US Supreme Court asked to review Black Panther death sentence:
Pennsylvania has asked the US Supreme court to review the decision that overturned the death sentence of convicted cop killing scumbag Mumia Abu Jamal.
Recently Jamal’s request for a new trial was rejected.
Since he was convicted back in the early ’80s if his death sentence is reinstated can they use the method of execution from the early ’80s? Lethal injection is way too humane for this scumbag.
US Supreme Court rejects new trial for former Black Panther:
Yesterday the US Supreme Court refused to hear arguments for a new trial for convicted cop killing scumbag Wesley Cook. Some of you may know him better by his made-up name Mumia Abu Jamal.
Now if only they’d reinstate his death sentence like the death sentence he gave Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner.
Don’t believe all the crap about Jamal’s trial being racist. If you read what really happened you’ll realize that Jamal made a mockery out of his own trial.
Ed Asner and Mike Farrell must be crying in their lattes today.
No death for Mumia Abu-Jamal — at least for now:
When I first saw the headline I was angry. Convicted cop killing scumbag Mumia Abu Jamal, birth name Wesley Cook, has been spared the death penalty again. Back in 2001, Abu-Jamal’s death sentence was overturned by U.S. District Judge William H. Yohn Jr. because Yohn felt that the 1982 jury that convicted Abu-Jamal…
…may have mistakenly believed it had to agree unanimously on any “mitigating” circumstances — factors that might have persuaded jurors to decide on a life sentence instead of death.
Because you know he was there at the time. Oh wait, no he wasn’t.
Anyway, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit upheld Yohn’s decision. While I’m greatly disappointed that the Third Circuit didn’t reinstate Abu-Jamal’s death sentence I’m happy that the Free Mumia crowd is looking at this as a huge defeat since they think he’s innocent.
Not only that but like the headline says this isn’t over. Even though I think Abu-Jamal will be dead of natural causes before he actually sees the needle.
And if he gets commuted to a life sentence I actually don’t have much of a problem with that anymore. That is if they put him into the general population. How many two-bit thugs do you think would be gunning for one of the most infamous inmates in the country?
Hopefully, Tony Allen who is more knowledgeable about this particular scumbag will have more insight soon.
And remember kids, if you see anyone holding or displaying a Free Mumia sign don’t forget to ask them for your free Mumia.
Moore’s appeal keys on racial makeup of jury:
Like I predicted, not that it was that hard of a prediction, Devin Moore’s attorneys are not only using the GTA defense, but they’re also playing the race card.
Moore was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death in the June 7, 2003, shootings of officers Arnold Strickland and James Crump and 9-11 dispatcher Leslie “Ace” Mealer at the Fayette Police Department.
Angela L. Setzer, his appellate lawyer from the Equal Justice Initiative of Alabama, told Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals judges that Moore didn’t get a fair trial because the judge had disallowed expert testimony and the prosecutor improperly removed black jurors. She also charges that Fayette County District Attorney Chris McCool inflamed the all-white jury by comparing the crime to Fayette’s own “9-11” terrorist attack.
Moore, 22, is black and his victims were white.
He had just turned 18 and was about to be fingerprinted for car-theft charges when he grabbed Strickland’s .40-caliber automatic pistol and shot his three victims before escaping. Moore also tried to shoot out the glass on the police station door so he could re-enter to retrieve his brand-new, $85 K-Swiss sneakers.
Let me enlighten some people. This was never about race. This was about Devin Moore’s car stealing then subsequent murder of two cops and a dispatcher.
Would an all black jury bring those people back to life or go back in time and stop Moore from killing anybody? No. Then this appeal has no legs.
Moore is a cop killer, and he deserves to die.
Link via GamePolitics.
Appeals court to hear Moore case:
Devin Moore, aka the GTA Killer, is appealing his conviction in the murders of two Alabama police officers and a dispatcher. When he was arrested, Moore said “Life is a video game. Everybody has to die sometime.”
Of course, during his trial, The One Who Shall Not Be Named got involved and claimed that Moore’s violence was caused by the infamous Grand Theft Auto video game. The Nameless One went as far as to file lawsuits against the game manufacturer and the game retailer.
The video game defense wasn’t even allowed into Moore’s trial. Moore was convicted and sentenced to death.
Now, Moore and his attorneys are appealing his conviction using the video game argument again…
Moore, now 22, claimed the video game “Grand Theft Auto” and childhood abuse influenced his decision-making. His theory was rejected and the video game defense was disallowed during trial. He was convicted on Aug. 9, 2005, and later sentenced to death.
Moore’s attorney, James Standridge, had said that his client suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. Standridge argued that when Moore was in a Â?dissociative state” he automatically reverted to scripted behavior influenced by his repetitive video game exposure and childhood abuse.
If the video game defense wasn’t even allowed into the trial, what makes them think it will work in the appeal. If this actually works, then there is no justice anymore.
Link via Game Politics.
Gag order denied in police slayings:
Superior Court Judge Robert Johnston has denied the request from the defense to instill a gag order on the trial of Demeatrius Montgomery. Montgomery is accused of the shooting deaths of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officers Jeff Shelton and Sean Clark.
However, Judge Montgomery said that the defense could renew their request if they feel the media is hurting Montgomery’s right to a fair trial.
I, for one, hope the media does not step out of line. I don’t want there to be any complications with this trial, whether Montgomery is convicted or not.
Defense seeks gag order in police killings:
The defense attorney for accused Charlotte cop killer, Demeatrius Montgomery, is requesting a gag order on the proceedings in order to help Montgomery get a fair trial.
The lawyer, Duane Bryant, said such an order is necessary to preserve Montgomery’s right to a fair trial.
Montgomery, 25, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the March 31 fatal shootings of Charlotte-Mecklenburg police Officers Jeff Shelton and Sean Clark.
Prosecutors announced this month they would seek the death penalty against Montgomery.
“This case has been subjected to substantial, pervasive publicity,” Bryant wrote in his motion.
Bryant’s motion suggests that investigating officers are responsible for the publicity. The publicity, the defense lawyer said, includes the dissemination of inaccurate information and matters that would not be admitted into evidence at trial.
Bryant did not cite in his motion the information he claims is inaccurate or the matters he claims would not be allowed into evidence.
The funny thing is, police and prosecutors have been very tight-lipped about this case. However, if Mr. Bryant wants a gag order, I say we give it to him. I want there to be no doubt if a conviction is eventually handed down.
Of course, the press is falling all over themselves with righteous indignation.
Jon Buchan, a lawyer for the Observer, said Wednesday he will file an objection to the defense lawyer’s motion. He said a hearing date has not been set.
“The public is very interested in this case, and it should be,” said Observer Editor Rick Thames. “Two police officers lost their lives. A local resident is accused of killing them. All the more reason why this motion to conceal the judicial proceedings from the public should be denied.”
Thames said he knew of no inaccuracies in news coverage that could affect Montgomery’s ability to receive a fair trial. He also noted that the courts have the means to offset the potential effects of pretrial publicity, key among them the careful questioning of potential jurors.
Yes, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police Officers Jeff Shelton and Sean Clark did lose their lives. And as a community, which even includes you, Charlotte Disturber, we should do everything within our power to ensure that the trial goes off without a hitch. If that means a gag order, then so be it.
I think the public will understand. I dare you to tell me that your appeal has nothing more to do with selling a few more papers.
Death penalty sought in officer killings:
Prosecutors in the case of Demeatrius Montgomery, the suspect in the killings of Charlotte Mecklenburg police officers Sean Clark and Jeff Shelton, have stated they intend to seek the death penalty. Of course, the defense is trying to prevent that…
Defense attorney Duane Bryant opened Thursday’s hearing by seeking to prevent prosecutors from putting Montgomery on trial for his life. He argued that the indictment against Montgomery does not list any aggravating circumstances that prosecutors must prove to obtain a death sentence.
“It makes it hard to prepare a defense in this matter … ,” Bryant told the judge. “They have to apprise this young man what he’s going to be tried for.”
In court papers, the defense lawyer maintained that the aggravating circumstances must be listed in an indictment in order for the state to obtain a death sentence. He conceded, however, that the N.C. Supreme Court has rejected that argument.
Bryant also told the judge that North Carolina’s death penalty is cruel and unusual. He argued that North Carolina “has no constitutionally acceptable means by which to execute someone.” He cited lawsuits challenging the state’s legal-injection procedures used to execute condemned killers.
Superior Court Judge Don Bridges denied the defense motion.
Let’s see here. Aggravating circumstances? How about the fact he allegedly killed two cops who were responding to a call that had nothing to do with him. Is that circumstance aggravating enough for you? And the death penalty is not cruel and unusual. Dropping someone feet first into a wood chipper is cruel and unusual. Like ambushing and killing two cops is kind and usual.
Luckily, Judge Bridges denied the defense’s motion. With the revolving door policies in place in Mecklenburg County, this is a refreshing change.
Montgomery Appointed New Attorney:
The public defender assigned to alleged cop killer Demeatrius Montgomery has stepped down citing a conflict of interest…
Jean Lawson, an attorney from the Mecklenburg County Public Defenders Office, was assigned to the case just days after Montgomery was charged.
Jail records show Lawson spoke with her client at the Mecklenburg County jail several times, and even had a conversation that lasted more than an hour. But Lawson’s request to withdraw cites two North Carolina state rules about lawyer conduct, including one that says a lawyer should not represent a client if that representation will hurt another client.
I wonder if her client’s testimony would hurt Montgomery or the other way around.
Officers Ordered To Remain Mum On Investigation Into Deadly CMPD Shootings:
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has been instructed to not release any information regarding the investigation of the shooting deaths of officers Jeffrey Shelton and Sean Clark.
District Attorney Peter Gilchrist confirmed that he has instructed Charlotte-Mecklenburg police to release no more information about the case against Montgomery and the investigation that surrounds it.
Gilchrist says talking about whether the murder weapon has been found or whether police are still looking for it, or even whether Montgomery’s hands have been tested for gunshot residue, could hurt the investigation.
I am personally very happy with this decision. If a conviction is eventually handed down, I don’t want there to be any doubt or causes for endless appeals. I’m sure the families, friends, and co-workers of officers Clark and Shelton do too.