Cliffy]

The guy wasn't doing anything and did not deserve to be gunned down. The cop should be charged have been charged with manslaughter at the very least.



Really, only a left wing Zealot would think such a thing. I know plenty of conservatives who think this was utter BS.

You are right. I was not trying to paint all with the same brush, just one known conservative. That is why I addressed it to him since he was trying to blame it on liberalism..