New Orleans cops planted weapons, made up witnesses: trial | Reuters

New Orleans cops planted weapons, made up witnesses: trial | Reuters

By Kathy Finn

NEW ORLEANS | Mon Jul 11, 2011 7:50pm EDT

(Reuters) - Police planted a weapon and fabricated witnesses to cover up the shooting deaths of two civilians in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, a New Orleans detective told jurors on Monday.

Former homicide detective Jeffrey Lehrmann, who wore a wire to secretly gather evidence against fellow police officers involved in the shooting, faced them in court and described how those tactics helped them cover up a "bad" shooting for years and frame an innocent man.

Lehrmann's testimony opened the third week in the federal trial of five police officers charged with civil rights violations or obstructing justice in the shooting just after Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc on New Orleans.

Kenneth Bowen, Robert Gisevius, Anthony Villavaso and Robert Faulcon face charges in the shooting, which killed 41-year-old Ronald Madison and 17-year-old James Brissette. Arthur "Archie" Kaufman is accused of orchestrating a cover-up of the crimes.

Surviving victims and other witnesses have said none of the civilians were armed.

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