Slashdot Mirror


Officer Not Charged In Michael Brown Shooting

An anonymous reader writes: A grand jury in Missouri has decided there is no probable cause to charge police officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown. "A grand jury of nine whites and three blacks had been meeting weekly since Aug. 20 to consider evidence. At least nine votes would have been required to indict Wilson. The Justice Department is conducting an investigation into possible civil rights violations that could result in federal charges." Government officials and Brown's family are urging calm in Ferguson after the contentious protests that followed Brown's death.

8 of 1,128 comments (clear)

  1. Re:The "Protesters" by ClickOnThis · · Score: 4, Informative

    Why aren't the protesters reigning in the asshats, then?

    Actually, they are. Sorry for the lack of a link, but I heard on NPR that many protesters were trying to "talk down" others after the decision came out.

    --
    If it weren't for deadlines, nothing would be late.
  2. Re:I just don't understand by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Informative

    There were multiple witnesses saying that Mike Brown had his hands up

    The (Democrat) prosecutor explained that these witness accounts were inconsistent when given, and the witnesses recanted when re-interviewed after forensic evidence contradicted their lies. The only witness accounts that remained consistent were those that agreed with the evidence and matched Officer Wilson's account. The lies told by the witnesses you chose to fixate on, while ignoring all others, were apparent to the Grand Jury and everyone that hasn't been hell-bent on persecuting this cop.

    It doesn't matter what Mike Brown was doing before the confrontation

    What Brown did before the confrontation is crucial to the whole matter. Wilson had received a report of a assault and robbery and been given a description of the perp. Wilson testified that Brown matched that description. Wilson radioed for backup after he recognized Brown and before he confronted Brown. Wilson had every right and obligation to engage Brown on the street, to expect violence from Brown, and defend himself when Brown attacked.

    Face it. This whole thing has been about a welfare-state bred thug that got his shit snapped up on the street when he decided to throw down with a cop instead of taking the robbery bust he knew he had coming. That's all it is. The rest is race baiting bullshit.

  3. Re:Just wondering by ClickOnThis · · Score: 1, Informative

    You think Slashdot is a bunch of left-wing dingbats?

    IMHO, for many years now, Slashdot has attracted a gathering of libertarian circle-jerks. And they seem to have a disproportionate number of mod-points.

    --
    If it weren't for deadlines, nothing would be late.
  4. Re:It was an almost impossible case to prosecute by Fnord666 · · Score: 5, Informative

    If it went to trial, we *would* know all the facts.

    I take it you've never been involved in a criminal trial. The jury will only know the facts that are presented at trial. This is almost always a subset, sometimes a substantial one, of "all the facts".

    --
    'The tyrant will always find pretext for his tyranny.' - Aesop's Fables
  5. Re:It was an almost impossible case to prosecute by Penguinisto · · Score: 5, Informative

    If it went to trial, we *would* know all the facts.

    No, no you wouldn't. You would only know what the prosecution and defense could find and present. Nothing more, nothing less.

    As it so happens, the DA promised to release all the evidence they have to the public shortly. When, how, and in what format I do not know, but nonetheless, that's what they intend to do according to their statement.

    A grand jury doesn't determine guilt or innocence, it only decides whether a trial should happen.

    Agreed. The reason for having one in the first place is to determine whether there is enough credible evidence and testimony to be worth a trial.

    --
    Quo usque tandem abutere, Nimbus, patientia nostra?
  6. Re:Flip Argument by whoever57 · · Score: 3, Informative

    All the facts they asked for. They have the power to subpoena anyone they want.

    Are you sure about that?

    The prosecutor decides what subjects the grand jury investigates, and what witnesses and documents to subpoena. He questions the witnesses. He advises the grand jury on the rele- vance of the evidence, drafts the charges, advises the grand jury on the law, and requests the grand jury to return an indictment.' 2 The grand jury cannot return an indictment without the signature of the 4 prosecutor.' 3 This power can easily be misused.

    Looks to me like the grand jury can only get information that the prosecutor wants them to get.

    --
    The real "Libtards" are the Libertarians!
  7. Re:Flip Argument by cheezedawg · · Score: 5, Informative

    Here you go: 181 pages of testimony that the Grand Jury heard.

    https://cbsstlouis.files.wordp...

    --
    "The defense of freedom requires the advance of freedom" - George W Bush
  8. Re:Moderate BS by ScentCone · · Score: 5, Informative

    Especially batshit irrelevant, as the cop had no idea there was a reported robbery

    Why are you lying about this? What's your agenda that you are deliberately spreading false information?

    Wilson was on another call nearby (helping with a baby that was having trouble breathing). He heard over his radio that there was a local retail store that had just had the strong-arm robbery we saw on video. After a minute or two more on the local situation, he left, and started in his cruiser down the road. He saw two guys walking down the middle of the street and as he passed, told them to get over to the sidewalk. When he got close, he noted that the 270-pound guy was a perfect match, right down to the red hat and yellow socks, for the description he had just heard on the radio. Before he confronted Brown, he got on the radio and said he had eyes on two individuals, and that he needed backup.

    He pulled his cruiser backwards at an angle to cut off their jaunty stroll down the middle of the street and to block other traffic, and went to get out of his cruiser. Brown slammed the cruiser door shut, twice, and punched Wilson in the face, through the window. Before he got hit a third time, Wilson went for his weapon in order to get that huge guy to back off. Brown tried to grab it (his DNA is on the gun), and the gun went off in the car. Twice. One of those shots grazed Brown's thumb, leaving up-close powder marks. He (Brown) started to back off and walk away, and Wilson got out to stop him. Multiple witnesses (including half a dozen African Americans who came forward on their own to the police, and weren't interested in media attention) corroborated all of this, including what happened next (Brown turns around and moves at Wilson, who fires a few times, winging Brown - Wilson STOPS shooting and again tells Brown to stop - Brown then charges at Wilson who shoots again until Brown stops). There's blood on the street that shows Brown covered significant distance TOWARDS Wilson, just as described by those same witnesses.

    Wilson was exactly aware that there had been a robbery, saw matching perps, and called it in. You know this, everyone knows this, and the people who are deliberately skipping over that simple fact (there are recordings!) are deliberately lying. Like you are, right now.

    Prosecutors can 'indict a ham sandwich' with a grand jury.

    Prosecutors can't do a damn thing unless they present that grand jury with compelling evidence and the GRAND JURY decides there's probable cause to bring charges. Grand juries routinely opt not to indict people, despite the fervent wishes of prosecutors. Another thing that you know is true, but about which you are lying for some reason. Not quite sure what your actual purpose is in doing so. It's strange.

    --
    Don't disappoint your bird dog. Go to the range.