"The ruling by Judge Thomas Stevens marks the third upended guilty verdict tied to the longtime Oakland police officer, who is awaiting trial on several bribery and perjury charges. The burgeoning scandal has already led to multiple lenient plea deals and case dismissals tied to the detective's work, along with a review of more than 200 homicide cases he either led or touched."
"While investigating the killing, Tran allegedly told Buggs that an all-white jury could see him as a big scary Black guy, and that Buggs might as well squeeze that noose a little tighter if he didn't confess to the shooting, according to court filings. In a statement, Alameda County's public defender urged District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson to dismiss the case and release Buggs from custody immediately. He is currently incarcerated at the state prison in Vacaville."
An Alameda County judge granted a new trial for Steven Buggs in the September 2012 slaying of Lester Young after finding the conviction tied to Detective Phong Tran compromised. Judge Thomas Stevens noted this is the third conviction connected to Tran to be overturned amid allegations that Tran coerced and paid witnesses. Tran faces pending bribery and perjury charges and more than 200 homicide cases he worked on are under review, with prior plea deals and dismissals already occurring. Court filings allege Tran used racial stereotyping and pressured Buggs to confess. The public defender urged immediate dismissal and release.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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