It doesnt matter what you think. He grabbed him by the throat and implied bodily harm. That is a felony.
Do you have the video? Yes or no? Was he executed for taking cigars? Did he put someone in intensive care in the hospital? Did he disable someone for life? Was killing him justified for stealing a few cigars? Was there any other way to handle it? Could he have been arrested and tried in a court of law? Was murder the only course of action?
I agree NOBODY is supposed to get the death penalty without a very carefully regulated process for capital cases.
Had he been arrested, and even if he'd been convicted for felonious assault while committed a crime,
the death penalty is reserved for things like killing an officer, killing more than one person,
or killing someone during the commission of a crime. Since he did none of these, this was not a capital case.
As for self-defense and fear for life and death, there is no real proof either way. There are reports, including from at least one Black witness, that Michael Brown charged the officer and did not have his hands up.
In cases like this, and like George Zimmerman's self-defense case,
the "burden of proof" lies with proving the shooter committed murder.
So similar to rape cases, this unfortunately tends to be harder to prove to get a conviction,
and easier to show doubt on the side of defense.
The only way I see to stop this is PREVENTION.
Once you get into a confrontation where both sides don't trust the other, anything can go wrong,
and the justice system is gamble.
if we want justice, we have to agree to enforce justice, law and order on the side of prevention.
we need to be and stay on the same side of enforcing laws consistently, following police procedures and due process,
and not in the habit of abusing conflicts to try to get one up on the other side like a control game with power and authority.
The good police and good citizens all want to stop and prevent crime and abuses.
The problem is people who look for ways to "game the system" to get away with doing things their way.
We can better weed out the criminally minded and the corrupt abusive officials by agreeing to enforce laws consistently. Anyone who is not with the program will "project blame, reject and object" to reinforce distrust and division "for politics."
While those who are serious about stopping all abuses and violations will GLADLY cooperate on outreach to enforce laws.
Again, if I were a member of the police unions, I'd have meetings with each district and neighborhood association,
write up agreed rules and training programs, and have all residents and police sign to follow the same policies.
And only agree to work in districts where such agreement are in place so it is safe for both citizens and officers.
If other districts want to play "anything goes" and gamble, then they will end up with cops who agree to play that game.
So you will get the justice and govt you want. if you want police to follow the rules, all citizens have to agree to follow rules.