Attorneys in Michael Brown wrongful-death suit seek grand jury names

Prosecutors promised anonymity to witnesses who testified in the grand jury investigation of the fatal shooting of Michael Brown by Ferguson police. Now, however, attorneys on both sides of the Brown family’s wrongful-death lawsuit want to know just who came forward.

Brown was killed by Officer Darren Wilson in August 2014, which set off weeks of protests and looting in the north St. Louis suburb. In November 2014, the grand jury did not indict Wilson, which prompted further unrest in the area.  

Now, lawyers for Brown’s parents have aligned with representatives for Wilson, the city of Ferguson and its former police chief, Thomas Jackson. Last week, they went to federal court in support of a request to release the names, which is opposed by Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCulloch. Most of the witnesses were said to have only come forward because of the promise of anonymity.

Read more from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.