Two paramedics in Colorado have been convicted of criminally negligent homicide for their involvement in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain. The verdict was delivered by a jury on Friday, marking the final trial related to McClain's tragic incident.

Jeremy Cooper, 49, and Peter Cichuniec, 51, faced charges in connection with the death of McClain, a 23-year-old Black man who was detained by police and subjected to excessive force before being injected with a powerful sedative by the paramedics. The first trial resulted in a police officer being found guilty of criminally negligent homicide, while another officer was acquitted. In the second trial, a third officer involved in McClain's death was also acquitted.

The convictions of Cooper and Cichuniec were for criminally negligent homicide, which carries a maximum prison sentence of three years. Additionally, Cichuniec was found guilty of assault in the second degree for administering the sedative. The jury's decision marked a significant event, as it is rare for paramedics to face such trials.

Following the verdict, McClain's mother, Sheneen McClain, expressed her disappointment in the justice system, stating that "three out of five convictions are not justice." She described the convictions as a minimal acknowledgement of accountability.

Judge Mark Warner ordered the immediate custody of Cichuniec, while Cooper was allowed to remain free on bond until his sentencing on March 1.

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser emphasized that accountability did not end with these convictions and urged further work to prevent the deaths of innocent individuals at the hands of police and first responders.

Throughout the trial, Cooper and Cichuniec testified that they believed administering ketamine was necessary to calm McClain. They argued that the actions of the police officers hindered their ability to provide prompt treatment. However, prosecutors countered this argument, alleging that the paramedics deviated from their training protocols by not examining McClain before injecting him with the maximum allowed dose of ketamine.

Prosecutors also contested the paramedics' characterization of McClain as suffering from "excited delirium," a controversial condition that critics argue should not be used for law enforcement purposes. They asserted that the paramedics overdosed McClain on ketamine by incorrectly estimating his weight.

The tragic encounter involving McClain unfolded when police stopped him after a bystander reported he appeared suspicious. He was placed in a chokehold and repeatedly expressed that he could not breathe. The original autopsy in 2019 listed the cause of death as "undetermined," but a revised autopsy in 2021 concluded that McClain died due to complications from ketamine administration following forcible restraint.

The decision to charge the paramedics and officers came after the global protests following the killing of George Floyd in May 2020. The case gained renewed attention and scrutiny, leading Colorado Governor Jared Polis to request an investigation by the state attorney general's office. Subsequently, a grand jury indicted the involved parties in 2021.

Sheneen McClain lamented her son's death as part of a broader problem of hatred, racism, oppression, and greed that persists in society.

With this trial serving as a pivotal moment in seeking justice for Elijah McClain, the case has once again brought national attention to the issues of police misconduct and the need for transparency and accountability in law enforcement.

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