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US officer acquitted in beating of Chinese tourist
(AP)
Updated: 2005-09-09 11:21 Zhao, who testified during the trial and is pursuing a $10 million lawsuit
against the U.S. government, was not in the courtroom for the verdict. An
attorney representing her in the civil case said Thursday's verdict would have
no impact on the lawsuit.
Zhao Yan, a Chinese
businesswoman, was pictured after being beaten by a US Homeland Security
officer at the US-Canada border in July 2004.
[newsphoto/file] | "It's always difficult to
convict any officer of the law in this kind of case," Stanley Legan said.
He said the standards of proof are different in civil cases and suggested the
jurors in the criminal case may have been influenced by the tense atmosphere
after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
"I think her injuries clearly demonstrate that excessive force was used,"
Legan said.
Cohen said he believed the jury was swayed by the testimony
of two of Rhodes' fellow border officers who took the stand against
him.
Although both were
critical of the level of force Rhodes used, they indicated Zhao was resisting
arrest. Rhodes could have faced up to 10 years in prison if
convicted.
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