UPPER MARLBORO, Md. — The legal team representing the first Prince George's County police officer charged with murder in uniform says their client is "vindicated" following his acquittal on Wednesday.
A jury found Michael Owen Jr., not guilty on all counts he faced for the deadly shooting of a handcuffed man in January of 2020.
Owen faced several charges including including second-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter after shooting 43-year-old William Green six times.
Green was arrested and put in Owen's cruiser after a series of traffic crashes.
"We are pleased with the outcome but saddened that Michael lost 1,409 days of his life," Owen's defense attorney Thomas Mooney told WUSA9 in a statement.
Prosecutors argued during the trial that Green who was found passed out in a car did not pose a threat to the police officer.
Owen took the stand arguing that there was a violent struggle inside the car in which Green body-slammed the officer and dislodged his gun from the holster.
"In an unprecedented fashion, he was arrested and charged before the case could be properly investigated," Mooney added. Although he said they are pleased with the outcome, the attorney said Owen lost 1,409 days of his life.
The jury's decision garnered strong reactions from both families.
Green's cousin Nikki Owens called the verdict "disheartening" and told reporters, "I don't know how bad it has to get for police to be held accountable for their actions."
Prince George's County State Attorney Aisha Braveboy told reporters she respected the decision reached by the jury but said she was disappointed by the outcome.
"I think it would be difficult for the jury to understand why. I think that was the issue. Why did he shoot and kill him?" Braveboy said.
Mooney said the original narrative presented by the State Attorney's Office began to fall apart as the investigation unfolded. "Erroneous conclusions in the immediate aftermath of the shooting were never corrected, leading to a murder trial with inconsistencies and significant prosecutorial proof challenges," he added.
The acquittal was a hard hit for the families of other men who have been killed by police officers and who have supported the Green family during the years-long legal battle.
"With all the evidence, there's no way there should have been a verdict of not guilty on all charges," Darlene Rainey told reporters.
Owen's lawyer says his client was abandoned by the Prince George's County Police Department during the legal process.
The Prince George's County Police Department posted on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, "The Prince George’s County Police Department is aware of today’s verdict in the Michael Owen trial. He remains suspended without pay at this time. The internal administrative review will continue."
WUSA9 reached out the Prince George's County Fraternal Order of Police, the union representing police officer but have not received a response.