US police officer convicted for assaulting women convict

Washington: 

A female Los Angeles officer was convicted by the police of felony assault for kicking a handcuffed convict, who later died.

The incident came to light after a video recording of the incident shows 50-year-old Officer Mary O'Callaghan jabbing at Thomas`s throat with an open hand and threaten to break her arms and kick her in the crotch. In the video, O`Callaghan then raises her boot and strikes Thomas.

The video, recorded by a patrol car camera, persuaded jurors to convict Mary O`Callaghan, 50, on Friday, the Los Angeles times reported.

O`Callaghan faces three years in state prison for assaulting Alecia Thomas in the back of a patrol vehicle in July 2012.

Thomas, 35, lost consciousness and soon after died at hospital. O`Callaghan was not charged in connection with the death.

A video from a dashboard camera in another patrol car, which was also played during the trial, recorded O`Callaghan laughing and smoking a cigarette as she peeked inside the car at Thomas, whose legs were tied with a nylon hobble restraint.

(With IANS Inputs)