The trial is taking place because the victim's parents, Norma and Norberto Martínez, sued the city of Downey, a suburb of Los Angeles, and two cops for the wrongful death of their son.

On Feb. 15, 2002, police officers chased and shot 26-year-old Gonzalo Martínez, in an attempt to pull him over for alleged drunk driving. Martínez was cornered and surrounded by eight cop cars. The young man was unarmed. After sitting in his car for a period of time wounded, Martínez stepped out and was gunned down by the police. Cops claim they thought he was reaching for a gun. A retired schoolteacher who saw the incident from her window testified that the victim made no such motion.

Martínez's parents have fought for nearly five years for justice, organizing many protests. They have also reached out to other victims of police brutality and encouraged them to stand up. And they have made their case known in Argentina, their country of origin, where it has received significant media coverage.

Kris Mohandie, who calls himself a forensic psychologist and is frequently used by police as an “expert witness,” testified on the cops' behalf that in his opinion Martínez wanted the police to kill him. Mohandie is the author of the article "Clinical and Forensic Indicators of 'Suicide by Cop,'" published in 2000 in the Journal of Forensic Sciences. He testified at the trial that in a recent “study” he did of 707 shootings by cops, one-third of the victims forced the police to kill them.

"This suit is not about winning money," said Norma Martínez, it's about putting the cops on notice that they can't get away with murder."
 
 
Related articles:
Australia protesters: Justice for Aborigine killed by cops
ACLU sues Rhode Island cops for 'racial profiling'  
 
 
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