2 months ago
“It seems to us there has to be one standard of justice,” said Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner during a virtual news conference. “We cannot have state law that encourages and incentivizes police officers who violate the constitution while they are killing people.”
A bi-partisan group of nearly 70 criminal justice leaders from across the country, including chiefs of police, attorneys general, and elected prosecutors, filed an amicus brief in support of the DA’s appeal.
Fortuanto Perri Jr., one of Pownall’s lawyers, declined comment on Thursday’s brief. He has said the legal challenge raised by the district attorney helps prove his defense. “Clearly the existing law justifies his conduct. The District Attorney’s Office decided to ignore the existing law in bringing this prosecution,” he told reporters last January.