The justices also noted that Illinois could have dismissed the case. Then if prosecutors later found Binion and Smith, they could have re-charged Martinez and brought him to trial. Instead they went through the jury selection process and did not request the case to be dismissed. Once the jury was sworn in, there was no going back.
Some lawyers are not very bright.
Sounds like he got off on a technicality.
Couldn't agree more. It is not unusual for a "victim" to avoid going to court. It happens a LOT in domestic violence cases. If the case was that important, the prosecution should have dismissed the case and waited until it found Avery Binion and Demarco Scott. They could have been held as material witnesses until after the trial. But by getting a not guilty verdict, any hope of prosecution went up in smoke. Pretty dumb.
Prosecutorial hubris.
Prosecutors think every single citizen is guilty.
WE have degenerated to guilty until proven guilty.
Illinois prosecutors have a well established history of withholding exculpatory evidence, suborning perjury, falsifying evidence, etc., and get away with it because the state and county judges are part of the same political machine and view the prosecutors as “partners.”
I don’t know what the back-story is here. But this case must have had presented a very peculiar situation for the prosecutors to proceed as they did. Why did they empanel a jury? There’s a reason. We just don’t know what it is.
From Gold Star Dad Kirk Morris
By virtue of having Honorably served our country we are calling all Veterans, Active Duty, Medically Retired, or Reservist fisherman.... from any and all years of service... (am I all inclusive enough?)
The reason I am writing you all is this. The 10th Annual Heroes Of Freedom Fishing Derby https://www.facebook.com/PFCGeoffreyMorrisMemorialFishingTournamentis on Sunday the 22nd of June 2014. The point for the whole day is to give veterans, active duty, reservists, and our wounded an opportunity for a day on the Big Lake for fun, relaxation and camaraderie.
The event is open to the first 100 Veterans that complete the attached Registration form.
Please note that precedence will be given to:
1) WIA / Purple Heart Veterans
2) VA Patients
3) Active/Reservists
4) retired military.
We can accommodate wheelchairs or other infirmaries ... just need to let us know what assistance you might need.
Registration is easier this year... We have partnered with Oscar Mike a 100% VETERAN OWNED apparel company whose Mission is to keep you “On the Move” in every aspect of life. The term “Oscar Mike” comes from military radio jargon used on the front lines. It translates to “On the Move”.... being Oscar Mike means being active, staying positive and living life to its absolute fullest.
Online Registration form can be found by clicking here http://www.oscarmike.org/event/2014-morris-memorial-fishing-derby which will re-direct you to the Oscar Mike website. Complete the form and you will be sent additional information and schedule of events.
The 10th Annual PFC Geoffrey Morris Memorial Fishing Tournament is just three
weeks away. The competitive fishing is 20th and 21st of June, an enormously fun time. All events are held at North Point Marina which is located in Winthrop Harbor, IL (WI / IL State Lines where land meets Lake Michigan). You are more than welcome to visit and partake in these
festivities as well.
For you that don't know what that is? Many of the Captains that fished the Pro and Am Divisions of the Morris Memorial Fishing Tournament the previous days (and they are some of the best Salmon Fishing Captains on Lake Michigan) stay over to take you past and present Members of our Military out for a day of Salmon Fishing.. AT NO COST TO YOU. We serve farm fresh breakfast prepared on site by Jones Dairy Farm at 0700 - 0900, leave Winthrop Harbor at 0900 and return mid afternoon to a wonderful banquet sponsored by the USO, Wounded Heroes Foundation, MillerCoors and Skipper Buds.
No need to bring rods, reels or any tackle, boats, food will all be supplied for you. What I do need is a confirmation from you as to your desire to attend and fish with us.
As a side note.... newspapers and press are banned from this event and have been banned since the inaugural year's event,10 years ago.
Feel free to pass this email around to your wounded veterans that you think might be interested in fishing with us... or contact me via email, cell phone, fax or land line..... all are listed below... Look forward to fishing with you all.
Kirk S. Morris - Executive Director
PFC Geoffrey Morris Memorial Foundation a/k/a Heroes Of Freedom Memorial®
3435 Harper Avenue, Gurnee, IL 60031 P: 847.263.4188 C: 847.373.1668 F:847.557.2166
http://www.GSMTournament.com www.HeroesOfFreedomMemorial.org