6 Prison Guards Charged With Murder For Death of Robert Brooks

Six New York prison guards have been indicted for second-degree murder in the beating death of a handcuffed inmate, a brutal incident captured on body-worn cameras that triggered widespread outrage and calls for justice. Four other corrections workers were charged with lesser crimes in the December death of Robert Brooks, 43, of Rochester, at Marcy Correctional Facility in an indictment unsealed Thursday. The special prosecutor, Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick, said especially disturbing to him was the “sense of normalcy” of the employees on the video, which was caught unintentionally on the body-worn cameras.

“I think any sentient human being looking at the tapes naturally comes to the conclusion that he must have said something. He must have spit at the officers. He must have resisted in some way. And the fact of the matter is, he did absolutely nothing,” Fitzpatrick said during a news conference after the court proceeding. Handcuffed corrections employees appeared one after another in a packed Utica court to enter not guilty pleas. Fitzpatrick said at least six made bond in court. Bail for the murder charges was set at a $250,000 bail bond or a $1 million partially secured surety bond. After some of the corrections officers were released, one man said, “This is not justice, judge — These people killed a Black man,” as he left the courtroom. One woman was removed after shouting “murderer, murderer.” Protesters were upset that officers were offered bail. Fitzpatrick said the judge followed the law and the men were not flight risks. Prison guards Nicholas Anzalone, David Kingsley, Anthony Farina, Christopher Walrath and Mathew Galliher were among the people charged with second-degree murder, according to court documents. The name of the sixth person was redacted because they’ll appear in court next week. All six were also charged with first-degree manslaughter, meaning prosecutors believe they are criminally liable for the conduct of others. Brooks had been serving a 12-year prison sentence for first-degree assault since 2017. He arrived at the prison only shortly before the videotaped beating after being transferred from another nearby facility. Fitzpatrick said Brooks was beaten three separate times as soon as he arrived at the prison, the last being the fatal beating in the infirmary caught on body-camera footage.

Source:  13 WHAM-TV