NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Five former New Orleans police officers pleaded guilty Wednesday in deadly shootings in the days following Hurricane Katrina, abruptly ending a decade-old case that tainted an already scandal-plagued police force and reawakened memories of the chaos and devastation from the catastrophic 2005 storm.
The men had been convicted by a jury in 2011 but U.S. District Judge Kurt Engelhardt set aside the verdict two years later because federal prosecutors leaked information to the media and made anonymous online comments about the case.
Lance Madison, brother of mentally disabled Ronald Madison, was on the bridge that day and was initially arrested after being falsely accused of shooting at officers.
[...] after hearing from five dozen witnesses and examining 400 pieces of evidence during a monthlong trial, a federal jury convicted the officers for opening fire and trying to cover up wrongdoing.
The online posting scandal led to the resignation of two assistant U.S. attorneys in New Orleans and the reprimand of a Justice Department attorney.
"While an imperfect resolution, today's proceeding ensures that these defendants are held accountable for their criminal actions," current U.S. Attorney Kenneth Polite said in a news release.
