Mehserle maintains the shooting was accidental and that he intended to Tase grant, but mistakenly pulled his gun instead. Grant, who was unarmed, was shot in the back.
Mehserle's legal team found out after the trial about a similar case in Kentucky in which a seasoned officer shot someone with a gun thinking it was his Taser. They're asking for a new trial. That officer was disciplined, but never charged.
The Grant shooting sparked outrage and riots. Mehserle was charged with murder and the trial was moved to Los Angeles where a jury convicted the now former BART officer of involuntary manslaughter.
Mehserle will be sentenced Friday and could be given probation, released with time already served, or given up to 14 years in state prison.
Question of the Day: What sentence do you think the judge should give Johannes Mehserle?
