Most Divisive Verdict: NYPD Officer Guilty in Controversial Public Housing Shooting
NYPD Officer Peter Liang was found guilty of manslaughter after a bullet from his gun killed an unarmed man in a public housing building in New York City, according to an article in The New York Times.
The controversial case ignited debates about race relations, particularity with respect to Asian-Americans, blacks and police officers. A bullet from Liang’s gun ricocheted off a wall and struck Akai Gurley, 28, a black man who was unarmed at the time. The incident took place in the Louis H. Pink Houses in East New York, Brooklyn, on Nov. 20, 2014. Liang faces up to 15 years in prison.
Most Incestuous Verdict: Man Sentenced to 10 Years After Soliciting for ‘Incest Family’
A Florida man who sought sexual relations with a woman and her two underage daughters is heading to prison as the result of a police sting, according to an article from The New York Daily News.
Aron Fink used the screen name “KinkyDaddy4y” to arrange a sexual rendezvous with what he believed was a family that included an 8-year-old and 10-year-old girl. However, he was in fact corresponding with an undercover officer. “I have been looking for a mom who was raised in an incest family and wants to continue the beautiful world of incest with their kids,” he wrote in one message. “I have wanted an incest family since I was younger. Nothing turns me on more than family incest. So special and hot!” His 10 years in prison will be followed by 20 years of supervised release.
Most un-Pop-ular Verdict: Pop Star Ke$ha Denied Injunctive Relief Against Alleged Rapist
Pop star Ke$ha was denied a preliminary injunction to temporarily nullify her contract with Sony Records after she claimed a producer there raped her, according to an article from The New York Daily News.
Kesha Rose Sebert alleged Dr. Luke, whose birth name is Luke Gottwald, drugged her after her 18th birthday. No criminal charges were filed. "Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Shirley Kornreich said she thought Sony would suffer irreparable harm if Kesha was not compelled to abide by a contract that requires her to make six more albums with the company."
Kesha's lawyers contested a conciliation from Sony to allow the star to work with another producer was "illusory" considering the company would no longer promote her music under that agreement. An online petition to Sony Music President Doug Morris asking to allow her to halt work with Dr. Luke has more than 119,000 signatures.
Most Infringing Verdict: Apple Takes $625M Hit in Patent Infringement Case
A Texas jury awarded a small software company $625 million in a patent infringement case involving Apple Inc.’s FaceTime video-conference application and VPN On Demand service, according to an article from the Dallas Morning News.
The jury determined Apple’s infringement was “willful” and ordered Apple to fork over the sum to VirnetX Holding Corp. Apple is planning an appeal and representatives said the verdict was evidence of a “desperate need for patent reform.” This is not the first bout the two companies have had, and not the first damages Apple was ordered to pay VirnetX.
Most Satanic Verdict: Man Searching for ‘Portal to Hell’ Instead Finds Jail
Morgan Mesz was convicted on a number of charges by Union County jury after he attacked and seriously injured two women with an axe, claiming he was searching for the “portal to Hell.” He was found guilty of attempted murder, aggravated assault and weapons charges, according to an article from New Jersey's NJ 101.5.
The radio station details Mesz 2011 attack of Carolyn Bunnell and Barbara Perrine, who noticed the contents of their shed were littered in their backyard and upon investigating, found Mesz. A neighbor, Hernan Agudelo, rushed to their aid with a small souvenir bat.
“Barbara and I would not have made it if not for Hernan. Hernan saved ou[r] lives," Bunnell is quoted as saying. "Everyone that was in contact with us that day saved our lives. Hernan is a hero and I just hope that he is recognized. Every day that I see him, I go up and thank him for saving our lives.”