Read
this and try to tell me this trial wasn't anything but a sham. The officer waived his right to a jury trial because the judge probably gave him the ole white wink wink.
The "kill shot" wasn't the one 6 inches from his face. That was the gunshot to his shoulder which wouldn't have killed him (the prosecution's expert said). I've had to say this several times tonight for some reason -- in order to get a guilty verdict in a murder trial, the prosecution has to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The prosecution's experts, the witness testimonies and the video provided that doubt.
The facts that some articles aren't telling you ---
Smith was a convicted drug dealer and thief.
The officers saw what they suspected was a drug deal so they stopped behind Smith's car to confront him.
He immediately rammed his car into the police car (and another car) after seeing the officers stop behind him. There is video of all of this. He hit one of the officers in the hand with his vehicle as he sped away.
Stockley's partner yelled "GUN!" as he sped away because he saw a gun in the car.
They sped after him. Stockley said "we're killing this mother****er, don't you know". He claims that he doesn't remember saying it because of the highly stressful situation you say lots of things, but we know he (or his partner did) because it's on the video/radio.
They finally cornered Smith whose airbags had deployed from crashing. Stockley yelled at him to keep his hands where he can see them and to open the door. Back-up officers had arrived by then. Stockley told them to watch his hands (which meant that he knew there was a gun in the car).
Stockley said Smith then reached down to his right which Stockley assumed was him reaching for his gun (which his partner said he saw). Stockley shot in quick succession - witnesses say there was no pause in shots.
Stockley goes to his vehicle to get first aid. He takes off his gloves (thick gloves because it was chilly that night) so he can quickly feel around to grab it out of the bag. He realizes that Smith is already dead.
The video shows no evidence of Stockley hiding the .38 on his body in order to plant it in the vehicle. No witnesses or other officers on the scene say they saw Stockley plant the .38 in the car.
They search the vehicle. Stockley finds the .38 and a bag of narcotics. Stockley unloads the cartridges and lays everything on the front seat.
The medical examiner said the close-range shot was to his shoulder and not a kill shot. There was, however, a gunshot to his lower flank which would be impossible unless Smith was leaning over (which corroborates Stockley's testimony that Smith leaned down to his right).
The DNA evidence on the gun was Stockley's. Makes sense since he was touching it to take out the cartridges. The expert witnesses for the prosecution said that lack of DNA evidence isn't proof that the gun wasn't handled by Smith. You can handle an object without leaving DNA evidence.
Looking through the evidence, expert testimonies and witness testimonies -- there WAS doubt. You cannot convict someone of murder if there's any doubt that he/she might not be guilty.