Trial begins for former cop involved in deadly Breonna Taylor raid nearly 2 years after her death
Updated: 12:46 PM EST Feb 23, 2022
Brett Hankison's defense attorney put it succinctly during jury selection on Tuesday."Breonna Taylor has nothing to do with the charges against Brett Hankison this morning, and yet, she has everything to do with it," said Stew Matthews, as he questioned prospective jurors.Hankison is facing three counts of wanton endangerment, but those charges are not for Taylor's death. They are for shots fired into a neighboring apartment with three people inside.Hankison was one of three Louisville officers serving a no-knock search warrant on Taylor's apartment on March 20, 2022. When they entered, Taylor's boyfriend Kenneth Walker – who says he did not know the men entering his home were police officers – fired a single shot. The officers fired back and Taylor, who was behind Walker, was hit six times, police say. The bullet that killed her was fired by Myles Cosgrove, another officer who was present that night, according to the investigation that ensued.Cosgrove is scheduled to appear as a witness in Hankison's trial. The other officer present that night, former LMPD detective Jonathan Mattingly, has said he will plead the Fifth Amendment and refuse to testify, citing the pending U.S. Department of Justice investigation into the LMPD.In all, more than 30 witnesses are slated to testify in a trial expected to last two to three weeks."The commonwealth has the burden of proof in a criminal case and we gladly accept that burden of proof," said Barbara Whaley, the special prosecutor handling the case.Opening arguments are scheduled for Wednesday morning.
Brett Hankison's defense attorney put it succinctly during jury selection on Tuesday.
"Breonna Taylor has nothing to do with the charges against Brett Hankison this morning, and yet, she has everything to do with it," said Stew Matthews, as he questioned prospective jurors.
Hankison is facing three counts of wanton endangerment, but those charges are not for Taylor's death. They are for shots fired into a neighboring apartment with three people inside.
Hankison was one of three Louisville officers serving a no-knock search warrant on Taylor's apartment on March 20, 2022. When they entered, Taylor's boyfriend Kenneth Walker – who says he did not know the men entering his home were police officers – fired a single shot.
The officers fired back and Taylor, who was behind Walker, was hit six times, police say. The bullet that killed her was fired by Myles Cosgrove, another officer who was present that night, according to the investigation that ensued.
Cosgrove is scheduled to appear as a witness in Hankison's trial. The other officer present that night, former LMPD detective Jonathan Mattingly, has said he will plead the Fifth Amendment and refuse to testify, citing the pending U.S. Department of Justice investigation into the LMPD.
In all, more than 30 witnesses are slated to testify in a trial expected to last two to three weeks.
"The commonwealth has the burden of proof in a criminal case and we gladly accept that burden of proof," said Barbara Whaley, the special prosecutor handling the case.
Opening arguments are scheduled for Wednesday morning.
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