This was the image of the defendant that a jury saw in an Ohio murder trial. Neil Simpson was on trial for the murder of a pizza shop owner in course of a robbery. After he spat at the jury, the judge ordered mosquito netting and a plastic diaper put on his face. Usually, a defendant will be excluded from the courtroom or required to watch via videocamera in such circumstances. That is sometimes not available. However, the use of netting and a diaper in this way adds an unnecessary and disturbing image in court.
Obviously, Simpson already tainted the jury by his spitting at them, but judges have a need to minimize such scenes of restraint.
For his part, Simpson (who is clearly disturbed) announced how he wanted to die after he was found guilty: “I have two ways that I prefer to be murdered, one is to be crucified in front of the courthouse for all to see it, for all the convicts throughout the world, and the other way would be to be stoned to death by the victim’s family, to be make them feel better.”
Instead, the judge sentenced Simpson to life in prison without parole.
Source: FoxDC
It reminds me of Bobby Seale being tied and gagged in the courtroom, during the Chicago 11 trial, along with Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin during the late 60′s.
bigkoala@verizon.net
Sometimes you restrain animals with less severe tactics. Sometimes its impossible to tell the difference in human waste and …. well you get the picture.
Did they charge the defendant with any other crimes arising from the spitting?
This is one that I am not sure what the correct way to handle it would be.
The jury has to be safe and I was involved in a case where a defendant did pretty much the same thing, but duct tape was used to restrain him. He went ballistics in court.
I agree with Prof. Turley. The spectacle presented by this get up is way too prejudicial. I would have put him in another room with a TV monitor. What was this judge thinking-or not thinking.
This guy looks suspiciously like AY’s avatar.
TY, TY, I escaped for the time being. Please look for me on the next episode of dumbest criminals…..lol…..
rofl
zing!
As to the story? Don’t worry. Soon enough the defendant’s will be wearing black bags on their heads or not allowed in the court room at all.
Restore habeas corpus now!
I’d like to suggest that the same mosquito netting/diaper on face treatment be used on Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Ann Coulter, Michael Savage, etc.
Elaine,
I like your idea, but I have two words that complete the picture.
Dirty diaper.
Buddha,
A diaper would soon be soiled after being applied to their mouths, doncha think?
As ever, you are a practical thinker, Elaine.
Wait and watch. This look will be all the rage on Paris runways this fall season. It is, as they like to say, “fierce” …
He deserved it.