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Ferguson aftermath: Missouri governor rejects calls for special prosecutor

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon won't appoint a special prosecutor in the case of the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, despite criticism of the grand jury process from lawyers of the victim's family.

Protests erupted after grand jury decision in Michael Brown shooting in St. Louis suburb

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon rejected calls for a new grand jury in the case of Michael Brown, the black teenager shot by a police officer in Ferguson on Aug. 9. Earlier this week, the grand jury recommended no charges against white police officer Darren Wilson. (charlie Riedel/Associated Press)

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has rejected calls for a new grand jury in the case of the fatal police shooting of black teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson.

Destructive protests erupted following the Monday revelation that a grand jury recommended no charges against white police officer Darren Wilson, who killed 18-year-old Brown on Aug. 9. The protests dwindled on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Wednesday that a spokesman said the governor would not name a special prosecutor to present the evidence to a new grand jury.

The  day after the decision was released, lawyers for the Brown family called the grand jury system "broken" and said a special prosecutor should have been named. 

"We said from the very beginning that the decision of this grand jury was going to be the direct reflection of the presentation of the evidence by the prosecutor's office," lawyer Anthony Gray said. He also suggested St. Louis County prosecuting attorney Robert McCulloch presented some testimony to discredit the process. 

The Brown family's lawyers still hope a current federal civil rights investigation will lead to charges against Wilson.

With files from The Associated Press