How India is working toward justice for student killed by US cop

Prosecutors in the United States have dropped the criminal charges against a Seattle police officer who struck and killed Indian student Jaahnavi Kandula last January, citing a lack of “sufficient” evidence. The King County Prosecutor’s Office said earlier this week that they will not go ahead with criminal charges against Seattle Police officer Kevin Dave who hit the 23-year-old with his police vehicle, leading to her death.

The tragic incident had created a huge uproar after footage of another cop seemingly mocking Kandula’s death surfaced. India’s ambassador to the US had sought prompt action, with the Joe Biden administration assuring New Delhi of a quick investigation into the case.

Why was the Seattle police officer let off the hook? What have been the reactions to the US court’s verdict? What will India do next? Let’s take a closer look.

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Felony charges dropped against Seattle cop

Prosecutors in Washington state said they will not file felony charges against Seattle police officer Kevin Dave who killed Kandula while responding to an overdose call on 23 January last year.

Dave was driving a police SUV at 74 mph (119 kph) on a street with a 25 mph (40 kph) speed limit before hitting the Indian student in a crosswalk. She was lobbed 100 feet after being struck by the speeding patrol vehicle.

Footage from body-worn camera released last September showed another Seattle Police officer Daniel Auderer making callous remarks about her death, saying she was “26 anyway”, “had limited value” and the city should “just write a check.”

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The King County prosecutor’s office in a memo to the Seattle Police Department on Wednesday said that Dave had his emergency lights on, Kandula seemed to run across the intersection after seeing his vehicle coming, and other pedestrians said they heard his siren, according to Associated Press (AP).

The 23-year-old might have been wearing wireless earbuds which could have reduced her hearing, the office noted. Thus, a felony charge of vehicular homicide cannot be filed.

“There is insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Ofc. Dave was consciously disregarding safety,” AP cited the memo as saying.

In a statement on Wednesday, King County Prosecutor Leesa Manion termed Kandula’s death “heartbreaking” that “impacted communities in King County and across the world.”

Referring to Auderer ’s “appalling and deeply troubling” comments, Manion said that did not change the legal analysis of whether Dave should be charged.

“It is the Office of Police Accountability that bears the responsibility of disciplinary investigation and proceedings relating to Officer Auderer’s comment,” rather than the prosecutor’s office, she said.

Reactions to the decision

Kandula’s family has decried the decision of the King County prosecutor’s office.

“First they joked about it, now the officer responsible has been let off. There is no justice and no closure for us. It is devastating,” her family told Indian Express.

Kandula hailed from Halvi village in Kowthalam Mandal of Kurnool district. She completed her B.Com in 2019 and went to the US in September 2020 to pursue a two-year MS course, as per Indian Express.

Kandula ’s family and their attorney issued a statement saying they were “devastated and outraged” and felt “betrayed” by the justice system.

They said Dave’s actions were “clearly reckless and negligent” and called for holding him accountable for killing Kandula, according to a Times of India (TOI) report.

They aim to continue to pursue civil action against Dave and the Seattle Police Department. They also demanded the immediate termination of Auderer, who “mocked and dehumanised” Kandula in a “vile and disgusting” manner, the TOI report added.

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president KT Rama Rao, populary known as KTR, called the prosecutor’s decision to drop criminal charges as “disgraceful” and “absolutely unacceptable”. He requested External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to take up the matter with his US counterpart and call for an independent probe into the matter.

He also urged US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, to raise the matter with the US authorities and ensure justice for Jaahnavi. “It is tragic that the life of a youngster with soaring ambitions has been cut short, but what’s even more tragic is the callous disregard for justice to the victim,” KTR posted on X.

Disgraceful & absolutely unacceptable !

I demand the @USAmbIndia to take up the matter with US Government authorities and deliver justice to the family of young Jaahnavi Kandula

I request EA Minister @DrSJaishankar Ji to take up the matter with his counterpart & demand a… https://t.co/90pw59LtCo

— KTR (@KTRBRS) February 22, 2024

What will India do now?

The Consulate General of India in Seattle said it will extend all “possible support in ensuring justice for Jaahnavi and her family”.

“We have also raised the matter strongly with local authorities, including Seattle Police for appropriate redress. The case has now been referred to Seattle City Attorney’s office for review.”

On the recently released investigation report of the King County Prosecution Attorney on the unfortunate death of Jaahnavi Kandula, Consulate has been in regular touch with the designated family representatives and will continue to extend all possible support in ensuring justice…

— India In Seattle (@IndiainSeattle) February 23, 2024

“We await completion of Seattle Police’s administrative investigation and will continue to monitor progress on the case,” the Consulate General of India said in a post on X.

With inputs from agencies