A federal jury in New Orleans has begun deliberations in a civil trial to determine if the city is liable for the sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl by an on-duty police officer. The trial, initiated by the girl’s family, started on Monday and is expected to continue over four days.
The case centers around former New Orleans police officer Rodney Vicknair, who was convicted of sexually abusing the teenager in 2020. Vicknair, who passed away earlier this year from brain cancer, had been serving a 14-year prison sentence but had completed less than six months before his death.
The incident occurred in May 2020 when Vicknair, then 53, was assigned to escort the teenager to a forensic examination, commonly known as a rape kit, following her sexual assault by another man. During this time, Vicknair abused his position of authority to commit the assault.
The trial will examine whether the city of New Orleans bears responsibility for the actions of its officer, with the jury hearing arguments about the city's potential liability. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for how cities are held accountable for the misconduct of their law enforcement officers.
No comments:
Post a Comment