Colorado paramedic jailed for 5 years over killing of Elijah McClain

A Colorado paramedic has been sentenced to 5 years in jail over the loss of life of 23-year-old Elijah McClain.

The sentence, handed down on Friday to Peter Cichunic, adopted a uncommon prosecution of medical responders that has left officers rethinking how they deal with folks in police custody.

Cichuniec and fellow paramedic Jeremy Cooper had been each convicted in December of criminally negligent murder for administering the sedative finally blamed for killing McClain, a younger Black therapeutic massage therapist, in 2019.

The five-year sentence was the minimal the decide may have given Cichuniec below sentencing pointers.

McClain’s mom, Sheneen McClain, raised her fist within the air as she left the courtroom following the sentencing, as she’s achieved after earlier hearings. In earlier testimony Ms McClain mentioned she as soon as dreamed of being a firefighter and regarded them heroes “till the day they took my son’s life.”

“You’re a native hero no extra,” she mentioned as Cichuniec sat along with his attorneys at a close-by desk. “Subsequent time, assume for your self and don’t observe the course of a crowds of cowards.”

On Friday, following the sentence member Cichuniec’s household known as out, “love you Pete” as he seemed again and waved at them earlier than leaving courtroom in handcuffs, The Related Press reported.

The convictions of Cichuniec and Cooper sen shockwaves by means of the ranks of paramedics throughout the US and thrust the occupation into the acrimonious struggle over social justice sparked by the 2020 homicide of George Floyd by Minneapolis police.

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