Former police detective pleads guilty in Breonna Taylor cover-up

Detective behind warrant that led to raid in US state of Kentucky admits to federal conspiracy charge

The US Justice Department announced on Thursday that it was charging four police officers over the death of Breonna Taylor, a black woman killed in a botched 2020 raid on her home in Louisville, Kentucky. Getty Images / AFP

Demonstrators stand in front of a Kentucky restaurant in protest over the lack of criminal charges in the police killing of Taylor and the result of a grand jury inquiry in Louisville. AFP

A makeshift memorial displays signs in remembrance of the anniversary of Taylor's death in Louisville. AFP

More protests in Louisville. AFP

Protesters rally on the anniversary of Taylor's death in Louisville. AFP

Taylor is remembered in a march in New York earlier this year. AFP

Former Louisville Police officer Brett Hankison was charged with using excessive force by opening fire during the raid that left Taylor dead. AP

President Joe Biden signs a historic executive order to advance effective, accountable policing and strengthen public safety in May 2022. EPA

Vice President Kamala Harris, Breonna Taylor's mother, Tamika Palmer, and Al Sharpton take a photo together after the signing of the executive order. EPA

Mr Biden hugs Ms Palmer after signing the executive order. Bloomberg

A street sign named ‘Breonna Taylor Way’ is seen in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Reuters

A painting of Taylor is among the art pieces decorating Jefferson Square Park in Louisville. AP

Kenneth Walker, Taylor's boyfriend, stands next to a painting of her at a gathering to mark two years since her death. Reuters

Ms Palmer stands next to a painting of her daughter at a gathering in Jefferson Square Park in Louisville in March 2022. Reuters

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear signs a bill creating a partial ban on no-knock warrants in April 2021. AP

Laolu Senbanjo and Chris Carnabuci's 'Breonna: Oya' is seen on display at Sotheby's auction house. Proceeds from the auction will go to the nonprofit organisations We Are Floyd and the Breonna Taylor Foundation. AP

A ground mural depicting Taylor is seen at Chambers Park in Annapolis, Maryland. AP

A statue of Taylor by artist Chris Carnabuci on display during the inaugural exhibition SEEINJUSTICE on September 30, 2021, in New York. AFP

Ms Palmer, Taylor's mother, (C) leads a march through the streets of Louisville on the anniversary of her daughter's death. AP

Shena Lee of Dallas, Texas, displays photos of Taylor during a Next Generation Action Network protest outside of Dallas Police headquarters in 2020. The Dallas Morning News / AP

A woman walks near a wall of protest signs, including a portrait of Taylor, at Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington. AP

A former detective who helped write the warrant that led to the deadly police raid at Breonna Taylor’s apartment in Louisville, Kentucky, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a federal conspiracy charge.

Federal investigators said Kelly Goodlett added a false line to the warrant and later conspired with another detective to create a cover story when Taylor’s March 13, 2020, shooting death by police began gaining national attention.

Taylor, a 26-year-old black woman, was shot to death by officers who knocked down her door while carrying out a drug search warrant for a different house. Taylor’s boyfriend fired a shot that hit one of the officers as they came through the door and police returned fire, striking Taylor several times.

Ms Goodlett appeared in a federal courtroom in Louisville and admitted to conspiring with another Louisville police officer to falsify the warrant. She briefly answered several questions from federal judge Rebecca Jennings Grady.

Three former Louisville officers were indicted on criminal civil rights charges earlier this month by a federal grand jury. Ms Goodlett was not indicted, but charged in a federal information filing, which probably means the former detective is co-operating with investigators.

Ms Goodlett will be sentenced November 22. Ms Grady said there may be “extenuating circumstances” that may move the court to push back the sentencing date. Part of the plea hearing was also kept under seal and was not discussed in open court on Tuesday. She faces up to five years in prison for the conviction.

She resigned from the department August 5, a day after US Attorney General Merrick Garland announced new federal charges in the Taylor case.

Former officers Joshua Jaynes and Kyle Meany were indicted on charges related to the warrant used to search Taylor’s home.

A third former officer, Brett Hankison, was charged with using excessive force when he retreated from Taylor’s door, turned a corner and fired 10 shots into the side of her two-bedroom apartment. He was acquitted by a jury on similar state charges earlier this year.

The three former officers have all been fired and face a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted on the civil rights charges.