Star Witness Called a Liar in Officers’ Trial
A defense attorney for three Oakland police officers on trial for conspiring to obstruct justice and abusing their authority called the prosecution’s star witness a liar.
Mike Rains launched his attack during opening statements this week in the trial of the men known as “the Riders” -- Matt Hornung, 32, Clarence “Chuck” Mabanag, 39, and Jude Siapno, 36.
The three are being retried on charges that they assaulted people in 2000 and falsified police reports to cover up their actions.
Last year a jury acquitted the three officers on eight charges, including kidnapping, and deadlocked on the remaining 27 charges.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
