A New York Penitentiary Officer admitted are culpability in the case of manslaughter.
The case is directly related to the death of Robert Brooksand prisoner of the Marcy Correctional Centeroccurred in December 2024.
As reported NBC News, Christopher Walrath36 years old, he presented his statement this Monday in it Oneida County Courtrecognizing your stake In the attack that was fatal for Brooks.
During the audience, Walrath replied affirmatively To the judge’s questions Robert L. Bauer and the prosecutor, admitting that he y five other Officers Penitentiary They assaulted Brooks in a room medical examination of prison.
In addition, the officer acknowledged having applied a key of constriction to the inmate, action that violated the standard y procedures of the department.
Also confessed not reported he use of force against Brooks, who died as a result of the Repeated aggressions.
Videos without audio, They registered the moments when Michael Brooks is located in a recognition room doctor The night of the December 9, 2024.
In the images, it is seen hanging face down, handcuff with the hands to backwhile a group of Agents lo immobilizes in one corner from the room. Although it is not observed that Brooks tries resist physicallythe discontinuous angles of the cameras and the lack of audio they make it difficult to rebuild clearly what happened.
Later, Brooks appears on a bed, naked except for his clothes interiorwhile a nurse attends.
At another time, officers are seen lifting it violently from the ground by the neck of his shirt, with the face visibly bloody. These images were published by the New York Attorney General’s Office.
Hours after this incident in the Marcy Correctional CenterBrooks was transferred to a hospital where died al day after. A preliminary autopsy performed, according to a report obtained by WKTVdetermined that the probable cause of death It was suffocated by compression of the neck.
The transfer to the Marcy Correctional Center, a prison of median security In the county of Oneidait happened on the same day, according to Jameswho initially had seen it in the Mohawk Correctional Center, also located in the same region.
New York governor, Kathy Hochulhe described the attack as “brutal” and took immediate measures by saying goodbye to 14 personas involved In the case, including Penitentiary officers, sergeants and one nurse of the prison.
In February of this year, Hochul announced charges against six penitentiary officers, including Walrath, Anthony Farina, Mathew Galliher, David Kinglsey y Michael Mashaw. A sixth name was not revealed. At that time, Hochul declared: “Robert Brooks should be alive today.”
The five officers mentioned They declared innocent of the second degree murder positions and manslaughter in a previous audience held in February.
However, Walrath, who He did not accept the position of murder secondly, this statement changed this Monday By admitting your culpability by manslaughter. According to NBC NewsHis lawyer did not immediately respond to comments requests.
Walrath remains in Freedom on bailwith the condition of Do not commit new crimes and appear before court when required.
Brooks turned one 12 -year condemnation from 2017 by first degree aggression related to your couple long time. This history, however, does not respond to unknown that surround their death in custody and that have generated calls to a complete review of the procedures in the state prison system.
The judgment of Walrath is scheduled for next August 4. This case has put in the center of public debate the use of force in the institutions Penitentiary and the responsibilities of the officers in charge of the custody of the inmates.
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