Judge says city not liable in deadly shooting of former rugby player
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A high-profile civil trial abruptly ended Tuesday when the judge tossed the case before it could get to the jury.
Judge Karin Holma granted the city’s motion for Judgment as a Matter of Law (JMOL) and ruled that the family of Lindani Myeni did not present evidence to show that the Honolulu police officers who shot and killed him acted with malice.
The trial started on July 14, and the decision was made on July 29, after the plaintiffs rested.
Also testifying against the settlement deal in that meeting, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi and Prosecuting Attorney Steve Alm.
The police union, the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers (SHOPO) said the decision made it clear that the officers did nothing wrong.
“The level of force they used was measured and appropriate,” said SHOPO’s Nicholas Schlapak.