Post by KC on Jan 20, 2006 22:56:42 GMT -5
Jan. 18 2006 - A million-dollar victory for the family and attorneys of a man shot to death by police responding to a burglary report at his home proves the man did nothing wrong, the victim’s father said today.
“For four and a half years we’ve been trying to get some justice in this case. And I think we did,” said Larry Leaf, the father of John Leaf, the man shot dead in his own bedroom in 2001.
“John was a victim, not a villain.”
The senior Leaf and other family members appeared at a news conference this afternoon with Stephen Wagner, the family’s lawyer, to announce a $950,000 settlement in a federal case against the Marion County Sheriff’s Department and Deputy Ronald Shelnutt, who shot John Leaf.
The settlement money will go to John Leaf’s only child, a young daughter.
The senior Leaf called Shelnutt a “loose cannon” and said he did not belong on the sheriff’s department.
“Deputy Shelnutt is a rogue law enforcement officer,” he said. “Deputy Shelnutt should not have a uniform and a gun and a patrol car.”
Earlier, a judge imposed sanctions amounting to $74,000 against the sheriff’s department for delays in providing documents requested by the plaintiffs.
The agreement came as jury selection for the trial was set to begin.
Family members said they are gratified for the settlement because it means they can avoid the pain of a two- to three-week trial that would involve graphic forensic photographs of John Leaf.
Leaf, a 35-year-old stockbroker, was killed in his bedroom by Shelnutt as the deputy investigated a reported break-in at the man’s apartment.
Leaf had taken a cab home after a night out, and did not have his keys. He had broken into his own residence and was asleep in his bed when deputies entered. Shelnutt claimed he fired at Leaf after the man awoke and lunged at him with a hunting knife.
The deputy was cleared by a grand jury in Leaf's death and has remained on regular duty with the department’s K-9 unit since the shooting.
Indianapolis attorney Tony Overholt, who represents Shelnutt and the sheriff’s department, said the settlement is no indication Shelnutt did anything wrong, adding that the deputy was forced to shoot because his life was in jeopardy.
“In a case like this, there’s always a chance the jury might disagree with our position,” Overholt said. “We settled for less than what a jury possibly could have awarded.”
“For four and a half years we’ve been trying to get some justice in this case. And I think we did,” said Larry Leaf, the father of John Leaf, the man shot dead in his own bedroom in 2001.
“John was a victim, not a villain.”
The senior Leaf and other family members appeared at a news conference this afternoon with Stephen Wagner, the family’s lawyer, to announce a $950,000 settlement in a federal case against the Marion County Sheriff’s Department and Deputy Ronald Shelnutt, who shot John Leaf.
The settlement money will go to John Leaf’s only child, a young daughter.
The senior Leaf called Shelnutt a “loose cannon” and said he did not belong on the sheriff’s department.
“Deputy Shelnutt is a rogue law enforcement officer,” he said. “Deputy Shelnutt should not have a uniform and a gun and a patrol car.”
Earlier, a judge imposed sanctions amounting to $74,000 against the sheriff’s department for delays in providing documents requested by the plaintiffs.
The agreement came as jury selection for the trial was set to begin.
Family members said they are gratified for the settlement because it means they can avoid the pain of a two- to three-week trial that would involve graphic forensic photographs of John Leaf.
Leaf, a 35-year-old stockbroker, was killed in his bedroom by Shelnutt as the deputy investigated a reported break-in at the man’s apartment.
Leaf had taken a cab home after a night out, and did not have his keys. He had broken into his own residence and was asleep in his bed when deputies entered. Shelnutt claimed he fired at Leaf after the man awoke and lunged at him with a hunting knife.
The deputy was cleared by a grand jury in Leaf's death and has remained on regular duty with the department’s K-9 unit since the shooting.
Indianapolis attorney Tony Overholt, who represents Shelnutt and the sheriff’s department, said the settlement is no indication Shelnutt did anything wrong, adding that the deputy was forced to shoot because his life was in jeopardy.
“In a case like this, there’s always a chance the jury might disagree with our position,” Overholt said. “We settled for less than what a jury possibly could have awarded.”