A federal jury today found five New Orleans police officers guilty in the shooting deaths of two civilians in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and a subsequent cover-up.
Four officers faced up to 25 counts each for their role in the September 4th, 2005, shootings in which two people were killed and four were seriously injured. A fifth officer was convicted of helping the others cover the incident up.
All the officers potentially face life in prison.
"Today's verdict sends a powerful, a powerful unmistakable message," said US Attorney Jim Letten, speaking to reporters outside the New Orleans courthouse.
The jury's decision means the deaths of Ronald Madison and James Brissette were the result of police willfully violating their civil rights, but that police did not arrive at the scene with the intent to murder the victims.
In the death of Mr Brissette and shooting of four others, officers Kenneth Bowen, Robert Faulcon, Robert Gisevius and Anthony Villavaso were found guilty of depriving citizens of their rights, and using firearms in the deprivation of those rights.
In addition, Faulcon, the only defendant who testified at trial, was found guilty of violating civil rights and use of a firearm in the killing of Madison.
They were also convicted of various charges connected with the cover-up, including conspiracy to obstruct justice and violate civil rights, and false prosecution.
The fifth officer, retired homicide detective Arthur "Archie" Kaufman, was convicted on 10 counts related to the cover-up, including conspiracy, obstruction of justice, fabricating witnesses, falsifying victim statements, misleading federal investigators, and falsifying evidence.
The jury of five women and seven men arrived at its verdict after more than two days of deliberations.
A sixth officer who was charged along with Kaufman for orchestrating a cover-up will be tried separately.
While prosecutors painted a picture of out-of-control officers firing indiscriminately on innocent bystanders, defence lawyers maintained throughout the trial that the officers saw guns in the hands of civilians and believed they were in danger.
They said chaotic conditions in New Orleans after Katrina heightened police officers' expectations that civilians in the streets had and would use guns.
Reuters