DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — The emotional impact of the Robert Olsen trial flooded into the open on Monday as a jury returned a mixed verdict.
Olsen, the former DeKalb Police officer who was charged with murder in the 2015 shooting death of unarmed, naked Air Force veteran Anthony Hill, was found not guilty of murder.
He was convicted on four other counts, including aggravated assault, violation of oath of office and making false statements.
As the guilty verdicts on those latter charges were read, Olsen's wife was led out of the court clearly distressed and in tears.
At the same time, Hill's mother held hands with family members and wiped away tears.
The case - notably coming on the heels of ex-officer Amber Guyger's murder conviction in the killing of Botham Jean in Dallas - inflamed tensions in the community.
Protesters had gathered outside the DeKalb County courthouse each of the days, as a jury deliberated over six agonizing days before coming to agreement on the verdict.
At one point during the trial, a woman at the courthouse told Olsen to "rot in hell" during a recess, as well.
Hill's mother gave a brief, composed testimony during the trial, in which she outlined her son's difficulty with PTSD and bipolar disorder stemming from his service in Afghanistan.
She described him as "very peaceful."
As the verdict was read, she leaned forward and looked down before rising back up and wiping away tears.
Olsen's wife began to weep and shout, "No! No!" as she exited the courtroom.
