Former detective pleads guilty to Breonna Taylor shooting cover-up

US

A former US police officer has pleaded guilty to helping falsify the search warrant used in the killing of Breonna Taylor.

Ms Taylor, 26, was killed on 13 March 2020 when officers in Louisville, Kentucky, carried out a “no-knock” warrant and broke down her flat door.

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

Three officers responded with 32 shots, six of which struck and killed Ms Taylor.

It later emerged that police were actually searching for an ex-partner of Ms Taylor who did not live at the address.

On Tuesday, former officer Kelly Goodlett entered the guilty plea in a federal court in Louisville, the New York Times reported.

Ms Taylor’s death, along with other killings of black people in 2020 including George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery, sparked outrage and led to protests around the US and the world.

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Goodlett was one of four officers charged by the US Justice Department on 4 August for their involvement in the raid.

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People gathered in Louisville on the anniversary of the death of Breonna Taylor in March 2021

According to prosecutors, Goodlett and another officer, Joshua Jaynes, met in a garage after the shooting where they agreed on a story to cover for the false evidence they submitted to justify the raid.

Goodlett was charged with conspiring with another detective to falsify the warrant and cover up the falsification.

Jaynes and Sergeant Kyle Meany were also charged with civil rights violations and obstruction of justice for using incorrect information to obtain a warrant.

A fourth officer, former Detective Brett Hankison, was charged with civil rights violations for allegedly using excessive force.

In March, a jury acquitted Hankison on a charge of wanton endangerment. A grand jury earlier cleared the other two white officers who shot Taylor but charged Hankison for endangering neighbours in the adjacent apartment.

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