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Breonna Taylor's mother says daughter 'deserves justice' - a year after police killing

Sky News logo Sky News 11/03/2021 14:50:00

Breonna Taylor's mother has said her daughter "deserves justice" - a year after she was shot dead in a botched police raid.

a man smiling for the camera: Breonna Taylor was a qualified emergency medical technician. Pic: Family © GettyBreonna Taylor was a qualified emergency medical technician. Pic: Family

Ms Taylor, 26, was killed when officers in Louisville, Kentucky, carried out a "no-knock" warrant and broke down her apartment door.

Her boyfriend thought it was someone breaking in and fired a single shot in self-defence, hitting one officer in the leg.

Ms Taylor was shot multiple times when police fired dozens of shots in return.

Police were actually searching for an ex-partner of Ms Taylor who did not live at the address and no drugs were found in the property.

"Breonna was just full of life, she just didn't deserve it," her mother Tamika Palmer told NBC News.

Alongside George Floyd's killing, her daughter's death is one of several cases taken up by Black Lives Matter campaigners in their push for equality.

a person wearing a suit and tie: Tamika Palmer says the protesters' actions have given her courage © Sky News Screen GrabTamika Palmer says the protesters' actions have given her courage

Ms Palmer said the protesters' push for justice has helped keep her going.


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"There's been plenty of times I don't want to get up. But you roll over and look at your phone or the TV and they're there before you. So how do you not show up?"

"She definitely deserves justice - but there's so many people that deserve justice," added Ms Palmer - who reached a $12m (£8.6m) settlement with the city of Louisville over the killing.

a group of people standing in front of a crowd: People protested in September when it was revealed officers would not face charges © GettyPeople protested in September when it was revealed officers would not face charges

In December, she published an open letter in The Washington Post to President Joe Biden, who had considerable support among black voters in the US election.

She told him "actions speak louder than words" and "we fought for you, now it's your turn to fight for us".

"Breonna's law" - banning "no-knock" warrants has been introduced in the city of Louisville and three states, but so far not in Kentucky.

Michael Hancock wearing a suit and tie in front of a curtain: Kentucky attorney general Daniel Cameron said officers were justified in shooting as the boyfriend fired first © GettyKentucky attorney general Daniel Cameron said officers were justified in shooting as the boyfriend fired first

Kentucky's attorney general Daniel Cameron said officers were justified in shooting as her boyfriend had fired first during the raid on 13 March 2020.

The officers said they had announced their presence before forcing their way in - a claim disputed by some witnesses.

None of the police were charged over the killing - a decision that sparked protests across the US in September.

The officer shot in the leg is still on the force and the other two were dismissed.

The only indictment was against one officer for endangerment, after he accidentally shot into a neighbour's property.

The case against Ms Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth L Walker, was permanently dropped this week.

jeudi 11 mars 2021 16:50:00 Categories: Sky News

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