Riots in Missouri

[ChrisBaleBatman]

I heard, but only in passing that there was to be a 3rd autopsy? I'm only getting back to the discussion and news tonight. Didn't get to read much this morning on it.

Yeah, Attorney General Eric Holder ordered an autopsy...so the Feds will be conducting it, making it the third autopsy.

 

[newbrando]

It seems we are confusing two issues here...

YES, the police SHOULD NOT have released the tape, their motives are EXTREMELY SUSPECT...

But, that doesn't mean that the video has nothing to do with the entire discussion at hand. The police very well might have tainted solid evidence that the defense could have used, but because of HOW it was released is now prejudicial, when had it not been released, and simply used to show the angry nature of this young man in court, it might well have been allowed. So, the police screwed themselves on that one.

IMO, those that are going to take a full on stand against the officer at all cost, and on all counts should be jumping for joy...that video WILL NEVER be used by the defense that could have been strong evidence for them in a way that will help them now. At least, not IMO.

I don't think they could have used the video. A person is supposed to be convicted of theft before a lawyer can bring it up in the cop's wrongful shooting trial and Brown will never stand trial for the theft because he's dead and never got to defend himself. So he's still just a suspect. Plus the store owner never brought charges against him so it would look like railroading if they acted like he was guilty when he never had his day in court.

What the release of the video and the burglary incident report do is make that police department look untrustworthy. How can anyone trust their word or believe they are looking out for the people? In the court of public opinion, it looks bad.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Tons of pics of Trevon martin with a gun in his hand, looking like a thug in them. It's not a crime per se, but the point is that does not really paint this kid as Innocent good boy at all! Yet so many people defended him just like they defended Michael Brown as if they are good-doers that's innocent and killed by cops.


Are you going to tell me those are photoshopped/faked evidences?

From where I come from, if you are really innocent, you won't have any problem with police!

No, it is not a crime at all.

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

To be fair Trayvon looked alot more boyish at 17 than Michael Brown did.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Yeah, if I was that store owner, I would get the **** out of Ferguson.

Yep. It is not safe. Things are seemingly getting way worse after getting a little better.

 

[Mrs. Sawyer]

Tons of pics of Trevon martin with a gun in his hand, looking like a thug in them. It's not a crime per se, but the point is that does not really paint this kid as Innocent good boy at all! Yet so many people defended him just like they defended Michael Brown as if they are good-doers that's innocent and killed by cops.


Are you going to tell me those are photoshopped/faked evidences?

From where I come from, if you are really innocent, you won't have any problem with police!

[YT]5hfYJsQAhl0[/YT]

 

[DarthSkywalker]

To be fair Trayvon looked alot more boyish at 17 than Michael Brown did.

He also literally did nothing wrong. At worst he was defending himself from a crazy, aggressive, violent fool that was stalking him because he was black and wearing a hoodie. And if you think Zimmerman isn't unhinged, look at his actions since.

 

[Anita18]

This is such a naive comment that it's laughable. You're just being embarrassing to yourself in this thread, and that is far milder than what I could say or might wish to say.

Well what he says is true for me....but that's because I'm a tiny Asian woman.

The world is very different when you're a large black man. No arguing with that.

 

[Howlett]

To be fair Trayvon looked alot more boyish at 17 than Michael Brown did.

To be fair, that's an incredibly ridiculous thing to say based on your personal agenda.

 

[Howlett]

Well, at least the media isn't using a picture of Brown when he was ten.

They have been.

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

To be fair, that's an incredibly ridiculous thing to say based on your personal agenda.

What do you mean?

Some teenagers look older than other teenagers.

Michael Brown looked like he was 25.

Trayvon Martin looked around 15 or 16.

That's not an agenda speaking, just an honest observation.

 

[Howlett]

He also literally did nothing wrong. At worst he was defending himself from a crazy, aggressive, violent fool that was stalking him because he was black and wearing a hoodie. And if you think Zimmerman isn't unhinged, look at his actions since.

It makes me mad when anyone tries to compare this to Trayvon. It's not even in the same universe as this.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Depending on the certain media's agenda, you are going to get different headlines and pics. The Fox News cycle has been just as shameful, if not more so.

 

[Howlett]

What do you mean?

Some teenagers look older than other teenagers.

Michael Brown looked like he was 25.

Trayvon Martin looked around 15 or 16.

That's not an agenda speaking, just an honest observation.

Michael was huge in stature, but had a kid face.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

It makes me mad when anyone tries to compare this to Trayvon. It's not even in the same universe as this.

Yep, completely agree. While I am still struggling with a good reason for why an unarmed young man was shot to death by a police officer, this and the Trayvon situation are like night and day. Zimmerman was "saved" by a horrible law.

 

[Howlett]

Depending on the certain media's agenda, you are going to get different headlines and pics. The Fox News cycle has been just as shameful, if not more so.

People under 65 years old still take Fox News seriously?

 

[DarthSkywalker]

People under 65 years old still take Fox News seriously?

Not many, but it is another side of the media. The Conservative coverage has not been pretty.

 

[Howlett]

Not many, but it is another side of the media. The Conservative coverage has not been pretty.

It never is, but I have seen a few on that side actually trying to wait for details to decide how they feel about it. Which is kind of a new thing for them.

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

It makes me mad when anyone tries to compare this to Trayvon. It's not even in the same universe as this.

lolwut?

Trayvon was vilified also.

According to the right wing media he was the brutal thug who almost killed a neighborhood watchman with his bare hands. While others maintained he was just an innocent kid walking home with some candy who "stood his ground" against a stalker.

According to the right wing media Michael Brown is a robbery felon who attempted to murder a police officer. While others maintained he was a college bound inner city youth who only crime was to shoplift and didn't deserve to be executed by the police while surrendering.

Seems similar enough to me.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

It never is, but I have seen a few on that side actually trying to wait for details to decide how they feel about it. Which is kind of a new thing for them.

A few is not the majority. And it is also ridiculous how the same people who were like "blank the police" with Bundy, are quick to come to the defense of the police now.

 

[Webfoot Hero]

It never is, but I have seen a few on that side actually trying to wait for details to decide how they feel about it. Which is kind of a new thing for them.

That's really how I am on this whole situation. There's just too many partial bits of information and conflicting witnesses to make an honest judgement.

 

[Schlosser85]

Every time something like this happens, the media goes overdrive over analyzing the deceased's entire background, when really all that should be relevant are the facts of the case.

If someone's not an angel, so what?

Did he or did he not charge a policeman? That's what I want to know.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Every time something like this happens, the media goes overdrive over analyzing the deceased's entire background, when really all that should be relevant are the facts of the case.

If someone's not an angel, so what?

Did he or did he not charge a policeman? That's what I want to know.

Completely agree. But of course, it never, ever happens. What seems most relevant to the media is what the person post on their social media accounts.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

So, Shawn Parcells, who assisted with the autopsy, is saying that there bullet wounds through the arm that CAN be consistent with shots fired from behind or from the front. Which is important, because I believe there were people here in this thread claiming the autopsy disproved the eye witnesses stories, when that does not seem to be the case.

I found that interesting because it seems the autopsy itself doesn't seem to negate either the testimony of the eye witness or the police side.

So...I guess so much for the autopsy clearing things up one way or the other.

It also sounds like we shouldn't expect much from the ballistics report, apart from telling us how many rounds was fired. They don't really do trajectory of rounds fired, apparently. Yet another profession I'm misinformed about, I guess.

 

[Kelly]

I don't think they could have used the video. A person is supposed to be convicted of theft before a lawyer can bring it up in the cop's wrongful shooting trial and Brown will never stand trial for the theft because he's dead and never got to defend himself. So he's still just a suspect. Plus the store owner never brought charges against him so it would look like railroading if they acted like he was guilty when he never had his day in court.

What the release of the video and the burglary incident report do is make that police department look untrustworthy. How can anyone trust their word or believe they are looking out for the people? In the court of public opinion, it looks bad.

Not exactly for that reason...

But more because of this,

Evidence of a crime, wrong, or other act is not admissible to prove a person’s character in order to show that on a particular occasion the person acted in accordance with the character.

404 (b) (1)

Doesn't matter if they are convicted or not...

Possible exception in 404 (b)

BUT...it is a VERY SLIGHT possibility that a judge would allow it for

This evidence may be admissible for another purpose, such as proving motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, absence of mistake, or lack of accident.

Wilson might argue that Brown resisted him because Brown thought he was being arrested for robbery, and that Wilson's story that Brown forcibly resisted arrest is more credible if Brown had a motive to resist.