But I don’t understand why skeeter’s offer to testify against Vick specifically would be a big deal.

As has been already noted it would be highly unlikely that Skeeter had any knowledge of the dog fighting charges against Vick. This could be easily checked by bringing Skeeter back and showing him the letter then asking him questions about dog fights. Are the dogs vicious towards humans? (Answer: no) Are the dogs bathed before the fight? (Answer: yes) On what surface do dogs fight? (Answer: carpetting–its a traction thing). Are the dogs big or small (Answer: most fighting dogs are medium sized) How many people are in the pit with the dogs? (Answer: three–two handlers and a referee) Now unless you go to dog fights, read about dog fights (like me), or learn about dog fights chances are you’d be unaware of how to answer these questions. Then there are questions about where the fights took place, who was there, times, etc. Lots of this information is known to the prosecution in the Vick case. Way, way too much information that could trip up Skeeter.

It does no good to be consumed by emotion. Therein lies my apology.

Thanks for standing by me. I will be back in full regalia soon …

However, it’s curious that the Pilot story says:In court, as he had testified earlier, Frederick admitted that he lied to the detectives that night about his marijuana-growing operation and failed to tell them that some plants had been stolen days earlier. But it then quotes Frederick as saying “I didn’t lie” when asked about it.

What I take from this is that Frederick did grow marijuana but did not lie about it–if I recall from the audio, the police asked him if there was any marijuana in the house, and he admitted smoking. They asked what was in the garage, and he said a banana tree. While he didn’t offer the admission that there had previously been marijuana in the garage, I don’t think he lied, either.

Perhaps some members of the jury would realize that there was zero likelihood of Skeeter having any real information about Vick? Had the prosecution known that the Vick case would have anything whatsoever to do with this one, that would likely have been a legitimate basis for excluding any jurors who have an opinion about the former. As it is, jurors who have knowledge about that case which would imply that Skeeter is lying about it should probably refrain from using such knowledge in reaching their decision (a juror who argued such knowledge during deliberation would effectively be a super-witness who would be exempt from any sort of cross-examination), though use of a juror’s personal knowledge to favor a defendant may sometimes be appropriate.

I’m curious what the writer of that opinion would expect the intruders to do once they’re inside. Share a nice cut of coffee with their victim?

Burglars almost always seek to either (1) avoid detection, or (2) incapacitate their victims. If burglars are seeking to enter an obviously-occupied dwelling in such a way that they cannot expect to avoid detection, that’s a pretty clear sign that the victim will be in grave danger once they get in.

Perhaps the writer of that original opinion thinks the crooks will merely tie up their victim and then go. And perhaps the crooks might do that. On the other hand, there is no legitimate reason to require anyone to put their lives in the hands of crooks who are known to have no respect for the law. An attempt to render a victim defenseless should be regarded no less severely than an attempt to kill the victim outright.

‘As for Ebert, I don’t think he’s evil, bad or otherwise, he’s simply incompetent. ‘

I disagree. I feel he has the evangelical focus of a true believer. Not to insult any religions, I’m just pointing out how sure terrorists are of themselves being right, how sure Bush was that he was right. The terrorists and Bush may have shown elements of incompetence, but their overall focus stayed consistent. Mistakes don’t matter- stay true to the vision.

I don’t know where Ebert gets his inspiration, but the more I follow this the more convinced I am that he is completely vile. He’s using his position to DESTROY people, not to look for justice or protect the public he’s supposed to be serving.

That’s exactly how I’m starting to feel about our LE/Prosecutor people.

http://www.comedy.com/embed/bill-hicks-marketing

“breaking in a door is NOT a design to do some serious bodily harm and is not imminent danger of carrying out the design.”

In Colorado Springs a man was not charged after shooting through a door at a man who was breaking through said door. The guy was drunk, thought his roommates were having fun with him by not opening the door. So he proceeded to break in the glass to the back door. The male resident finally shot and killed him as he was about to get the door open. The DA decided not to file charges and referenced Colorado’s “Make my day law” as the reason why.

So the commenter is indeed, as Jerri, notes a complete buttwipe.

There is an additional video of RF on the stand: http://hamptonroads.com/pilotonline

RF’s lawyer asked: “Did you know the police were coming that night?” RF answers “no.”

When you think about it, this is, at once, both a silly and profound question. If you are not a cop killer, and you know the police are coming, YOU GET RID OF ALL YOUR BONGS, DOPE, ETC!!!! RF did not do that.

If you are a cop killer, and you know the police are coming, YOU GET A SHOTGUN AND FILL IT WITH DOUBLE O Buckshot!!! Or you get an AR15 which shoots though police vests. You get ready for a gun fight against professionals with body armour. You don’t use RF’s silly little gun and, at minimum, you put your freakin’ shoes on. RF in no way acted as if he knew the police were coming.

That’s completely asinine. When I was in law school, I clerked in the local D.A.’s office and worked on an appeal that completely changed my view of the world (the view of an overprotected female). The summer before I started law school, a man broke down a young woman’s door, grabbed her, took her out on a desolate West Texas road, raped her and then cut her throat. During the time she was breaking down the door, she was on the phone with a 911 dispatcher. That guy was across the room in a flash after he got through the door. She had no gun. I saw the photos of the aftermath laying on that West Texas road.

After I read that transcript, I got a gun and I also resolved that anyone trying to get through my door would be dead before he got through it. It is absurd to expect someone to wait until the door is broken down and the guy is after you. You don’t know, at that point, if you can get a shot off–or get one off AND hit the raging maniac coming after you.

I just bet that the commenter or a cop would wait until his home’s door is fully breached before shooting the intruder. Yeah, right.

Seriously, this is just ridiculous. This Ebert chump needs to be disbared.

And his name changed to Nifong. I think the prosecutions case just went down the crapper. This is yet another lie/inconsistency/deviation from the truth they’ve been caught in. I don’t know how a juror who isn’t hooked up to a ventilator could believe anything the prosecution says.

David

I’d like to note that I haven’t said or even implied (that I know of) that you’re wrong.

Fail. Your post has, if anything, contributed to any threadjacking going on.

The majority of the comments on the Virginia Pilot’s page have been very anti-RF…to the point of seething. These gems over the past few days weren’t the worst:

“May he rot in prison…”

“breaking in a door is NOT a design to do some serious bodily harm and is not imminent danger of carrying out the design.”

“Bottom line is an officer lost his life doing his job leaving behind a wife and children as well as friends and co-workers. facts: marijuana is still illegal in all 50 states and I have to wonder if Ryan Frederick had nothing to hide- would he have shot through the door??”

“Losers: … You know, some of you seem to have an abundance of law enforcement knowledge and seem to think that you would do a much better job. Why don’t you become cops and show us how it really should be done?” Really?”

Go read the comments from the latest article…not one commenter on there is calling for blood today. This is a really good sign – once people (even the L&O type) see how things have gotten out of hand here, they are backing down and saying “this isn’t right.” I hope the jury sees it the same way.

In Virginia, can they give the jury options for lesser charges or are they stuck with the initial charges?

You always have a lot to say around here that’s great and worthwhile, but please, friend, cool it. Most of us are pushing for the same things here. Most of us are really upset about what’s happening to RF, but that doesn’t mean we need to tear each other apart. I was thinking the same thing as David…RF’s railroading has as much to do with Anarchism as it has to do with Fundamentalism, Communism, Liberalism, etc. Sure it wouldn’t happen under your preferred system – but it wouldn’t happen under ours either.

Beliefs change over time. Mine have gone closer and closer to your belief system, but I wouldn’t cuss at my past self for saying things then I disagree with now.

This same thing happened with Warren (bless his dickhead heart) back before the election. Don’t be like him…he has no credit anymore around here.

“… there’s no reason to come into random threads to post what boils down to “that’s very interesting, but HEY I’M AN ANARCHIST.” Although I do give him credit for at least trying to tie the threadjack to the discussion at hand.”

Which I always do, you whiny bitch David. Keep your credit, I’ve got plenty of my own.