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Latasha Harlins (July 14, 1975 – March 16, 1991) was a 15-year-old African-American girl who was unlawfully shot and killed by Soon Ja Du (Hangul: ), a 51-year-old Korean store owner. Harlins was a student at Westchester High School in Los Angeles. Harlins' death came 13 days after the videotaped beating of Rodney King, and Du was fined and sentenced to probation and community service but no prison time for her crime. Some sources cited the shooting as one of the causes of the 1992 Los Angeles riots. == Summary == The South Los Angeles store, Empire Liquor, was normally staffed by Du's husband and son. However, on the morning of the shooting, Du was working behind the counter, and her husband was outside resting in the family's van.〔(The People, petitioner v. The Superior Court of Los Angeles County, Respondent; Soon Ja Du, Real Party in Interest ), 1992. 5th Cal App 4th 825.〕 Du observed Harlins putting a bottle of orange juice in her backpack. Police say that Du erroneously concluded Harlins was attempting to steal, and evidently did not see the money Harlins held in her hand. The police reached this conclusion after speaking with the two eyewitnesses present and viewing the videotape of the incident, recorded by a store security camera. Du grabbed Harlins by the sweater and snatched her backpack. Harlins then struck Du with her fist three times, knocking Du to the ground. After Harlins backed away, Du then threw a stool at her. Harlins then picked up the orange juice that dropped during the scuffle, threw〔Ford, Andrea and John H. Lee. "(Slain Girl Was Not Stealing Juice, Police Say: The incident in which the 15-year-old was killed by a market owner was captured on a security system videotape. )". ''Los Angeles Times''. March 22, 1991. Page B1〕 it on the counter and turned to leave. Du reached under the counter to retrieve a handgun, then fired at Harlins from behind at a distance of about three feet (one meter) and shot her in the back of her head, killing her instantly. Du's husband, Billy Heung Ki Du, heard the shot and rushed into the store. After speaking to his wife, who asked for the whereabouts of Harlins before fainting, he dialed 9-1-1 to report an alleged holdup.〔(People v. Superior Court (Du) )〕 Du testified on her own behalf, stating that it was self-defense and that her life was in danger, but her testimony was contradicted by the statements of the two witnesses present at the time and the security camera video which showed her shooting Harlins in the back of the head as Harlins was attempting to leave the store. However, the Los Angeles police department ballistics expert report also found that the handgun Du used was altered in such a way that, compared to an ordinary handgun, much less pressure on the trigger was necessary to result in firing.〔 On November 15, 1991, the jury, believing that Du's shooting was fully within her control and she fired the gun voluntarily, found Du guilty of voluntary manslaughter, an offense that carries a maximum prison sentence of 16-years. However, trial judge, Joyce Karlin, sentenced Du to five years of probation, four hundred hours of community service, and a $500 fine.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://occr.ucdavis.edu/ccbp2004/timeline.cfm )〕 Judge Karlin suggested that there were mitigating circumstances. She stated, "Did Mrs. Du react inappropriately? Absolutely. But was that reaction understandable? I think that it was." The judge added, "this is not a time for revenge...and no matter what sentence this court imposes Mrs. Du will be punished every day for the rest of her life." The court also stated that Mrs. Du shot Ms. Harlins under extreme provocation and duress and probably would never commit a crime again. A state appeals court later unanimously upheld Judge Karlin's sentence.〔(People v. Superior Court of Los Angeles County (Du) ), 5 Cal. App. 4th 822, 7 Cal.Rptr.2d 177 (1992), from Google Scholar. Retrieved on September 14, 2012.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Death of Latasha Harlins」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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