re: Officer in Eric Garner case: I never used a choke hold

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Ok so its not murder. Doesn't mean its not anything.

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Hmmm...I didn't realize that he wasn't doing a choke hold. From the video, it looked like a choke hold. But, I'm admittedly no martial artist or expert in these matters in any way.

If he wasn't using a choke hold, and that wasn't the cause of death, that COULD change the analysis - depending upon the language in the New York Penal Code.

Perhaps this is just a case of use of excessive force. Given the circumstances (i.e., simple misdemeanor with the guy just pulling his hands back after being suddenly surrounded by cops), I doubt anyone could argue that the cops didn't use excessive force. There could be mitigating circumstance, e.g., if the guy had previously resisted arrest and was known to these cops as being difficult?

What was the official cause of death?

Did the cops do what they were trained to do but because this guy's own circumstances (extremely bad shape and health) he couldn't take it?

I'm guessing that is what the grand jury decided.