Court allows Oscar Grant’s father to sue officer who killed son

Oscar Grant’s father will move forward to sue the BART officer who killed his son.

A 9th U.S. Circuit Court judge has denied former BART officer Johannes Mehserle’s claim that he was acting in his official capacity when he killed Oscar Grant during a 2009 New Year’s Day melee captured on video by several bystanders.

This leaves the window open for Oscar Grant’s father to sue Mehserle for causing the death of his son.

The shooting death of Oscar Grant ignited protests in reaction to the video showing Grant being shot in the back by white officers.

The appeals court said it will be up to a jury to decide if Mehserle was justified in shooting Grant in the back as he laid on the train platform.

Mehserle served 11 months in prison after he was convicted of involuntary manslaughter.

Source : The Grio