"Over a week ago at the mitigation hearing Ashford Thompson had a dozen witnesses testify to his character. It was Ashford Thompson's day. Today is a day for the Miktarian family. I respect them for the grace and courage they have shown throughout this process and hope that as they put the pieces back together again, they know that the citizens of Summit County will not forget their sacrifice."

In a tearful statement to the Miktarian family earlier this month, Thompson admitted he fired the shots that killed the officer during a traffic stop in the predawn hours of July 13, 2008, because of loud music coming from Thompson's car.

Within two minutes of the stop, a neighbor called 911 saying she heard popping noises outside.

Officer Miktarian was shot once through the forehead and three more times through the side of his head as he laid unresponsive on the ground.

Thompson was arrested at his sister's Bedford Heights home a short time later, still wearing Officer Miktarian's handcuffs on one of his wrists. The gun he used was on the top of a stove in the residence.

During his murder trial, Thompson never denied firing the shots. His best explanation came when, in an unsworn statement from the witness stand, he told the jury that he could not understand why the officer seemed to be so aggressive during a stop over loud music, and when he saw Officer Miktarian reach for something on his utility belt, he believed the officer was reaching for his gun.

That was weird, was that one of the lawyers?

 

Oh you know lots of dummies don't listen, and if they do they later try to reopen/appeal based on you telling them to shut up :/