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Police in Oakland, California, are bracing themselves for riots as the verdict nears in the murder case of a white police officer accused of killing an unarmed black man.

The Oakland Police Department website has messages from the police chief and the mayor warning residents to stay calm

"We anticipate that regardless of the verdict reached by the jury, demonstrations could occur in downtown Oakland, and potentially throughout the city," one of the messages said. "We will not tolerate destruction or violence. We live here, and we love Oakland. We understand that the community is grieving, and we are in this together. We will get through this together,” the statement said.

The trial of Johannes Mehserle, a former Bay Area Road Transit police officer is near to close as the jury began deliberating today.

Mehserle has pleaded not guilty to killing 22-year-old Oscar Grant, on a train platform last New Year’s Day.

Footage of the shooting was captured by bystanders on their mobile phones which spurred on several protests and riots in and around Oakland after its wide circulation on the internet and news programmes.

CNN affiliate KTVU reported Mehserle in the trial saying that he intended to draw his taser stun gun rather than his firearm.

Published: 02 July 2010
Issue: 0

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