Politico has an article in which a former Justice Department attorney discusses in detail the reasons why the odds are strongly against Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson going to jail. A jury has to be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that the officer did not fear grievous bodily harm when he shot Michael Brown, that he shot recklessly or with malice.
Assuming reports that Wilson was injured in the incident are true, that he received broken facial bones, proving he did not act in self-defense will be nearly impossible. No one has reported Wilson having prior violent encounters with people of color. And surveillance video evidence seems to show the victim strong-arm robbing a convenience store minutes before the shooting.
A finding of justifiable shooting will not please the rioters in Ferguson, who are likely to be violent again. And the violence can spread to other urban areas where people feel, rightly or wrongly, they have little to lose.
