(17 May 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
++AUDIO AS INCOMING++
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Austin, Texas – 17 May 2024
1. SOUNDBITE (English) Jim Vertuno, The Associated Press:
“Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a full pardon for Daniel Perry and also in his message criticized the jury and the prosecutor for bringing the case and the conviction. He said quite distinctly that Perry should have been protected by Texas’s stand your ground self-defense laws.”
POOL
ARCHIVE: Austin, Texas – 10 May 2023
2. Perry walking into court for the sentencing hearing
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Austin, Texas – 17 May 2024
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Jim Vertuno, The Associated Press:
++ PARTIALY COVERED++
“Daniel Perry was a former Army sergeant who was working as a rideshare driver, in 2020 when he drove into a Black Lives Matter protest in downtown Austin that created the confrontation with Garrett Foster, an armed veteran of the Air Force who was participating in the protest that night.”
POOL
ARCHIVE: Austin, Texas – 10 May 2023
4. Various of Perry sitting and listening
5. Perry working with officials
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Austin, Texas – 17 May 2024
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Jim Vertuno, The Associated Press:
++ COVERED++
“Daniel Perry, a trial, claimed self-defense. He said that the foster had leveled his rifle at him. The witnesses said that didn’t happen. The jury rejected Perry’s arguments of self-defense and convicted of murder. Prosecutors said Perry could have driven away from the confrontation, which didn’t have to happen.”
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Austin, Texas – 17 May 2024
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Jim Vertuno, The Associated Press:
++ PARTIALY COVERED++
“Perry was sentenced to 25 years in prison, for the murder. Prosecutors during his sentencing phase had introduced evidence, beyond the actual killing. Perry’s text messages and social media posts of a racist nature saying he would kill people. They said that he would be a threat to society in the future if he was not sentenced to prison.”
POOL
ARCHIVE: Austin, Texas – 10 May 2023
8. Close of Perry sobbing
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Austin, Texas – 17 May 2024
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Jim Vertuno, The Associated Press:
“Garrett Foster’s family, as well as local prosecutor Jose Garza, criticized, blasted, Texas Governor Greg Abbott over what they call a reckless, political and lawless decision to pardon Daniel Perry.”
++ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++
STORYLINE:
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a full pardon Thursday for a former U.S. Army sergeant convicted of murder for fatally shooting an armed demonstrator in 2020 during nationwide protests against police violence and racial injustice.
Abbott announced the pardon shortly after the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles announced a unanimous recommendation that Daniel Perry be pardoned and have his firearms rights restored.
Perry had been in state prison on a 25-year sentence since his 2023 conviction in the killing of Garrett Foster, and was released shortly after the pardon, a prison spokeswoman said.
Perry, who is white, was working as a ride-share driver when his car approached a demonstration in Austin. Prosecutors said he could have driven away from the confrontation with Foster, a white Air Force veteran who witnesses said never raised his gun.
A jury convicted Perry of murder, but Abbott called it a case of self-defense.
“Texas has one of the strongest ‘Stand Your Ground’ laws of self-defense that cannot be nullified by a jury or a progressive district attorney,” Abbott said.
Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza blasted the pardon as a “mockery of our legal system.”
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