White Ex-Police Officer Johannes Mehserle Released from Jail After Serving 11 Months for the Murder of Unarmed Black Man, Oscar Grant III

RELEASED: A white former BART officer Johannes Mehserle, who was convicted in the murder of an unarmed black man Oscar Grant III in an Oakland train station, has been released after serving only 11 months of a two year sentence. This is a gross miscarriage of justice that he was only given a two year sentence and served a fraction of it. According to media reports, Mehserle was released from custody at the Twin Towers facility as of 12:01 a.m. Monday morning. A judge ruled last Friday that he should be given credit for time served and good conduct.

You will recall Mehserle was convicted of involuntary manslaughter last July in the murder of Oscar Grant III on New Year's Day 2009. The heinous act was videotaped by bystanders and the video posted online showing the officer shooting Grant in the BACK as he lay face down after being pulled off a train because he was suspected of fighting. The claim of fighting was not true. Mehserle testified that he meant to use his stun gun instead of his .40-caliber pistol. What was he doing on the force if he couldn't differentiate between his stun gun and his pistol? He should have been sentenced to the 14 years he faced. People have done less than that and served a far longer time. The judge's actions to release him sets a dangerous precedent.