A demonstration in support of the Black Lives Matter movement in Louisville, September 25, 2020. -

Darron Cummings / AP / SIPA

The family of William Green, an African-American killed earlier this year by a police officer while handcuffed, will receive $ 20 million (around 17 million euros) in compensation.

This agreement, the amount of which is one of the highest for a police blunder in the United States, was made with Prince George County (Maryland), near Washington.

The police officer charged with homicide

William Green, 43, was shot six times on January 27 while in a police car with his hands cuffed behind his back.

He died the day after his injuries in hospital.

He had been arrested by a police officer, Michael Owen, for a traffic accident.

The agent had explained to have fired in self-defense on the forty-something while the latter was trying to take his weapon.

Michael Owen, who was not wearing a pedestrian camera during the incident, has since been fired from the police and charged with manslaughter.

Reports of violence

"This is a historic agreement that reflects the hateful, brutal and senseless nature of what happened to Mr. Green," William Murphy, the family lawyer, commented on Monday at a press conference.

He notably lambasted the lack of responsiveness of the county police when the police, also African-American, had been the subject of two reports for violence a few months earlier, according to an investigation by the

Washington Post

.

“There is a terrible trend of senseless violence, things in his past that were terrifying,” he said.

“When we're at fault, we take responsibility,” Prince George County Director Angela Alsbrooks said.

The agreement comes two weeks after the agreement between Louisville, Kentucky, town hall and the family of Breonna Taylor, a young African-American girl killed in March during a controversial search.

Twelve million dollars (just over 10 million euros) in compensation were awarded to the victim's family.

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