Top NYC lawyers baffled by ‘odd,’ rare Diller verdict that saw cop killer cleared of murder: ‘Juries are never predictable’
NY Post
Defense lawyers told The Post on Thursday they are scratching their heads over the “odd” and extremely rare mixed verdict involving the career criminal who killed hero NYPD cop Jonathan Diller.
Cop-killer Guy Rivera was stunningly acquitted of first-degree murder Wednesday for fatally shooting the married dad and officer. He was instead convicted of the lesser charge of aggravated manslaughter in Diller’s death — and found guilty of attempted murder in the shooting of Diller’s partner, who survived the March 2024 carnage in Queens.
“In real time, in the moment, the jury found that the intent was to cause serious physical injury to officer number one [Diller], and moments later he tried to kill officer number two [the partner],” said Jeremy Saland, a defense lawyer and former prosecutor in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, told The Post.
“It seems like an odd verdict,” he said.
“They don’t believe the intent of the shooter was to kill Diller. It was intent to cause serious physical injury. At the same time, they find [Rivera] guilty for attempted murder. Why the difference? It’s an odd verdict,” he said.
The legal expert pointed out that even though prosecutors fell short on securing a guilty verdict on all charges, Rivera — who had 21 previous arrests — will still never “see the light of day” when sentenced April 27.
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