A former cop pleaded guilty in court to helping falsify a search warrant that led to the death of black American woman Breonna Taylor in 2020. Her death and that of other black compatriots sparked a wave of protests against racist police brutality.
Former policewoman Kelly Goodlett pleaded guilty in court in Louisville, Kentucky, The New York Times reports. She is one of four ex-cops recently arrested and charged for their role in the raid in which 26-year-old Taylor was shot and killed in her home.
In the nighttime raid based on a questionable drug investigation, Taylor’s friend shot what he thought were intruders. Three police officers responded with a hail of bullets, hitting Taylor six times.
Conspiracy
Goodlett and a former colleague agreed a few days later to mess with the documents they filed to justify the raid, prosecutors say, and now acknowledge Goodlett.
The former policewoman is on trial for conspiracy, violation of civil rights and obstruction of justice. She is the only one of the four defendants who – after her arrest – resigned from the police. The others have yet to appear in court.
The officers who fired the fatal shots are not being prosecuted. They were unaware that the search warrant was based on falsified information.