Trial of Three Washington State Officers in Manuel Ellis's Death Nears Conclusion

Defense argues Ellis's death was due to drugs, not officers' actions, while prosecution insists he died from physical restraint.

Three Washington state officers are on trial for the death of Manuel Ellis, a Black man who died in March 2020 after being beaten, shocked, and hogtied facedown by the officers.
Two of the officers, Matthew Collins and Christopher Burbank, are charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter, while the third officer, Timothy Rankine, is charged with manslaughter.
The defense lawyers argue that Ellis died due to a fatal level of methamphetamine in his system, not from the officers' actions. They also point to the use of a spit hood by another officer as a significant factor in his death.
The prosecution argues that Ellis died of hypoxia due to physical restraint, as he repeatedly said he couldn't breathe. They challenge the defense's claims and emphasize that Ellis was not threatening or out of control.
This is the first trial of officers charged in a suspect's death since Washington voters approved a measure in 2018 removing a requirement that prosecutors must prove police acted with malice.