ATLANTA, May 5 (UPI) -- Oral arguments began Monday in the trial of the only Atlanta police officer charged in a 2006 raid that left a woman dead.
The subsequent scandal -- officers later admitted planting drugs and breaking into 92-year-old Kathryn Johnston's home -- generated accusations of questionable police tactics and lying about evidence to get warrants, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Monday.
On trial is Arthur Tesler, charged with false imprisonment, violation of oath of office and making a false statement to an investigator. Prosecutors alleged he kept Johnston trapped in her house and helped in an attempted cover-up.
Tesler's attorney maintains his client didn't do anything wrong. If convicted, Tesler could sentenced to up to 15 years in prison.
Former officers Gregg Junnier and Jason R. Smith pleaded guilty to manslaughter and a federal charge of violating Johnston's constitutional rights, and face up to 10 years and 12 years, respectively, depending on
their cooperation with authorities, the Journal-Constitution reported. Both are expected to testify against Tesler.
The incident prompted police Chief Richard Pennington to dissolve and reorganize the department's narcotics unit, and two other officers to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter.
