UPDATE: A federal judge has reduced the sentence of a former New Orleans police officer involved in the death of Henry Glover after Hurricane Katrina.
Gregory McRae’s 17-year prison sentence was cut by more than 5-years Thursday.
WGNO reporter Jacki Jing was there before then sentencing. Her article is below.
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) – A resentencing hearing is still going on for NOPD officer Gregory McRae. The victim’s family voiced their frustration to the media outside the courthouse. The defendant’s family was praying with a rosary during the hearing.
Henry Glover was shot and killed by a rookie cop after Hurricane Katrina. Glover’s body was in a car. McRae was convicted of charges related to setting that car on fire in 2005 and has been serving a 17-year sentence.
Earlier this week, in federal court two charges were upheld, but one count of obstruction of justice was overturned.
McRea’s attorney brought in one witness, a forensic psychologist, pushing for a sentence reduction. He argued that McRae had no idea that Glover was involved in a police shooting and had post-traumatic stress disorder.
The psychologist said that McRae was under numerous pressures, dealing with Hurricane Katrina and the chaotic aftermath.
The psychologist said there were “social and physical breakdowns” throughout the city. McRae was under duress from the search and rescue operations and was running on little sleep.
We spoke with Glover’s family before the hearing.
Henry Glover’s aunt, Rebecca Glover said, “We’re just tired of all this. It’s like the system has failed the Glover family. It’s like there playing games with us. But I’m not going anywhere.”
Rebecca Glover also spoke about the coroner reclassifying Henry’s death in April 2015 as a homicide. She said she was frustrated that DA Leon Cannizzaro had not done anything yet.
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