LOS ANGELES (AP) — Attorneys for a white former transit officer sentenced to two years for fatally shooting an unarmed black man are seeking his release on bail while he appeals his involuntary manslaughter conviction.
Los Angeles County court officials tell the San Francisco Chronicle Monday that Johannes Mehserle will appear for a bail hearing on Dec. 3.
Mehserle was sentenced Nov. 5 in last year’s fatal shooting of Oscar Grant on an Oakland train platform.
The judge threw out a separate conviction for intentionally firing a gun saying he believed Mehserle’s testimony that the former officer had meant to use his stun gun instead of his handgun.
With credit for time served, Mehserle could be eligible for release in about seven months.
His sentence sparked protests by Grant supporters, who said the punishment was too light.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.