ST. LOUIS – Former St. Louis police officer Jason Stockley is suing the prosecutor who charged him in the death of Anthony Lamar Smith and the sergeant of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department at the time of the incidents in the complaint.
In September 2017, a judge found Stockley not guilty in the 2011 murder of Anthony Lamar Smith. The decision sparked months of protests throughout St. Louis.
The lawsuit alleges Jennifer Joyce and Kirk Deekman made false statements about new evidence and a "kill shot" in the case. “She [Joyce] deliberately by-passed the people who were supposed to review the case and the new evidence,” the lawsuit said. It alleges the false testimony to the Grand Jury cause Stockley to get indicted.
Former Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce released the following statement in response to the lawsuit:
I believe the Circuit Attorney’s Office had sufficient evidence to pursue charges against Jason Stockley for the murder of Anthony Lamar Smith. I believe these types of frivolous lawsuits are designed to discourage prosecutors from considering charges against police officers for violating the law. Our community deserves better than this. While this lawsuit may achieve a goal of headlines today, I have confidence that this will be resolved in my favor in a court of law.
Stockey is suing for at least $75,000 for attorney fees, punitive damages and other damages.
READ the full lawsuit here
