Posted on 10/15/2006 7:48:33 AM PDT by rellimpank
Jurors in Hells Angels trial surprised to see flaws in government's case
Grainy video, sketches with little meaning and lengthy testimony from drug addicts -- those pieces of evidence had jurors presiding over the Hells Angels trial questioning the strength of the federal government's racketeering case against the motorcycle club.
Four years after the 2002 Laughlin River Run, during which the Hells Angels engaged in a violent battle with the rival Mongols, prosecutors attempted to nail 11 bikers for attempted murder and being a criminal enterprise, a gang
(Excerpt) Read more at reviewjournal.com ...
like a jury in Las Vegas is going to be worth anything?
"Like a jury in Las Vegas is going to be worth anything?
The verdict is a crap shoot....
Indeed. The trial may as well have been held in Los Angeles.
I can't stand listening to drunks and drug addicts ramble. They are fun of themselves, full of cr@p and are pathological liars. They won't shut up, and they don't give a damn about anyone but themselves.
If I was a member of a jury and one of the sides made me listen to hours of pointless ramblings from one of these pieces of human trash I'd be P.O'd.
--a jury in Las Vegas is largely composed of registered voters , just like anywhere else---
With loaded dice, perhaps. The house always has the advantage.
exactly.
Your description of drug addicts matches, almost word for word, my description of government beauracrats and politicians.
more prosecutorial incompetence.
Sadly many people don't realize how political the inside of the prosecutor's office has become.
The other part of the problem is police who don't dot their eyes and cross their t's and are blinded by the bad biker image. Ie they are smelly bad bikers just throw something together and ANY jury will convict. (see thin blue line of police viewing citizens as incompetent sheep)
Too many people wanted to promote political careers rather than do their jobs.
Did everyone see the videos? This wasn't a couple of bikers trhowing down in the parking lot - it was a full scale battle, guns shots and all.
Would have made Dodge City proud. And in a 'saloon' no less.
--yep--I just always remember that (A)ttorney (G)eneral really means (A)spiring (G)overnor and that it goes down the organization chart--all the way--
Hey, you be "blinded by the bad biker image," too if somebody dot[ted] your eyes.
It is not unusual at all to see a criminal prosecution botched through poor planning. Jurors expect to see a clear, concise and meaningful argument in front of them, and get annoyed if either side is sloppy and ill-prepared.
As an example of how things can go wrong, I knew a man who was brought to trial over an aggravatingly stupid charge: patting a stripper on her covered bottom in front of an undercover officer. (Actually, the stripper giggled. She later testified that she thought he was cute.)
The first prosecutor was willing to charge him with a petty misdemeanor and a traffic-ticket-sized fine. But he was removed from the case before anything had been started.
His replacement wanted to charge him with a serious felony, with a 5-7 year sentence, permanent registration as a sex offender, and 5 additional years of parole after. He also refused to plea bargain. Fortunately, he moved on too, before the trial had passed discovery.
The third prosecutor was a slacker. He pushed for a $5,000 fine and no registration. But he slumped in his chair and said "whatever" once too many times, so was relieved by the judge.
The fourth prosecutor said "this is nonsense", and asked the judge to dismiss all charges.
He still had to pay over $5,000 to his attorney. So I guess he "won."
"Your description of drug addicts matches, almost word for word, my description of government beauracrats and politicians."
One is addicted to a chemical, the other to power and prestige.
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