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Jury Finds Mehserle Guilty Of Involuntary Manslaughter ?!? THAT'S IT???!?!?!
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by anonymous Thursday July 8, 2010
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GATHER AT LEIMERT PARK TODAY AT 5PM!!!!! |
LOS ANGELES -- A Los Angeles jury of eight women and four men found former BART police officer Johannes Mehserle guilty of involuntary manslaughter for the shooting death of Oscar Grant III on the BART Fruitvale station platform in the early morning of Jan. 1, 2009.
The verdict came during the panel’s first full day of deliberations. The jury had returned to talks Thursday after they spent roughly only three hours in discussions Wednesday because a juror had a doctor's appointment.
Jurors were faced with deciding if Mehserle should be acquitted, or found guilty of second-degree murder or of a lesser offense, either voluntary or involuntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting.
The case went to the jury Friday and there were only two hours of deliberations before the three-day holiday weekend. A juror's illness prevented deliberations Tuesday and one of the panelists was replaced this week by an alternate.
Mehserle, 28, had pleaded not guilty to murdering Grant on New Year's Day after BART police officers responded to reports of a fight at the BART train station. Grant was shot while lying face down on the platform, as several bystanders videotaped the shooting.
In his closing argument, Alameda County Deputy District Attorney David Stein said jurors should convict Mehserle because the evidence has proven guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
"Don't convict the defendant because of sympathy or favor," Stein said. "Convict him based on the evidence in this case."
Defense attorney Michael Rains argued for acquittal, saying the shooting was a tragic accident. He cited testimony stating that his client had inadequate training to prevent weapons confusion and witnesses who said Mehserle appeared to be in shock after shooting Grant.
"On Jan. 1, 2009, Johannes Mehserle fired a single gunshot and it brought him to this place before you, and you are his shot at justice," Rains told jurors, citing a line from the 1982 legal drama "The Verdict," starring Paul Newman.
Mehserle put his arm around Rains after the attorney concluded four hours of arguments over two days.
Mehserle testified that he mistakenly pulled his handgun instead of his Taser stun gun before Grant was shot. He resigned from the Bay Area Rapid Transit agency after the shooting.
Not to be outdone by the theatrics of Rains, Stein showed jurors an 18-inch bronze statue of Lady Justice and explained why the figure carries a scale and is blindfolded.
"Police officers are supposed to protect and serve, not abuse their authority as occurred in this case," said Stein.
"We also entrust them with our lives and our fellow citizens," Stein said. "Oscar Grant represents one of those citizens."
Mehserle's trial was moved from Alameda County to Los Angeles because of excessive media coverage and racial tensions that boiled over into violence in Oakland.
http://www.ktvu.com/news/24188551/detail.html
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| posted by: | 3056| message: | Wow, the Rodney King slaying. When did that happen. Please give the computer back to your parents.
posted Sunday August 1, 2010 | |
| posted by: | In formed| message: | I had a lawyer tell me once, 'When you get finished with the Justice system you will know there is no justice"., he was right. Oh people people sleep well at night knowing that this one went to ajil and this one went to jail, but if there were true justice then the father of the girl who gets raped and murdered should be able to take the guilty party out back and work him over for an hour with a baseball bat!!!!
posted Thursday July 22, 2010 | |
| posted by: | In formed| message: | I had a lawyer tell me once, 'When you get finished with the Justice system you will know there is no justice"., he was right. Oh people people sleep well at night knowing that this one went to ajil and this one went to jail, but if there were true justice then the father of the girl who gets raped and murdered should be able to take the guilty party out back and work him over for an hour with a baseball bat!!!!
posted Thursday July 22, 2010 | |
| posted by: | re: 3056 topic| message: | I agree our Justice System is totally flawed, outdated nonsense. Juries have not been informed by the Justices of what their duties and powers are. Juries actually have more power than a Judge, they simply hide and obfuscate this. Need another example? The slaying of Rodney King. NAACP claimed they would get absolute "justice" for the victims in the Rodney King incident. Only the NAACP actually didn't do that. They pretty much told the court and Jury, "here's all the evidence....we see this is what happened." and a totally unknown man got convicted of the killing. Only what they gave the court was not telling the whole truth. We find out twenty years later as the FBI reopened the Rodney King case, that the people who killed this black man never even got caught. NAACP and lobbyists were no help to anybody. They didn't do anything but "bait" each side. Finally some of these KKK leaders who actually killed several, got put in prison & turned themselves in. No thanks to the lobbies or the Judge. What should the Jury have done to prevent this, not to mention make justice be served more equally? Demanded that the attorneys show all the evidence on cause of death. Filed suit and public record requests on behalf of their family. Demanded from police all records public/private it don't matter to issue their verdict. They would have then caught the traitors who did it and made a huge difference for family. Juries didn't know they have that power & can forcibly gather evidence. Lobbyists and lawyers are no replacement for the law and a gun. Our justice system needs major reform. Lets start by removing ignorance and educating the jurors...that scares the criminals more than shootings.
posted Tuesday July 13, 2010 | |
| posted by: | re: 3056| message: | I know what you are trying to explain , but you have to admit it does not make any rational sense regardless what the judge or anyone else in the court system or jury say's. If someone were to hold you hostage and execute you at point blank range, would it be MURDER? Of course. But if a court were to find that person guilty of only Involuntary Manslaughter, are you going to accept that? Of course not, because he is truly guilty of murder - regardless of what anyone say's - fact is that he murdered. period. All this philosophical judiciary bullshit about democracy , jury of own peers, etc, it's nothing but over-analytical bureaucratic politics designed to create a circus to twist someones perception to the point that they cannot distinguish right from wrong. That's why you have DA prosecutors throwing away peoples lives over petty bullshit and walking away feeling good about what they did.. EVERYONE who goes to court enough deep down inside knows that dirty truth but most are not man enough to stand up and face it. You know the saying , "it's not what you did , it's what you can prove in court". It has nothing to do with right verses wrong like they try and convince you it does. It has to do with how well you play the game and put the law below and above selective groups of people. That's injustice.
posted Monday July 12, 2010 | |
| posted by: | Gladto Explain| message: | I'll be glad to explain:
We actually have an unequal justice system. Not because of corrupt Judges, no we actually have only a few corrupt Judges who take their orders from big business by receiving money under the table. But we have an unequal justice system anyway, because our country and media LIES to us about what we have the power to do. In Juries we have the power to convict guilty politicians and force evidence to be turned over to convict. However, Judges are instructed to say we "DO NOT" have that power. Some would prefer we now know. But we do have it, its called INFORMED JURORS. Only INFORMED JURORS can dispense equal justice and throw out D.C. This is not just a class war or some imaginary race baiting game. This is UNEQUAL JUSTICE because our system works against the common men, by MISINFORMING them of their actual sovereign powers. Most politicians should be sitting in Jail right now for attempted murder and treason. Our population has become so misinformed by the media/lawyers, that they are still free turning this nation fascist. D.C and corrupt harlot lawyers who never passed the grade are the real enemy. Read the text in OBAMACARE. Juries across the country should be striking this fascism down but they don't even know it profiles businesses in unconstitutional ways. Thats our real flaw, we have been dumbed down to allow this.
posted Monday July 12, 2010 | |
| posted by: | 3056| message: | While you say YOU understand the law you are still saying it is cold blooded murder. It wasn't, even the judge said so before the jury had the option to find him not guilty of first degree murder.
If a cop is driving down the road, a person accidentally fires a gun, and a cop is killed it cannot be called first degree murder. I am not trying to justify the cops actions in ANY way. It is unacceptable for the police to kill an unarmed man.
I am simply pointing out that Cop Watch is not doing its job of education its mass of uneducated followers.
In no way does our system resemble fascism or a police state. The label of a police state is flawed from the onset. Our constitution was written to LIMIT the governments control over the citizens. Please explain how you can call our country a police state or fascist.
posted Monday July 12, 2010 | |
| posted by: | re: 3056| message: | additionally what i'm trying to point out to you is that laws are selective when it comes to those in power , those who enforce power , and those who are the victims of it. This case is just another prime example of that.
posted Monday July 12, 2010 | |
| posted by: | re: 3056| message: | the majority of people who post here do not represent cop watch LA. ... those of us in Cop Watch LA very much understand how the legal system works which is why we - like many other people - were not surprised when we heard the verdict. Our argument isn't that he should have gotten a murder charge as much as it is that the system it's self is UNJUST and does NOT work when it comes to prosecuting police just like Mersele who get away with cold blooded murder. Fact of the matter is , if any of would have done that to a cop we'd be doing life in prison awaiting a lethal injection. If you are a cop then you know that this type of system is a kangaroo system where certain powers , such as those who make the laws , are always above the law. That type of system has another name and it's called FASCISM or POLICE STATE.
posted Monday July 12, 2010 | |
| posted by: | 3056| message: | Jury Finds Mehserle Guilty Of Involuntary Manslaughter ?!? THAT'S IT???!?!?!
THe judge did the right thing by allowing the jury other charges to choose from. There could never have been a first degree murder verdict. There was NO evidence to support premeditation. While some feel it the charge is unjust it really is. He is guilty but not of what you wanted. That's the way it goes. Copwatch should get a legal council to advise its members so they don't sound so uneducated.
posted Monday July 12, 2010 | |
| posted by: | cwla| message: | the "racist nazis" coming here are trying to incite a reactionary, heated and nonetheless incriminating dialogue so police agencies can get wire-taps, warrants and arrests. we already know who they are and what they do which is why the majority of their posts get deleted almost as soon as they go up.
posted Sunday July 11, 2010 | |
| posted by: | LAPO is XXXX| message: | Judges think their duty is to lay down the law for the Jurors. However Jurors have the right and duty to disobey a Judges order and overturn convictions of innocent men. http://fija.org They also have the right to demand evidence for probable cause to convene and convict Guilty Men.In that kind of court room officers on this blog would be scared shitless in breaking a law. Jurors have the ultimate say in dispensing Justice. Don't ever let them tell you otherwise as they love to lie.
posted Sunday July 11, 2010 | |
| posted by: | LAPO We See You| message: | Hey LAPO aka XXX....your cover is blown. Everyone knows the nazi punk you are and will rout you out. Corrupt Judges think their duty is to posted Sunday July 11, 2010 | |
| posted by: | Thugs R Us| message: | Stalin would have loved having some of these trigger-happy thugs in their army. The Constitution of the United States said all men are created equal. That said... I feel sick to my stomach that inbreds like LAPO are still unaware of this fact, and still treat others like absolute shit by using the word "nigger". If I ever found you LAPO I would taser your ass until you wake up & be civilized like a real man is. I want you to know, I sincerely respect each and every one of you who stands up to the neocon nazi thugs. This is the country for Americans, not black, white or hispanic. Period. I am White but I don't flaunt it, these so called "race wars" are all more bullshit made up by the Military Industrial Complex. Freedom and Justice for all, learn the Informed Jury act and put these thugs in prison where they belong. http://www.fija.org We need less assholes like LAPO everywhere. Stand in solidarity. Justice for Palestine, Justice for America, NO MORE PATRIOT ACT!!!!!! http://ronpaul.com
posted Sunday July 11, 2010 | |
| posted by: | xxxx| message: | They should give the cop a reward, all he did was rid the world of a nigger piece of shit punk! Oscar Grant and lots of other niggers deserve to die like the dogs they are!
posted Sunday July 11, 2010 | |
| posted by: | real| message: | the real ''america'' IS walt. anyone around the world reading this. that is what it is like if you have any black in you. not allowed on a ''jury'' even though YOU are DEAD!! that oil is ghoing to poison europe and then the world. walt is just like the police. they have shown the same attitude, the whole law system in the united states. walt is really who they are.infidels.
posted Friday July 9, 2010 | |
| posted by: | charges| message: | but he should be put in a cell for 50 years, or give pirone the 50 years for inciting this treasonous racial apartheid coverup.
posted Thursday July 8, 2010 | |
| posted by: | .| message: | well ,he was charged with sumthin', dont riot though, just do your thing when you feel the right thing to do.
posted Thursday July 8, 2010 | |
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"The Front Lines" Aug 25, 2010
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