The video of the murder of Robert Brooks on December 9 at New York’s Marcy Correctional Facility has been released. There has been an uproar after the videos came out. This footage has been released by State Attorney General Letitia James, who is investigating the matter.
Brooks, 43, was pronounced dead at the hospital the next morning after he was arrested. Expressing displeasure over this incident, New York Governor Kathy Hochul had announced the dismissal of 13 prison officers. She said she was “angry and horrified” after seeing the video of this “senseless murder”.
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The officers hit him in the stomach with shoes, on his face and waist.
The footage shows officers repeatedly hitting Brooks in the face and groin while he sits handcuffed on a medical examination table. One officer hits him in the stomach with a shoe, while the other picks him up by the neck and throws him on the table. The officers also removed Brooks’s shirt and pants, while he was seen lying lifeless.
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Attorney General James said appropriate caution should be taken before viewing these videos, as they are “shocking and disturbing”. Following Brooks’ death, the state prison system issued a new directive mandating the use of body cameras during every staff interaction.
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The prisoner was serving a 12-year sentence.
James did not say whether criminal charges would be filed against any officers. Elizabeth Mazur, the attorney for Brooks’ family, said that from this video people can see for themselves how Brooks’ life was taken. Inmate Brooks had been serving a 12-year sentence since 2017 on first-degree assault charges and was recently transferred to Marcy Correctional Facility.
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