# Did anyone follow the Kelly Thomas trial? Cops' use of force caused a death; cops aquitted **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 14, 2014, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-follow-the-kelly-thomas-trial-cops-use-of-force-caused-a-death-cops-aquitted/678785 "2014-01-14T15:04:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 126
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-follow-the-kelly-thomas-trial-cops-use-of-force-caused-a-death-cops-aquitted/678785/126 "2014-01-29T17:24:18Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > Well see, that’s part of what I don’t understand: how can it be simultaneously true that the cops apparently behaved improperly, and are not guilty of (at least) manslaughter? If they didn’t behave according to proper procedure, and this resulted in a death that (presumably) could have been prevented by following procedure, then that seems to be the definition of manslaughter; but if they did follow proper procedure, then it seems as if everybody should indeed say that what happened was ‘OK’, and nobody should get fired or face civil action about it.. I know you don’t understand, that’s obvious. Read some law, Get behind the concept of “burden of proof’. Read the OJ story- he was acquitted of Murder as the defense was able to show 'reasonable doubt” but was found liable in a civil lawsuit as the “preponderance of evidence” showed he was guilty. In order to be found guilty of a crime, it must be proven \*beyond all reasonable doubt. \* This is a very high burden of proof, much higher than a civil or procedural matter. Thus is is very easy for it to be simultaneously true that the cops apparently behaved improperly (more evidence than not), and are not guilty of manslaughter (must be proven beyond all reasonable doubt). Appropriate user name, tho. --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-follow-the-kelly-thomas-trial-cops-use-of-force-caused-a-death-cops-aquitted/678785)._