In an important ruling, the Seventh Circuit overturned a $156 million award against the Holy Land Foundation charity for their alleged involvement in the terrorist death of 17-year-old David Boim, an American teenager killed in the West Bank. Continue reading “Federal Court Overturns Verdict Against Holy Land Foundation: Parents Must Show Link Between Fund-Raising and Terrorist Attack that Killed Son”
Category: Justice
The legal status of the San Francisco Zoo appears to be worsening. The zoo’s director admitted on Thursday that a wall that separated the public from the zoo’s tigers is nearly 6 feet lower than initially reported — and nearly 4 feet lower than industry standards. In the meantime, the father of the teen killed by the tiger has accused of the zoo of negligence. Continue reading “San Francisco Zoo Facing Growing Allegations of Negligence in Tiger Killing and Maulings”
It is said that justice delayed is justice denied. For Martin Tankleff, 36, justice was 17 years in coming when an appellate court overturned his conviction of the murder of his parents and ordered a retrial. Regardless of whether Tankleff is guilty or innocent, he clearly was deprived of a fair trial by police and prosecutors. Continue reading “Police and Prosecutorial Misconduct Leads to Release of Martin Tankleff — 17 Years After the Murder of Parents”
The Florida prosecutors made a difficult but correct decision this week in agreeing not to charge Ernie Daley, Jr., 19, for the deaths of two officers who were killed by a pursuing fellow officer. Continue reading “Florida Prosecutors Decide Not to Charge Charge Thief in Deaths of Two Officers Killed by A Fellow Pursuing Officer”
The federal government has long used a controversial “catch and release” system of snitches where it arrests citizens, threatens huge sentences for drugs, and then coerces them into trapping other citizens to reduce the sentence. It is a system designed to inflate arrest figures for local U.S. Attorneys, but it can also lead to get abuses. This was the case recently with one snitch, Tina Rivard, 40, who pleaded guilty to framing an innocent man to avoid jail. Continue reading “Federal Snitch Frames Innocent Man to Avoid Prosecution”
In a remarkable development, a white juror in a racially controversial murder case has gone public with a claim that he felt pressured by the judge and fellow jurors to convict John White, a black man found guily of killing a white teen, Daniel Cicciaro. It is a claim that is likely to produce more of a political and social response than a legal response. If the juror, Francois Larche, yielded to such pressure he failed to uphold his oath and will have little recourse in trying to take back his vote. Continue reading “Juror in John White Case Claims Coercion From Judge and Jurors was Responsible for Changing His Vote to Guilty”
While the Bush Administration works to prevent anyone from investigating its own possible misconduct in the CIA tape scandal, the 9-11 Commission has already concluded that the Administration lied to its investigators and destroyed evidence specifically demanded by the Commission. Continue reading “9-11 Commission Specifically Requested Evidence Destroyed by the CIA — Staff Reviewing Possible Crimes in Denial”
With the conviction of John White in New York for the killing of a teen on his lawn and the possible indictment of Joe Horn in Texas for killing two burglars on his lawn, the national debate over the so-called Castle Doctrine or Make My Day laws is intensifying. Continue reading “Chilling Tape of Texas Homeowner Killing Two Men in Texas Re-Ignites National Debate over the Castle Doctrine and Make My Day Laws”
John White, an African American homeowner, claimed that he was merely protecting his home and his son from a racial attack when he shot Daniel Cicciaro in the face. A jury disagreed and convicted White, 54, of second-degree manslaughter. It is a case often cited in relation to the Castle Doctrine, allowing homeowners to repel invaders with lethal force — one of two current cases (with the Horn case in Texas) of shootings on the lawns of homeowners. Continue reading “Castle Breached: Homeowner Convicted of Killing Teen on Lawn in Racially Charged New York Case”
In a lawsuit that seems like a scene out of Michael Moore’s SICKO recent film on the U.S. health system, CIGNA is facing a lawsuit after it denied coverage to Nataline Sarkisyan who needed a liver transplant. The California teenager, 17, died at the University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center despite the fact that a match was found weeks previously. CIGNA HealthCare decided that the procedure was “too experimental” to try — or least pay for. Now, there is a called for manslaughter charges against CIGNA — and a likely tort action. Continue reading “CIGNA Facing Lawsuit After It Denies Coverage for Liver Transport and Teen Dies”
U.S. District Judge Henry H. Kennedy appears inclined to back off, at least for now, from inquiring into the destruction of tapes of CIA interrogations despite his order to preserve such evidence. This is not, however, the last word for Kennedy or other judges lining up on the issue. Continue reading “Federal Judge Appears to be Leaning Toward Bush Administration on Destroyed CIA Tapes”
Paul Bergrin, a defense lawyer and former prosecutor, has been accused of going a bit too far in fulfilling his duty of zealous advocacy for his client: police believed that Bergrin encouraged the 2004 killing of Deshawn McCray. He is also accused of running a brothel with representatives from the oldest profession. Continue reading “N.Y. Attorney Accused in Witness Killing — and Running a Brothel”
Hollywood appears ready to step into the controversy over the pregnancy of Jamie Lynn Spear in a truly signature way: it is ordering a special for television. While a debate rages over why this is being treated as an entertainment rather than criminal issue. Jamie Lynn’s 19-year-old boyfriend, Casey Aldridge, could be charged with statutory rape, carnal knowledge with a minor and even a Mann Act violation. Continue reading “Spears Pregnancy May Result in Television Special Rather than Criminal Charges”
One of the most controversial laws in Germany is the criminal ban on Nazi symbols. In the United States, such symbols are viewed as both obnoxious and legal. Recently, the Germans prosecuted people who produced teeshirts with an anti-Nazi image: a swastika with a red strip through it. At the same time, a bizarre man in Berlin with pro-Nazi views was prosecuted for, among other things, his dog Adolf’s pet trick of giving the Nazi salute. The dog was taken from his owner, who had promised to kill him on the Fuhrer’s birthday due to the expense of criminal fines. Continue reading “Germany Criminally Punishes Citizens for Anti-Nazi Teeshirts Showing Swastika — and a Dog Named Adolf That Gives Nazi Salute”
Of course, a motion to continue could be more efficient and hygenic, but 37-year-old Walter Barrett stripped and covered himself with his own feces to avoid court. He also spit and threw waste at guards.
As a result, Barrett, convicted of a violent home invasion, was forced to wear a bag over his head in court. His attorneys are seeking (not surprisingly) a competency hearing.
Guards are routinely the target of such acts, though some actually file criminal complaints. This is the case with
Desmond Turner is awaiting trial for battery by bodily waste by spitting on a jail guard.
Turner and James Stewart face murder charges for the June 2006 shooting deaths of four adults and three young children in a home on the city’s east side. Their trial is scheduled for February 2009. For that story, click here
For the earlier video and story, click here