PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. — Just days after a jury acquitted former Prince George's County Police officer Michael Owen in the death of William H. Green, the family of the man shot to death is speaking out.
On Jan. 27, 2020, Green was arrested, handcuffed and placed in the front seat of Owen's patrol car after a series of traffic crashes. The jury was told Owen shot Green six times, killing him. The former officer was fired and charged with second-degree murder within days of the deadly shooting, and the county agreed to settle with Green's family for $20 million only months after the killing.
Owen was the first police officer in county history to be charged with murdering a suspect while on duty. On Dec. 6, Owen was found not guilty on all charges.
Green's family held a press conference and released a lengthy statement through a consulting firm Monday evening. The release asked, "How does a case with strong prosecutorial evidence go so wrong?"
Family members said the defense provided an "unbelievable, inconsistent, and impossible story that painted a fantastical 5-6 second scenario of what happened in Cpl. Owen’s cruiser." The release also went on to say that the family believes many errors made by the State's Attorney's Office over the four years of litigation were a clear factor in the trial's outcome. One of those errors, the family alleged, were the charges brought against Owen.
"The State’s Attorney’s Office charged him with second-degree murder, but somehow, Renee Joy, Johnathan Church, and Aisha Braveboy did not provide the language in the indictment to allow this to be considered. The judge called the charges bizarre and unusual, and he said that he wasn’t sure why the prosecution would box themselves into one theory of the killing," the release reads. "Three attorneys failed to ensure the charges presented to the grand jury were accurate to secure a guilty verdict in one of the most egregious police killings in modern day history. Was this incompetence, negligence or intentional? This is what we want to know. As a family, we have many concerns about the handling of this case by the State’s Attorney’s Office and the lack of proper diligence they demonstrated for this case and our family."
Additionally, the family shared several points of concern regarding the trial, including claims that the State’s Attorney’s Office (SAO) didn't assign the family a victim's advocate until 2023, ignored emails from the family and the lack of public access to jury selection.
Following the verdict, Green's family said Braveboy made several statements during a press conference that they called "blatant and outright lies."
"...Aisha Braveboy tried to paint BooBoo, who was asleep when the police first arrived, and lethargic through the entire arrest, as a drug addict who deserved to be killed. She justified one of the most egregious police killings in modern U.S. history! At no point did she acknowledge the appalling mistakes of her office," the release reads. "She did not acknowledge the role the SAO played in his acquittal. She simply lied. She again didn’t consider the victim or the family in her words. Her only goal was to protect herself, her reputation, and her political aspirations. She did her worst. She lied."
The family is now asking for the Department of Justice to investigate Green's death, the Prince George's County Police Department and the State's Attorney Office. They also want Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown to investigate processes and procedures of the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office and all cases handled under Braveboy.
"Per her oath as the State’s Attorney, Aisha Braveboy did not demean herself fairly or honorably as an attorney and practitioner at law," the family's statement reads. "She did not protect the citizens of Prince George’s County, nor did she ensure a killer would never hold a badge and gun again. She had an opportunity to do what the PGPD and the County Executive refused to do. She had an opportunity to change the public perspective on the lack of accountability for police officers. She had an opportunity to give overpoliced communities in Prince George’s County a sense of safety. She failed. We are now putting this into the hands of the U.S. Department of Justice and the Maryland Attorney General."
The family did thank Judge Pearson for what they called constant professionalism, open-mindedness, and integrity for the last three years.
"His actions and members of his court (bailiffs, court reporter, court clerk) during all the proceedings ensured fairness of all parties’ legal rights and the best interest of upholding the law," the release reads.
Additionally, family said they will continue to fight for Green and ask politicians and residents in Maryland to reach out to the DOJ to advocate for an investigation.
In a statement to WUSA9, Braveboy's office said they disagree with the verdict the jury came to but have to respect the legal system "and the due process it ensures."
"The Office of the State’s Attorney for Prince George’s County continues to extend its deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the family of William Green. His untimely death represents not just a loss for his family, but also a blow to the entire Prince George’s County community," Braveboy's office said. "Our office put forth a strong prosecution against former Corporal Owen, supported by solid evidence and facts in the possession of the State. Despite our efforts, the jury reached a verdict of not guilty. While we stand by our case and disagree with this verdict, we hold the utmost respect for our legal system and the due process it ensures. It's important to clarify that at no stage did the State’s Attorney's Office attribute blame to any individual involved in or associated with this case. The jury's decision, as is often the case in our courtrooms, was a reflection of their interpretation and evaluation of the evidence and facts as presented."