Daniel Perry: Governor Greg Abbott says he is working to pardon sergeant convicted of killing protester at 2020 BLM rally

(CNN) Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says he’s working to pardon an army sergeant who was convicted Friday of killing a protester at a Black Lives Matter rally in 2020.

Daniel Perry, a White military sergeant and rideshare driver, was indicted with homicide in 2021 for the deadly taking pictures of Garrett Foster, who can also be White, at a Black Lives Matter protest in Austin, Texas. He was additionally charged with aggravated assault with a lethal weapon and lethal conduct for his conduct on the protest.

A Travis County jury convicted Perry, 35, of homicide on Friday. The jury discovered him not responsible of aggravated assault with a lethal weapon and the lethal conduct cost continues to be pending with the county lawyer’s workplace.

“I’m working as swiftly as Texas regulation permits relating to the pardon of Sgt. Perry,” Abbott tweeted Saturday afternoon.

Within the tweet, the Republican governor defined that Texas regulation permits the governor to request the state’s board of pardons and paroles to find out if a pardon must be granted and that he has “made that request and instructed the Board to expedite its evaluate.”

Abbott additionally referenced Texas’ “Stand Your Floor” regulation, which he referred to as “one of many strongest” within the nation.

Perry’s lawyer, Clint Broden, instructed CNN he was “dissatisfied” within the verdict.

“We’re dissatisfied within the verdict each because it pertains to Daniel Perry and because it pertains to a citizen’s means to defend themselves,” Broden instructed CNN through textual content message Saturday. “Sgt. Perry will, in fact, enchantment the decision and we’re hopeful that the case will in the end be overturned on enchantment.”

The pardon course of “is outdoors our management,” he added in response to Abbott’s tweet. He stated Perry’s authorized group is concentrated on “the upcoming sentencing listening to and marshaling proof associated to Sgt. Perry’s character and his service to our nation.”

Travis County District Lawyer José Garza referred to as Abbott’s feedback that he would intervene within the case “deeply troubling.”

“Make no mistake, with out intervention from the Governor, the defendant’s conviction can be reviewed by each state and federal courts who will study the report to make sure that no authorized errors had been made at this degree and that the proof supported the conviction,” Garza stated.

Perry’s protection has argued that he shot Foster in self-defense after Foster approached his automobile with an assault-style rifle. In keeping with his attorneys, Perry was an active-duty sergeant working for a rideshare service to make extra cash on the time of the killing. His protection has stated he dropped off a consumer close to the protest and didn’t know the protest, which adopted the dying of George Floyd, was going down. He carried a handgun in his automobile for defense as a driver, based on his attorneys.

The prosecution argued that Perry initiated the encounter by operating a pink gentle to show into the gang gathered for the police brutality protest and had beforehand posted on social media about taking pictures protesters, according to CNN affiliate KEYE.

Foster, 28, died shortly after the taking pictures.

Garza stated he’ll proceed to struggle for the Foster household and for a justice system that treats everybody equally.

“I understand how lengthy they’ve waited for justice for Garrett and their household. I can think about that justice should really feel so elusive for them and proper now, and for that, I’m extra sorry than phrases can categorical,” the district lawyer stated.

A decide is anticipated to set a sentencing listening to for Perry on Monday.

CNN’s Colin Jeffery contributed to this report.