Ex New York City police officer Peter Liang isn't going to jail, contrary to expectations, as he was sentenced to a five-year probation on Tuesday.
Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun handed the sentence to Liang for the death of Akai Gurley in 2014. Chun also ordered the convicted officer to render at least 800 hours of community service.
In coming up with his decision, the judge lowered Liang's case from manslaughter to criminally negligent homicide, allowing for a lower sentence. Chun declared that "there is no evidence, circumstantial or otherwise, that the defendant is aware of Akai Gurley's presence," CRI reported.
Liang was expected to receive a 15-year jail term after he was convicted of manslaughter in February.
Chun's decision is nearly identical to the recommendation made by Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson in March. In his recommendation, Thompson noted that Liang never intended to harm Gurley. He added that, due to the circumstances of the case, a prison term should not be warranted.
Upon hearing the decision, Gurley's family expressed their dismay over the lowered sentence. In a statement released right after the hearing, they argued that the sentence might send a wrong message that officers who kill people are free from any serious consequences.
Gurley's mother Sylvia Palmer called Chun's decision an "insult" not only to the memory of her son but also to the families of those who have been killed.
During the trial, Liang again expressed his regret for what happened and apologized to Gurley's family and said that he wished that he could undo the event.
Earlier, the court denied Liang's request for a retrial, The Guardian reported.
His defense lawyers argued that one of the jurors, Michael Vargas, made public remarks that have cast doubt on the February conviction.
However, Chun turned down the request, saying that Vargas's statements outside of the court do not affect his decision.