Kansas Supreme Court denies self-defense to Wichita officer who hurt 9-year-old girl

The Kansas Supreme Court ruled unanimously Friday that a former Wichita police officer will face felony charges in a shooting that wounded a 9-year-old girl, setting a new precedent that allows officers to be held criminally liable for injuring innocent bystanders — even if they say they were acting in self defense.

Former officer Dexter Betts fired two gunshots at a family dog while securing the interior of a Wichita home during a domestic violence investigation in December 2017. Betts missed both times, but one of the bullets ricocheted off the concrete floor and hit the girl — one of three children in the room at the time — above her eye and in her foot.

“(Betts) argued state law immunizes his use of deadly force in self-defense — even if he acted recklessly and regardless of who got hurt,” the Supreme Court opinion says. “The district court agreed and dismissed the case. When the State appealed, a Court of Appeals panel affirmed. On review, we reverse the grant of statutory immunity and remand the case to the district court for further proceedings.”

The decision overturns rulings by Sedgwick County Judge Kevin O’Connor and the Kansas Court of Appeals that had granted the officer immunity from criminal prosecution or a lawsuit by the girl’s family because he had fired in self-defense.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/kansas-supreme-court-denies-self-183658554.html