Williams case should have gone to a jury- White Milwaukee Cops Ignored Handcuffed Black who Suffocated to Death - on Video

"Sir I Can't Breathe." graphic video. no sound for first minute. From [HERE] The family of Derek Williams is still looking for justice after a decision last week by special prosecutor John Franke, a white man, not to charge Milwaukee police officers in Williams' death. The young man died in the back of a squad car in July 2011 while pleading for assistance with a breathing problem. Franke wrote Friday to District Attorney John Chisholm that "there is no reasonable likelihood of obtaining a conviction in this case."

But that flies in the face of the opinion of an inquest jury, which unanimously recommended that three officers be charged with failure to render aid by law enforcement, a misdemeanor. We think Franke should have taken what he had to court.

The squad car video that shows Williams gasping for air and begging for help is troubling. Officers are required to "continually monitor and remain cognizant of the condition of a person in custody, especially when he/she is in restraints," according to MPD's Standard Operating Procedures. We think the video plainly shows that they didn't do that.

The officers involved earlier were cleared by Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm and their own department. And the medical examiner's office originally ruled that Williams died of natural causes. But after the Journal Sentinel brought new evidence to the attention of that office, including the video, the ruling was changed. Now, the medical examiner's office believes Williams' death was a homicide.