TheTrenchcoat Chronicles

Tag: suicide

  • New Lori Drew dismissal request

    Lori Drew Files New Bid for Dismissal on Grounds that MySpace Authorized Access:

    The attorneys for Lori Drew have filed yet another appeal for dismissal. This time they’re saying that Drew cannot be guilty of unauthorized access to a computer since MySpace basically gave her authorization.

    They argue that since MySpace allowed her to register on the site even with false information they still granted her authorization.

    For once I think they may have a point.

    It doesn’t change that I think that Lori Drew is still a cold heartless bitch.

  • Lori Drew will not kill the internet

    MySpace ruling could lead to jail for lying online daters:

    Another over-reactionary column about the Lori Drew conviction. I’m sick of them. This is not the end of anonymity on the internet. If it was I’d be the first person to sign off.

    Everybody is forgetting one certain thing. Lori Drew and company violated MySpace’s TOS with the expressed intent of harassing Megan Meier no matter what the outcome of that was. Unfortunately, the outcome of their actions was Megan’s suicide.

    I don’t think federal prosecutors are going to run around prosecuting everybody who uses a fake name on MySpace.

    Un-wad your panties people.

  • Lori Drew verdict

    Guilty verdict on lesser charges in MySpace case:

    First off I hope you all had a Happy and safe Thanksgiving those of you in the U.S. Now on to the story I’m sure you’ve been waiting for me to talk about.

    Lori Drew was convicted. As I’m sure you all know by now she was only convicted of the lesser misdemeanor charges of three counts of accessing a computer without authorization. The jury was hung on the felony count of conspiracy. If I remember correctly the most she can get is one year a piece for each of the misdemeanor convictions. Let’s face it though, she’ll do no time.

    U.S. District Judge George Wu still has not ruled on the defense’s motion for a mistrial which could result in there being no conviction whatsoever.

    I’m going to wait on Judge Wu’s ruling before I offer any further commentary because anything I say now could be made moot come Monday or whenever he decides to rule.

  • Lori Drew trial wraps up

    Judge puts off ruling in Internet hoax case:

    U.S. District Court Judge George Wu said today that he will not rule on whether or not the charges against Lori Drew will be dismissed. Instead, he cited a rule that allows him to wait after a verdict is reached before deciding on dismissal.

    Meanwhile, the trial will continue.

    I have a feeling that George Wu already has his mind made up to dismiss but wants to see if the jury will take that responsibility away from him.

    The defense rested today without calling Lori Drew to the stand.

    The case has been sent to the jury after closing arguments. In those arguments, Drew’s attorney laid the blame of Megan’s death squarely at the feet of Tina Meier, Megan’s mother.

  • Lori Drew trial Days 2 and 3

    More highlights from the Lori Drew trial.

    Drew’s former hairdresser, Christina Chu, testified that Drew considered the harassment of Megan Meier ‘a funny story’. Chu even admonished Drew for what she was doing. When Chu asked why Drew wasn’t going to Megan’s wake Drew reportedly said: “It’s not like I pulled the trigger.”

    Ashely Grills testified that when Drew learned of Megan’s death that Drew said to her “`We could have pushed her overboard because she was suicidal and depressed.’” Ya think?

    And when Grills expressed her concerns to Drew about getting in trouble Drew dismissed it saying “It was fine and people do it all the time.”

    MySpace executive Jae Sung basically testified that you have to check a box that shows you accept MySpace’s TOS. You think that would be a stupid thing to testify about but not everyone out in the non-internet world knows this.

    Also, an FBI agent testified that Drew deleted files from her computer on the day of Megan’s suicide but they couldn’t tell what the files contained.

    The prosecution rested and the defense made a motion for dismissal claiming that the prosecution did not prove Drew committed a crime. The Judge did not reject the motion and will rule on the dismissal on Monday.

    Drew’s daughter Sara testified that Lori Drew told Ashley Grills to delete the fake MySpace two weeks before Megan committed suicide.

  • Day 1 of Lori Drew trial

    Lori Drew sent no Web messages to girl who later committed suicide, lawyer says:

    First, let me apologize for being a day behind the actual news. Unfortunately, that’s due to the demands my real life makes of me. Anyway, let’s get on to Lori Drew’s first real day in court yesterday.

    In his opening statement, Drew’s attorney claimed Drew’s innocence because she did not read MySpace’s TOS. He also claimed that Drew had little to no or connection to the plot to humiliate Megan Meier and placed the blame squarely on 18-year-old Ashley Grills. Grills admitted to sending the last message to Megan Meier that said the world would be better off without her. Grills has been given immunity for her testimony.

    The U.S. attorney, on the other hand, noted how flippant Drew had been in the wake of Megan Meier’s suicide.

    When asked by someone how she could show up at the girl’s wake, Drew said, “It’s not like I pulled the trigger,” O’Brien said.

    She told another woman that she didn’t feel “that bad” because of a prior suicide attempt, O’Brien said.

    Megan Meier’s mother, Tina Meier, testified and her testimony included details of Megan’s suicide.

    After the testimony was over Drew’s attorney called for a mistrial because of the details of Megan’s suicide saying that this is not a murder trial. The judge basically said you should have objected when you could have.

  • Lori Drew feels the sting

    Accused MySpace Mom Splashed With Juror Venom:

    This is a great blog post from L.A. Weekly about how much contempt the jury pool has for Lori Drew. I really can’t add anything except to go read this post.

  • Megan Meier’s suicide will be allowed in Drew trial

    Evidence of Megan Meier’s death will be permitted in Lori Drew’s cyber-bullying trial:

    On Friday after saying he probably wouldn’t allow it at trial U.S. District Judge George Wu ruled that prosecutors would be able to present Megan Meier’s suicide at Lori Drew’s fraud trial.

    I’m torn on this because it will lead to a conviction but it will also lead to an appeal and possibly an overturn of the conviction.

  • Suicide won’t be heard in Lori Drew trial

    Suicide evidence likely out of MySpace hoax trial:

    Yesterday the federal judge presiding over the trial of Lori Drew said that he was leaning towards excluding the suicide of Megan Meier as evidence.

    Personally, I don’t have any problem with this. I don’t want Lori Drew to have an excuse if she is sent to prison. I want it to be done by the books and iron clad.

  • News on the Lori Drew trial

    There have been some more developments in the trial of Lori Drew.

    First, a judge deferred ruling on a motion to dismiss the charges. The trial is expected to take place on November 18th.

    In another development, Lori Drew waived her right to a jury trial, opting instead for the trial to be decided by a judge.

    I don’t blame her for that one. A jury would weigh heavily on Megan Meier’s suicide and not the letter of the law. However the prosecution needs to agree for the trial to go to a judge and of course, they didn’t.