America
HAF Disappointed with Federal Court Decision for Alabama's Sureshbhai Patel
Washington, D.C. (January 15, 2016) -- Leaders of the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) expressed strong disappointment after a federal judge acquitted former Madison, Alabama policeman Eric Parker yesterday of federal charges for his attack on Indian immigrant Sureshbhai Patel last year. The decision precludes federal prosecutors from retrying Mr. Parker for the assault.
“Today’s decision unfortunately short-circuits the legal process to prosecute Eric Parker and leaves Mr. Patel and his family without closure,†said Suhag Shukla, Esq., HAF’s Executive Director and Legal Counsel. “It is our hope that the civil process, and the pending charges in state court will provide Mr. Patel a modicum of justice that he has been denied in federal court.â€
On February 6, 2015, Mr. Parker was responding to an alleged
burglary complaint in a housing neighborhood where Mr. Patel was staying with
his son in
“Mr. Patel’s celebrated arrival in this country to begin a new life with his son was interrupted in two tragic minutes,†stated Judge Haikala in her official opinion. “Mr. Patel had-and has-just as much right to be free from excessive force as every citizen of this country. He is welcome here, and it is appropriate to grieve his injury. However, that injury, standing alone, does not provide the basis for a criminal judgment against Mr. Parker under 18 U.S.C. § 242.â€