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Gerlach Verdict - Not Guilty - Spokane

slapmonkay

Campaign Veteran
Joined
May 6, 2011
Messages
1,308
Location
Montana
http://www.krem.com/news/Jury-selection-enters-day-2-253408541.html

SPOKANE, Wash-- The jury handed down a ‘not guilty’ verdict Thursday to the Spokane man who shot and killed another man he believed was breaking into his car.

The defendant, Gail Gerlach, was charged with manslaughter for the shooting death of 25-year-old Brenden Kaluza-Graham in March of 2013.

Jury deliberations began Thursday morning. Jurors reached a consensus at about 2:00 p.m.
Gerlach appeared calm as his wife wiped away tears in the courtroom. Kaluza-Graham’s family, who was also in
the courtroom, looked stunned.

The prosecutor said Gerlach killed Kaluza-Graham under, “very suspicious circumstances”.

The trial against Gail Gerlach lasted eight days.

Although Gerlach was found not guilty for manslaughter, jurors met to decide whether his use of force was justified.

If the jury were to find Gerlach acted in self-defense, the state would be obligated to pay the defendant’s defense expenses.
 

slapmonkay

Campaign Veteran
Joined
May 6, 2011
Messages
1,308
Location
Montana
Update - Further

Jury says Gerlach was justified in his use of force. Gail Gerlach will get reimbursed for his expenses in defending himself in court by the State of Washington.
 

boatswain

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 31, 2010
Messages
36
Location
WA
At the very end of the video, the grandparents said the perp was trying to change his life around. That often seems to be a fatal condition.
 

Freedom1Man

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2012
Messages
4,462
Location
Greater Eastside Washington
At the very end of the video, the grandparents said the perp was trying to change his life around. That often seems to be a fatal condition.

Well his life did change... That was one hell of a way to do it.

People like that old guy, in my opinion, are idiots and deserve what ever break-ins and thefts they suffer, because the BG might be trying to change their life around.
 

Jeff Hayes

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2009
Messages
2,569
Location
Long gone
At the very end of the video, the grandparents said the perp was trying to change his life around. That often seems to be a fatal condition.

The thief had thousands and thousands of chances to turn his life around he flat refused to do it every time.
 

509rifas

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2013
Messages
252
Location
Yakima County
I'd be interested to know what the circumstances surrounding the shooting were. Was it some ock next to his car smoking a cigarette or some guy with a crowbar? All I got was that he thought the guy was breaking into his car...
 

FrayedString

Regular Member
Joined
May 14, 2009
Messages
132
Location
East Wenatchee, Washington, USA
I'd be interested to know what the circumstances surrounding the shooting were. Was it some ock next to his car smoking a cigarette or some guy with a crowbar? All I got was that he thought the guy was breaking into his car...


http://abcnews.go.com/US/man-trial-shooting-car-thief/story?id=23187445


Article said:
The shooting happened on March 25, 2013. Gail Gerlach, 56, walked outside his Spokane home to see Brendon Kaluza-Graham driving off in his SUV, so he fired a single shot from his 9mm semiautomatic from about 60 feet away.

Looks like the vehicle was pretty clearly in the process of being stolen..
 

Lonster

New member
Joined
Nov 15, 2013
Messages
9
Location
Spokane Valley, WA
Dead guy was driving away with the stolen Suburban when owner put one thru the rear glass. And perp's head. Probably a lucky shot. I said from the beginning, "charge him for leaving a running vehicle unsecured and cut him loose". A Hole Prosecuting Attorney decided to push it. Bleeding hearts cried "Is a vehicle worth a life". Well it isn't worth mine. So that's why I don't steal. Spokane is bad for Car Theft. While I probably wouldn't have taken the shot. I'm glad Gail can now get on with his life. If more thieves would think "Is this worth my life?". Maybe we wouldn't have these problems.
 

sudden valley gunner

Regular Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2008
Messages
16,674
Location
Whatcom County
LOL It's entrapment by a private citizen, verging on vigilantism lynching.

They made it an infraction in Tacoma, to warm up your car on a cold winter (unattended) the real reason was because of car thefts, which is utterly ridiculous to blame or curtail the actions of the victims because of crooks. So they then made it an "environmental" law, its bad for the environment to warm up your car unattended, yet perfectly fine attended.


P.S. "Cold winter" is my addition to make a point.
 
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