A jury has found a Norfolk (VA) police officer not guilty in the 2014 death of a mentally ill man.
“Just two and a half years of waiting for this weight to be off my shoulders,” Michael Edington said outside court, with tears running down his face. “I have my life back.”
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Edington was charged with one count of voluntary manslaughter in the shooting death of David Latham. He faced one to 10 years in prison had he been convicted.
The not guilty verdict was handed down Thursday for Norfolk Police Officer Michael Edington. The 27-year-old was accused of using excessive force when he shot 35-year-old David Latham in June 2014.
Prosecutors argued that Latham held the knife at his side without advancing or retreating from Edington. The officer shot him several times.
Edington testified that Latham threatened violence, moved the knife and made a small step as if to attack, news outlets reported.
