男子被控谋杀肯塔基州警 或面临死刑
据《信使日报》报道，肯塔基州警方10月2日举行新闻发布会宣布，埃莫尼·布兰奇（Emonnie Branch）被控谋杀肯塔基州警海登·菲利普斯（Hayden Phillips），检方表示可能寻求死刑。
菲利普斯警官9月28日在65号州际公路执勤时遭枪击身亡。警方经调查锁定布兰奇为嫌疑人并将其逮捕。发布会上，警方回顾了菲利普斯的从警生涯，称他恪尽职守、深受社区尊敬。
肯塔基州警局表示，针对布兰奇的指控包括谋杀执法人员等多项重罪。在肯塔基州，谋杀执法人员属于可判处死刑的加重情节，检方将在大陪审团起诉后正式决定是否寻求死刑。
菲利普斯的殉职在肯塔基州执法界引发巨大悲痛，州长下令降半旗致哀。案件已移交检方，布兰奇目前被羁押候审，保释听证会将于近期举行。
Man Charged With Murdering Kentucky State Trooper; Death Penalty Possible
Kentucky authorities announced at an October 2 press conference that Emonnie Branch has been charged with murdering Kentucky State Police Trooper Hayden Phillips, with prosecutors saying the death penalty is on the table, the Courier-Journal reported.
Trooper Phillips was shot and killed on September 28 while on duty along Interstate 65. Investigators identified Branch as the suspect and arrested him. Officials honored Phillips's service, describing him as dedicated and respected in the community.
Kentucky State Police said the charges include murder of a law-enforcement officer among other felonies. In Kentucky, killing a police officer is an aggravating factor eligible for capital punishment; prosecutors will decide after grand-jury indictment.
Phillips's death devastated Kentucky law enforcement, and the governor ordered flags to half-staff. The case is now with prosecutors; Branch is held without bail pending a detention hearing.
图片来源：图：肯塔基州州警巡逻车。摄影：Charles Edward Miller，CC BY-SA 2.0，取自 Wikimedia Commons
