The Indian Consulate in Seattle has sought a review of the judgement that dropped criminal charges against the police officer who struck and killed the Indian-origin student Jaahnavi Kandula last year. On February 21, the King County Prosecutor's Office said in a report that charges against officer Kevin Dave were dropped due to "lack of sufficient evidence." Attorney Leesa Manion said in a statement, "After staffing this case with senior deputy prosecuting attorneys and office leadership, I have determined that we lack sufficient evidence under Washington State law to prove a criminal case beyond a reasonable doubt."
Prosecutors said in a memo to the Seattle Police there was not enough evidence to prove Officer Dave showed "conscious disregard for others' safety". Now, the Indian Consulate stated that they are in regular touch with the local authorities to ensure justice for Kandula and her family.
Seattle Officer Kevin Dave was responding to a drug overdose call in Seattle on January 23, when he hit Kandula, a pedestrian, news agency the Press Trust of India reported. Meanwhile, another officer, Daniel Auderer, who was accused of making insensitive comments on Kandula's death, will face a hearing on March 4.
Who was Jaahnavi Kandula?
Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old graduate student from Andhra Pradesh, India, was pursuing a master's degree at Northeastern University in South Lake Union, Seattle. She arrived in the United States in 2021 as part of a student exchange programme and was set to graduate later this year. Her mother, a dedicated elementary school teacher, reportedly took on a significant financial burden to support Kandula's educational pursuits in the US.
On January 23, tragedy struck when Kandula was fatally struck by a police patrol car driven by Officer Kevin Dave in Seattle. Kandula was hit at the intersection of Dexter Avenue North and Thomas Street, and her body was thrown over 30 metres away from the impact. She succumbed to her injuries despite immediate medical attention at Harborview Medical Centre.
Shocking Body Cam Footage Emerges
The uproar escalated when the Seattle Police Department released footage from the body camera of Dave's colleague and officer Daniel Auderer, who was dispatched to assist with the fatality collision. In the video, Auderer can be heard joking and laughing about the tragic incident during a call with the guild's president, Mike Solan.
Auderer's laughter was particularly disturbing as he callously remarked, "She is dead." Towards the end of the clip, he added, "Yeah, just write a check. Eleven thousand dollars She was 26 anyway. She had limited value." Auderer, who served in the SPD's traffic unit and held the position of vice president in the Seattle Police Officers Guild, had been under investigation after the footage was made public.
The incident triggered widespread outrage after a video depicting a US police officer making callous jokes and laughter following the death of Kandula. This prompted calls for a thorough investigation and accountability. In an announcement on September 28, 2023, the Seattle Police Department revealed that traffic officer Daniel Auderer has been reassigned to a non-operational role, as reported by The Seattle Times.
Earlier, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell had apologised for the tragic death of Jaahnavi Kandula, an Indian student fatally struck by a speeding police patrol car. Harrell's apology came during a closed meeting with leaders from the Seattle area’s South Asian immigrant community.
"The mayor took full responsibility and apologised for the incident, the release of the video, the words that came out, and completely acknowledged that it was not acceptable at all, that human life has to be respected,” Preeti Shridhar, an Indian-American community advocate who attended the meeting, told the Seattle Times.
Demand for Investigation
More than 100 members of the South Asian community held a rally in September 2023, demanding sensitivity and respect on the site where she was struck and killed by a speeding police patrol car. Between lanes at the intersection, marchers lit tea lights spelling out “Jaahnavi” and laid bouquets underneath a sign, reports Press Trust Of India.
The incident has not only sparked outrage within the United States but has also prompted international concern. India, in particular, has called for a "thorough investigation" into the matter. The Consulate General of India in San Francisco expressed deep concern and wrote on social media.
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