Former Cop Claims Self-Defense in Transsexual Beating Trial
Updated: Tuesday, 13 Apr 2010, 5:30 PM CDT
http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/dpp/news/local/041310-former-cop-claims-self-defense-in-transsexual-beating-trial (http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/dpp/news/local/041310-former-cop-claims-self-defense-in-transsexual-beating-trial)
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Former Memphis Police officer Bridges McRae took the stand Tuesday during a federal trial on charges he violated the civil rights of the late transsexual Duanna Johnson. But, McRae's testimony of what was captured on videotape two years ago at the Shelby County Jail portrayed him as fighting in self-defense.
It's said pictures don't lie, and for more than two years since shocking Shelby County Jail surveillance video first lit up television screens and websites, it's been widely assumed the late transsexual Duanna Johnson was the victim of a brutal assault by former police officer Bridges McRae.
But, what if the apparent victim was actually the aggressor?
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Memphis police officer on trial says transgender prisoner was aggressor
* By Lawrence Buser
* Posted April 13, 2010 at 2:02 p.m. , updated April 13, 2010 at 10:43 p.m.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/apr/13/memphis-police-officer-trial-says-prisoner-was-agg/ (http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/apr/13/memphis-police-officer-trial-says-prisoner-was-agg/)
A former Memphis police officer on trial for allegedly beating a transgender prisoner said Tuesday that he was only defending himself from the prisoner he described as large, aggressive and frightening.
Bridges "Sutton" McRae said the six blows he delivered and the pepper spray he used on the prisoner, identified as Dwayne Johnson on the arrest ticket, all were defensive reactions.
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Accused Officer Takes Stand In Civil Rights Trial
Shaun Chaiyabhat
5:50 PM CDT, April 13, 2010
Accused Officer Takes Stand In Civil Rights Trial
http://www.wreg.com/news/wreg-mcrae-civil-rights-trial,0,7130998.story (http://www.wreg.com/news/wreg-mcrae-civil-rights-trial,0,7130998.story)
Bridges McRae is accused of beating a transgender woman he was arresting.
It happened at the Shelby County Jail in February 2008.
McRae says he was defending himself against six-foot-five Duana Johnson, who refused to be fingerprinted.
The video shows what some have called a police "beat down" of Johnson, a transgender prostitute.