Former NYPD Officer Peter Liang, who dodged prison time for fatally shooting an unarmed man, must now determine how to spend his 800 hours of community service as lawyers on both sides of the case begin their appeals.
Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun sentenced Liang Tuesday to the community service and five years of probation after downgrading the ex-cop’s conviction from second-degree manslaughter to criminally negligent homicide for the shooting of Akai Gurley in November 2014.
While Liang’s defense team has vowed an appeal since the February conviction, prosecutors with the Brooklyn DA’s Office announced Tuesday that they will now appeal Chun’s unilateral decision to reduce the charges.
If an appellate court reverses Chun’s judgment on the charges, it would land Liang back in court to again face sentencing.