We have periodically discussed the use of diplomatic immunity to avoid criminal conduct in the United States. The latest such case occurred in Beverly Hills where two men raced a white Porsche 911 and a yellow Ferrari LaFerrari through the streets of the city — running stop signs and barely missing pedestrians. When the yellow car was followed to a $10 million home, the driver threatened the reporter and claimed diplomatic immunity — allegedly adding “F*** America” for good measure. He even allegedly told the reporter that he could murder him and not be held accountable.
There is a curious case out of Georgetown, Texas, where Williamson County District Judge Rick Kennon has ruled that Williamson County District Attorney Jana Duty intentionally withheld evidence in the murder trial of Crispin Harmel. However, Kennon refused a defense motion to bar a second trial under the double jeopardy clause. There is no indication of any punishment for Ms. Duty for this case. She continues to serve as a lawyer and a prosecutor in Texas. She has however racked up an impressive number of allegations of misconduct and was sent to jail in August for contempt. However, it is odd not to see a direct referral by the court. I can understand the ruling, though the Texas Court of Appeals recently extended double jeopardy protections to a case where prosecutors intentionally forced a mistrial to avoid an acquittal. However, at a minimum, one would expect a court to deal separately with the violation of her core obligations to the court and the bar.
We have been following the case of Angelika Graswald who is accused of murdering her fiancé Vincent Viafore by sabotaging his kayak on a river outing on the Hudson. Indeed, we previously heard that she had confessed and said “it felt good” to see Viafore die. Now there is a report that Graswald confessed , saying “All right, I’ll give you a f–king statement . . . I wanted him dead and now he’s gone . . . And I’m OK with it.” It is a bad defense case getting worse but I am still surprised by the report of the New York medical examiner that she determined the death to be homicide from an examination of the body.
Continue reading “Coroner Rules That Kayak Death On Hudson Was Homicide”
Wythe county citizens were shocked recently when Dr. Paul A. Williams was found stabbed twice outside of his clinic. Melton said that a man approached him as he was leaving the back door and asked him if he was Dr. Williams. When Williams confirmed that he was but said that the clinic was closed, he said that man responded with “I’m going to teach M F’er. You need to write more scripts for pain meds” and stabbed him twice. A manhunt ensured, but now Williams has admitted that he stabbed himself in the shoulder and the stomach.
I have been highly critical of the environmental policies of Australia’s Prime Minister Tony Abbott who has led the world in rolling back efforts to deal with climate change and reducing pollution while opening up pristine areas of mining and other industries. In a move that is likely to be celebrated by environmentalists around the world, Abbott is Prime Minister no more. In a remarkable change, ruling conservatives ousted Abbott (right) as party leader in favor of former party leader and Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull (left).
Continue reading “Tony Abbott Dumped As Australian Prime Minister”
There are some cases that produce truly Earth shaking ironies. The prosecution of Pennsylvania attorney general Kathleen Kane is one such case. We previously discussed the case where Kane is accused of leaking grand jury information and lying about it to a grand jury. She is accused of using the leaks to attack her opponents or critics. Her team is now objecting to the damage to her case after a leak that confirmed that bar authorities in Pennsylvania are seeking to suspend her law license. They insist that such leaks are clearly designed to hurt Kane.
Kimberly M. Jackson, 36, is every defense attorney’s nightmare . . . though it is not like she had a particularly strong defense to begin with. Jackson was photographed having sex, or at least trying to have sex, with her boyfriend in a parking lot Norfolk, Virginia. She helpfully explained that “[I] was in the mood, and that’s basically what happened.” Her boyfriend, Earl Palmer, did not exactly help things out when he came in to “clear her name.”
Continue reading ““I Didn’t Finish The Job”: Virginia Police Halt Tryst In Parking Lot”
Some might think that a driver with driving violations might be able to “work something out” in a town called “Bribie,” but this is not that type of place, this was not that type of officer, and most certainly this was not just any violation. The officer saw a door flapping on a car and discovered that it was just held shut with a rope.
Continue reading “For Sale: 4dr Sedan, Radio, and Rope Pull . . .”
By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor
Decades of progress in making cooler, faster, more race-car like patrol cars took a turn for the worse when LAPD, at the behest of (of course) the mayor and city suits, handed down a rather puny runt of a patrol car. While this car might be good for a general purpose civilian strip mall warrior, in police culture it does not cut the mustard.
The city stuck the PD with some of the city’s 160 BMW i3 electric vehicles. While I certainly applaud this for a general purpose city vehicle as I am a supporter of electric cars, but an i3 patrol car? No thank you. When first reading USA Today’s article announcing this, one of my first thoughts was that rookies better hang low for a few months.
By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor
Kentucky was faced with another case of drama and failure to perform statutory duties and the federal courts. The Casey County Clerk announced that he would refuse to issue marriage licenses to couples who’s marriage he objects to.
The clerk, in a bit of irony, is named Casey Davis.
Davis insists that he has a duty to himself to violate state law but oddly he feels the Commonwealth should pay for an attorney to represent him.
By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor
There truly is no honor among thieves, and this was definitively demonstrated in Corbett, Oregon the evening of September Seventh when a burglar broke into the residence of a deceased Navy SEAL’s father and stole several medals and challenge coins, including his Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
Jeff Lucas was killed in combat operations in Afghanistan on June 28th, 2005. He died along with several of his fellow SEALS during a helicopter operation during a heavy firefight. He was laid to rest in Arlington Cemetery. A stadium was constructed in his honor at the high school he attended–Corbett High School.
With the loss of his son, now his father lost to thieves a few of the honors he earned.
Continue reading “Valor Stolen: Burglar Steals Deceased SEAL’s Medals From Father’s Home”
Hungarian camerawoman Petra Laszlo has publicly apologized for kicking migrants but insisted that she was acting out of fear for her own safety. The government is reportedly considering a public nuisance claim against her though it would seem a simple case of assault. We previously discussed her controversy.
There is a truly bizarre case out of Australia where a 20-year-old has been arrested after posting bomb making instructions and encouraging fellow Islamic State supporters to engage in terrorism. Unfortunately, there is nothing particularly new about that story except that the “Australi Witness” is Joshua Ryne Goldberg, a Jewish man living with his parents in Florida.
City Council member Daniel Dromm, chairman of the education committee, will reportedly push an investigation into Jewish schools after reports of shockingly sub-standard educations at the 39 hasidic yeshivas in the city. The schools have been accused of spending little relative time on basic education in favor of religious studies — to the point that they have produced graduates who cannot read or write English or do basic math.
Continue reading “Hasidic Schools Accused Of Sub-Standard Educational Standards”
There was a wonderfully ironic moment in the White House as reporters spared with Press Secretary Josh Earnest who has been often criticized for less than forthcoming statements to the media. Now “Siri” is getting in the act as she was heard in the midst of the press conference saying “Sorry, I’m not sure what you want me to change.” It seemed for a moment like Earnest had developed a second persona.
Continue reading “iPresser: Siri Answers Question In White House Press Conference”