Laquan McDonald: Former Chicago police officer jailed for murder of black teenager

A former Chicago police officer has been jailed for more than six years for the 2014 murder of a black teenager.

A day after three officers were cleared of accusations they had covered up the killing of Laquan McDonald, former officer Jason Van Dyke was sentenced to the best part of seven years. He was convicted last year of second-degree murder and 16 counts of aggravated battery, one count for each bullet he had fired.

The Associated Press said shortly being told of his sentence, Van Dyke, a white officer, acknowledged the black teenager’s death, telling the judge that “as a God-fearing man and father, I will have to live with this the rest of my life”.

Earlier, several black motorists testified that the former office used a racial slur and excessive force during traffic stops in the years before the 2014 shooting.

Cook County Circuit Court Judge Vincent Gaughan sentenced Van Dyke to 81 months in prison and said he would have to serve at least two years before he was eligible for parole.

Van Dyke, 40, appearing unshaven and wearing a yellow-orange jail uniform in court, faced up to 20 years in prison for his second-degree murder conviction and up to 30 years for each of 16 counts of aggravated battery. Mr Gaughan did not rule on the aggravated battery charges, explaining that the second-degree murder was the more serious crime, Reuters said.

It said last October’s verdict marked the first time an on-duty Chicago police officer had been held criminally accountable for the killing of an African-American, and touched off celebratory street demonstrations.

At the sentencing, the teenager’s uncle read a letter written from the slain boy’s perspective, telling the court that Van Dyke killed him without provocation.

“I am a 17-year-old boy, and I am a victim of murder,” Marvin Hunter said. “I am unable to speak in my own voice because an officer thought he would become judge, jury and executioner.”

In asking for a long sentence, Mr Hunter added: “Why should this person who ended my life forever ... who has never asked for forgiveness ... be free when I am dead for forever?”

The news agency said that Van Dyke’s relatives and sought to defend and humanise him, saying he was a good father and husband.

His wife said her life has been “a nightmare” since her husband was charged. She said she was denied a job and her daughter was not accepted into a dance group because of their last name.