Daniel Perry: Unsealed paperwork from the Daniel Perry case present he made feedback on social media about killing protesters and Muslims

(CNN) Because the Texas pardons board considers a request from Gov. Greg Abbott to pardon a person convicted final week of fatally capturing a protester at a Black Lives Matter rally, newly unsealed paperwork present the Military sergeant talked about killing individuals and shared racist feedback on social media.

The paperwork from the case towards Daniel Perry comprise messages and posts remodeled a number of years. They have been initially filed March 27 and have been unsealed by a Travis County decide Thursday. The Houston Chronicle was first to report on the paperwork.

Perry, a White man, was convicted final Friday on a homicide cost within the July 2020 capturing loss of life of Garrett Foster, who was additionally White, at a racial justice rally in Austin held within the wake of George Floyd’s death by the hands of a Minneapolis police officer.

In a Fb message from Might 2020, simply weeks earlier than the capturing, Perry informed a good friend he “might need to kill just a few individuals” who have been rioting outdoors his condominium.

The paperwork additionally comprise a Might 2020 textual content despatched by Perry that mentioned, “I would go to Dallas to shoot looters.” Some messages included “white energy” memes.

Perry wrote in a 2019 message that it was “to dangerous we won’t receives a commission for searching Muslims in Europe.”

On the evening of July 25, 2020, Perry was working as a ride-share driver and had simply dropped somebody off close to the rally when he shot Foster. His attorneys argued the capturing was in self-defense after Foster approached his automobile with an assault-style rifle. Prosecutors argued Perry initiated the encounter by operating a purple gentle and turning into the group gathered on the protest.

Shortly after Perry’s conviction, Abbott said he would search a pardon and requested the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles for an expedited evaluate of the case.

“Texas has one of many strongest ‘Stand Your Floor’ legal guidelines of self-defense that can’t be nullified by a jury or a progressive District Legal professional,” Abbott posted in a statement on Twitter.

On Friday, Abbott’s workplace indicated there can be no change of place relating to his name for a pardon.

“All pertinent info is for the Board of Pardons and Paroles to contemplate, as that is a part of the evaluate course of required by the Texas Structure,” Renae Eze, an Abbott spokesperson, informed CNN in an announcement.

Along with Perry’s homicide conviction, the jury discovered him not responsible on a cost of aggravated assault with a lethal weapon. A lethal conduct cost remains to be pending with the county legal professional’s workplace.

Perry’s legal professional, Clint Broden, referred to as the discharge of the paperwork a political resolution in an announcement to CNN.

Broden mentioned Foster additionally made social media posts advocating for violence and supporting riots, most of which might’t be made public attributable to Texas discovery guidelines. Just a few posts are public, nevertheless, together with a submit praising the burning down of a Minneapolis police station in 2020.

Broden accused Travis County District Legal professional José Garza of selecting to “take full benefit” of having the ability to share his consumer’s social media posts at this level within the case.

Perry’s authorized group filed a motion Tuesday asking for a brand new trial, arguing the protection group was not allowed to introduce proof they consider confirmed Foster repeatedly instigated confrontations and harassed different drivers on the streets earlier than the evening of the lethal capturing.

Garza’s workplace referred to as it a typical movement following a conviction and mentioned it has “full confidence within the responsible verdict.”

CNN has additionally reached out to the governor’s workplace for remark. An legal professional for the Foster household declined to touch upon the unsealed paperwork.

Perry criticized the Black Lives Matter motion, report says

In a social media standing posted on June 1, 2020, Perry mentioned, “It’s official I’m a racist as a result of I don’t agree with individuals performing like animals on the zoo. I used to be on the facet of the protestors till they began with the looting and the violence,” the paperwork present.

A remark from the identical day exhibits Perry in contrast the “black lives matter motion to a zoo stuffed with monkeys which might be freaking out flinging their sh*t,” the paperwork present.

In one other submit from Might 31, 2020, Perry posted, “If this image represents racism in America… (exhibits accomplice flag) SO DO THESE (exhibits NAACP brand, Hispanic Scholarship fund, America Affiliation for Affirmative Motion, BET, UNCP, the democratic social gathering brand, and so forth,” based on the paperwork.

Perry’s posts have been made amid a racial reckoning throughout the US after graphic video of Floyd’s loss of life confirmed a police officer kneeling on the Black man as he’s susceptible and handcuffed on a Minneapolis avenue. Within the months that adopted, protests were held in cities throughout the county. Most have been peaceable however some turned violent, together with situations of vandalism and arson.

Abbott on Saturday mentioned he’s “working as swiftly as Texas legislation permits relating to the pardon of Sgt. Perry.”

Abbott can solely pardon Perry if the state Board of Pardons and Paroles recommends it, based on Texas legislation. The board mentioned Monday it had obtained Abbott’s request for an expedited pardon evaluate and it could be “commencing that investigation instantly.”

Garza mentioned Abbott’s intervention within the case earlier than the sentencing and enchantment course of performs out is “deeply troubling.”

The prosecutor requested the board to fulfill with him so he can current proof thought of by jurors within the case, Garza mentioned in an announcement.

Garza additionally requested the board to fulfill with Foster’s household and take into account the general public security implications of their resolution earlier than making a remaining suggestion.

“For as lengthy the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles has existed, it has been a cautious steward of the facility of clemency in our State,” Garza mentioned. “We sit up for working with the Board to current all proof crucial for its consideration.” 

A civil legal professional representing Foster’s household additionally criticized Abbott’s transfer for a pardon earlier than the sentencing and appeals course of, saying it “turns the rule of legislation on its head.”

CNN’s Alisha Ebrahimji, Kelly McCleary, Joe Sutton, Paradise Afshar, Michelle Watson, Rosa Flores, Camila Bernal and Zoe Sottile contributed to this report.