Prosecutors in Kentucky are moving to permanently dismiss criminal charges against Kenneth Walker, the boyfriend of Breonna Taylor, in the wake of legal battles that have lasted almost an entire year.
According to CBS News, the move will mean that Walker will be unable to be recharged for the crimes if the judge grants the request in the motion from the Commonwealth Attorney for Jefferson County.
Walker was originally charged with assault and attempted murder of a police officer after he allegedly opened fire and wounded a Louisville Metro Police Sergeant last March during a chaotic raid at Taylor’s apartment.
Officers stormed Taylor’s apartment looking for an ex-boyfriend of hers in a raid to search for illegal drugs. Taylor, a 26-year-old emergency medical technician with no prior criminal record, was fatally shot during the melee.
Walker said he thought that he and his girlfriend were the victims of an attempted home invasion, and his lawyers have argued that he was acting in self-defense.
While charges against Walker were dropped last May, they were dropped by prosecutors without prejudice — which meant he could face the same charges again in the future. At the time, Jefferson Commonwealth’s Attorney Tom Wine said that more investigation was necessary and warned that Walker’s case could be brought before a grand jury again if necessary.
