Attorney says family of man shot to death by Oakland transit officer disappointed by verdict

Attorney says family upset with verdict

LOS ANGELES — An attorney for the family of the man shot to death by a former Oakland transit officer says they are “extremely disappointed” with the verdict against the officer.

Attorney John Burris said outside a Los Angeles court Thursday that the verdict “is not a true representation of what happened” to Oscar Grant.

The panel convicted Johannes Mehserle of involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of Grant on an Oakland train platform on New Year’s Day 2009.

Burris said Mehserle should have been convicted of murder. He said it was like Mehserle “ran a light instead of killing someone.”

Involuntary manslaughter carries a sentence of two to four years.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — An attorney for the family of the man shot to death by a former Oakland transit officer says they are “extremely disappointed” with the verdict against the officer.

Attorney John Burris said outside a Los Angeles court Thursday that the verdict “is not a true representation of what happened” to Oscar Grant.

The panel convicted Mehserle of involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of Grant on an Oakland train platform on New Year’s Day 2009.

Burris said Mehserle should have been convicted of murder. He said it was like Mehserle “ran a light instead of killing someone.”

Involuntary manslaughter carries a sentence of two to four years.