Prosecutors have dropped the negligent homicide charge against State Trooper Kory York, one of the last officers facing serious charges in the 2019 arrest and death of Ronald Greene, a Black motorist. Greene died after being dragged, shackled, and restrained face down following a high-speed chase. Legal Analyst Tim Meche (mesh)says the decision to dismiss the charge, just a month before York’s trial isn’t as big a deal as it may seem…
“because the sentencing exposure that the defending officers would have if convicted of negligent homicide is exactly the same sentencing they’d be exposed to if convicted of malfeasance in office.”
Kory York faces a lesser charge of felony malfeasance. Union Parish District Attorney John Belton stated that the evidence against York did not meet the “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard required for conviction. Meche says Belton’s goal was to present a more focused case to the jury…
“to avoid getting bogged down on matters that just don’t matter.”
While a forensic pathologist cited factors such as cocaine use, stun gun applications, and physical struggle as contributing to Greene’s death, the exact cause remains unclear, weakening the case.
“which nothing really seemed to point to a specific act by any of the people involved that actually caused the death Ronald Greene.”
