US cop who ran over Indian student Jaahnavi Kandula not to face criminal charges

He will not face any criminal charges due to lack of ‘sufficient’ evidence, authorities say

Washington: The Seattle police officer who struck and killed Indian student Jaahnavi Kandula while responding to an overdose call, will not face any criminal charges due to lack of “sufficient” evidence, authorities said, a report in The Tribune, Chandigarh, says.

On Wednesday, the King County Prosecutor’s Office said they would not move forward with criminal charges against Seattle Police Officer Kevin Dave, FOX13 Seattle reported.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the King County Prosecuting Attorney said, “Kandula’s death is heartbreaking and impacted communities in King County and across the world.”

Kandula, 23, was struck by a police vehicle driven by Officer Dave while crossing a street in Seattle on January 23. She was thrown 100 feet away when she was struck by the speeding police patrol vehicle.

He was driving 74 mph (more than 119 kmh) on the way to a report of a drug away overdose call. In bodycam footage released by the Seattle Police Department, Officer Daniel Auderer laughed about the crash and dismissed any implication Dave might be at fault or that a criminal investigation was necessary.

King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion said that she believes they lack the evidence to prove a criminal case beyond a reasonable doubt, the report added.

“It is the responsibility of the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to review all available evidence relating to the case involving Seattle Police Officer Kevin Dave and the January 2023 collision death of Jaahnavi Kandula. After staffing this case with senior deputy prosecuting attorneys and office leadership, I have determined that we lack sufficient evidence under Washington State law to prove a criminal case beyond a reasonable doubt.”

The statement also said that the prosecutor’s office also finds the comments made by Seattle Police Officer Daniel Auderer, recorded on his body-worn video, “appalling and deeply troubling”.

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