(WSB-TV/Atlanta) – A jury continued Thursday to listen to deputies describe the moment one of them accidentally tossed a flash bang grenade into a playpen during a botched raid in 2014.
Former Habersham Deputy Sheriff Nikki Autry is accused of lying to a magistrate judge to get a no-knock warrant, which caused the critical injury to baby Bou Bou Phonesevah.
In court Wednesday, Autry listened as a trio of informants testified. She used them to make a drug buy at the Cornelia house where the Phonesevah family was staying in May 2014.
During execution of a no-knock warrant hours later, another deputy tossed a flash bang grenade, which detonated in baby Bou Bou Phonesevah’s playpen and critically injured the toddler.
Federal court does not allow cameras inside, so we have to rely on sketches.
Prosecutors said Autry and her team used three people to buy meth from that house, though only one of them was an official confidential informant. They maintain Autry misrepresented their information and lied to a judge to get the search warrant.
The judge who authorized the no-knock warrant, James Buttwerworth, testified on Thursday that Autry told him a registered confidential informant made the drug buy and saw weapons in the house. But the truth is, it was the informant’s friend who made the buy, and no one witnessed any weapons.
Butterworth said had he been given accurate information, he would not have authorized the warrant.
Autry told jurors she never lied, deceived or mislead Butterworth when she asked for the warrant. But she also admitted some of the information included in the affidavit wasn’t quite accurate either.
Autry’s attorney tried to show that she wasn’t the only detective involved and wasn’t the one in charge.
Phonesevah family spokesperson Marcus Coleman said the defense is just trying to deflect the blame.
“Yeah, but here’s the problem with that. When you said it’s not all her fault, does that mean you ignore her fault?” Coleman said.
Phonesavanh’s parents both testified (see video below). Coleman says he believes that the case highlights the improper way some law enforcement officers use informants.
MORE VIDEOS:
Baby Bou Bou’s mother testifies.
Baby Bou Bou’s father testifies.
