A judge has dismissed the civil lawsuit filed by the family of Lindani Myeni, a former South African rugby player who was fatally shot by Honolulu police in April 2021 after an altercation during a reported burglary. The lawsuit alleged racial discrimination and excessive force, but the court found insufficient evidence to support these claims, ruling that the officers acted in line with their training and HPD policy without malice. Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Steve Alm stated, “Mr. Myeni brought this result on himself and, by his actions, caused the police officers to use deadly force,” according to KITV.
During the trial that began on July 14 and ended on Tuesday, Myeni's attorney argued that the officers did not clearly identify themselves, which may have caused Myeni to see their approach as a threat. In 2023, it was revealed that Myeni had Stage 3 CTE, a brain condition that may have affected his behavior. However, Judge Karin Holma ruled in favor of the city, saying the family did not show evidence of malice by the officers. The ruling was made before the case went to a jury.
James Bickerton, attorney for the Myeni family, said, “This case raises fundamental constitutional issues about the use of force and deadly force that need to be resolved for the good of everyone,” and confirmed he will appeal within 30 days after the case was dismissed. Mayor Rick Blangiardi and the Honolulu Police Department offered condolences to Myeni’s family, while the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers stated that “the level of force they used was measured and appropriate,” as mentioned by Hawaii News Now. Blangiardi and Prosecuting Attorney Steve Alm, who had previously opposed a settlement, said the police response was justified and aligned with the court’s decision.
