Posted on 05/25/2006 5:04:51 AM PDT by abb
Former Durham police chief dies On his first day on the job, McNeil pledged to restore the department's tarnished reputation. By RYAN TEAGUE BECKWITH, Staff Writer Jackie W. McNeil, who worked his way through the ranks of the Durham police to become chief only to resign amid controversy, died Saturday. He was 55. McNeil, who suffered from diabetes, had been ill recently with various health problems. A Durham native, McNeil grew up in the city's rough east side, graduating from Hillside High before earning a bachelor's degree from N.C. Central University. After spending three years in the Army, he went to police and fire academy.
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On his first day on the job, McNeil demoted a high-ranking competitor for the chief's job to a patrol job, a move that he later undid at the request of the city manager.
Chief McNeil was born in Durham and grew up on Juniper Street in the Albright community and in McDougald Terrace.
You are correct. In many ways, if the jury were to be pulled from the Durham jury pool, it may be better for them to have an all black jury. It would remove any racial tensions that might exist in the jury room, and make it easier for a dissenter to express his/her views and sway opinion with reason.
Or - They could end up spending the most productive years of their lives in prison.
The pressure on blacks to support the "black" side of this in the Durham black community is off the chart. THAT is why Kim Roberts suddenly changed her tune and started singing one more helpful to Crystal. It affects the blacks on such a jury. That is what made the OJ verdict what it was.
Apparently, it was the SBI lab's idea to have the samples re-tested, according to Nifong.
http://www.wral.com/news/9153818/detail.html
You are totally correct. There is nothing to argue with in that statement.
However, we are not sure what the description or descriptions were. A white man, 3 white men, or 4 white men - it's possible that was her description.
The answers to those questions are critical and I'm not disputing that in any way; however, some are thinking this means there is a detailed description out there - which hasn't been provided to the Defense. That may be the the case, but it could just as easily have been very generic with no detail whatsoever, like 3 white men.
I agree. My point was simply that imo it is more likely that a hung jury would occur, than a guilty verdict ...even with a Durham jury.
The problem with any hung jury is that Nifong can decide to retry them. It's soley up to his discretion.
Look at all the crazy sh%t Nifong has done up to this point. Look at all the money he has spent based on largely exculpatory evidence.
I get your point now. I'm guessing the description does not match the defendants, else Nifong would have included it. Do we know that she initially said they were white?
Speaking of Nifong and crazy stuff he's donne ...
During a discussion at CourtTV today about the complaint filed by a lawyer representing one of the non-indicted players about the CrimeStoppers poster, someone posted a very interesting video link (under house picture):
http://www.nbc17.com/news/8581286/detail.html
The defense lawyer who represnts over 20 players is shown responding to the poster. He then says the DNA results (which he received the next day) will prove no rape could have occurred. He then read from the actual court document, offered as true under oath, used to convince the judge to order the team testing.
I hope one of our crack Freeper transcribers will listen and post what the DA promised. I heard "will immediately rule out innocent persons ..".
Why isn't that statement (affidavit?) available online as other court documents are? Would we know if the judge had questioned Nifong about why the "innocent" weren't ruled out immediately?
You heard correctly as far as I remember. Nifong was super certain about the DNA because CGM said condoms were not used.
Nifong must be furious with CGM....
The DA says under oath to the court that the following facts are true and the DNA evidence will rule out any innocent person. The DA has since said the DNA does not necessarily exonerate the players.
I'm with you 100% on that. I think this case is so bad, it's going to be next to impossible to get any 12 jurors who would all vote guilty. But most of us would like to see an acquittal, a 12-0 vote against Nifong. It'll be hard to get that where the Nation of Islam and the New Black Panther party are stirring trouble.
"If the only thing that we ever have in this case is DNA, then we wouldn't have a case," Nifong said.
The SBI couldn't find any DNA, so they recommended a better lab. Where did I say the SBI lab found DNA?
The SBI tells Nifong they found no DNA.
Nifong says there has to be, with three big guys struggling with a girl who is scratching at them, all in a small bathroom. There must be if they didn't use condoms, he says.
The SBI says they tested everything and found no DNA.
Nifong is very sure, so he asks to run the tests again.
The SBI lab says they already double checked the results. They say if Nifong wants better tests done, he should send the samples to another lab, and they recommend one.
Nifong, seeing hope, agrees.
Yep, more Nifongese.
Cooperating can mean you're uncooperative in Nifongese.
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