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Scottish Charity Register No. SC043760

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Further officer charged after death of Kelly Thomas

November 03 2012
Third man charged with manslaughter of mentally-ill homeless California man


A third police officer has been charged in relation to the death of mentally-ill homeless man Kelly Thomas in Fullerton, California.

Joseph Wolfe, 37, faces charges of involuntary manslaughter and excessive use of force, crimes which carry a maximum penalty of four years’ imprisonment.

The former Fullerton Police Department officer was not charged initially. However, following a thorough review of the case, a grand jury indicted him on 24 September. This comes a year after Manuel Ramos was charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter for his involvement in the incident. Corporal Jay Cicinelli was also charged with involuntary manslaughter and excessive use of force.

The review, carried out by 10 jury members who considered 113 exhibits, revisited CCTV footage taken from a nearby bus depot which shows Wolfe striking Mr Thomas repeatedly with a baton during the brutal encounter, which left the victim fatally comatose.

Wolfe pleaded not guilty and was released on $25,000 bail. He faces a pre-trial hearing on 2 November.

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