Overview
- Jurors in Queens on Wednesday cleared Guy Rivera of first-degree murder in Detective Jonathan Diller’s death but convicted him of aggravated manslaughter, attempted first-degree murder, and weapons charges.
- NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch called the failure to convict on the top count a "gut punch" to officers and said the evidence showed an intentional killing.
- Rivera is scheduled to be sentenced April 27 by Queens Supreme Court Judge Michael Aloise and could receive a term reported as roughly 90 years to life.
- Legal analysts and former NYPD officers told outlets the split decision looked "odd" or "inconsistent," pointing to a finding of intent to kill Sgt. Sasha Rosen but not murder for Diller.
- Defense lawyers argued the gun fired during a struggle captured on video, a claim aimed at undercutting an intent-to-kill finding in Diller’s shooting.