Court Rejects Appeal of Acquitted Cop

A federal appeals court has dismissed a lawsuit against a former Connecticut prosecutor who was sued by a retired Hartford police officer acquitted in a 2005 on-duty shooting death.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan upheld a lower court's ruling that former Waterbury State's Attorney John Connelly is entitled to "absolute immunity" from lawsuits over his conduct before a grand jury. The ruling was released Monday.

Former Officer Robert Lawlor sued Connelly for alleged malicious prosecution and withholding evidence favorable to Lawlor, after he was acquitted of manslaughter and assault in the 2009 shooting death of Jashon Bryant, 18.

Lawlor claimed he opened fire when he saw Bryant reaching for a gun, but no weapon was found.

Connelly denied Lawlor's allegations.