"Bayley dismissed ample reasonable doubt and his behavior was just weird. Wonkette? What the hell?"
First, that case would never have been heard if it hadn't been for the Durham charges. That alone made it prejudiced.
Second, the trial itself was biased.
Third, the sentence was absurd (you can kill somebody with a drunken punch in Georgetown and all you have to do is write a ten-page paper)
So, to me, that seems indicative that somehow there was a decision to railroad Finnerty into a conviction, and then a stiff sentence with a parole that could threaten him with jail at any time. IE, intimidation--like all the other principals in this case.
But my question then becomes, why would DC be so willing to help Nifong?
I can't help but wonder. Money? Extortion? (Sometimes the simplest answers are the best.)
Impossible? Sure. Not in New Orleans. Not in Durham. But in DC? (Am I to have no illusions left?)
Otherwise, what reason does Bayly have to force this issue--it should have been a $50 fine, or a 10-page paper;
no two days at trial, and the defense witnesses (all of them) should have been allowed to testify.
They could have granted the bartender immunity from the charge of selling to minors (IF that is what he was worried about--don't know, that's speculation) in order to get his testimony--if this case was so all-fired important that they had to hold a trial for it.
Instead, he was forbidden to testify--the only impartial and non-involved witness there (and offered by the defense, so I suppose his testimony was going to help them and not the prosecution).
What's the connection between DC and Durham, and why was DC doing what Durham wanted in this case?
I have no idea what the connection between Durham and DC could be other than prosecutors like to help each other out.
Look at all the talking head prosecutors that go on TV and say Nifong must have something and he's been a prosecutor for 27 years etc. They still support him in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
The judge didn't have to rush this thing to trial. It could have waited - which is what Finnerty's lawyers wanted. I think he was biased from the start.
Finnerty's father is a Wall Street Broker?
Evan's father is a K Street lawyer, Mom is LPGA.
Bob Bennett is on the equation.
Mark C. (too lazy to look up spelling) is helping with Finnerty.
There are many major players in this story, not too mention major players who are Duke Alumni.
Duke is connected to the DC Establishment...I wonder how many beltway kids went to Duke? How many were rejected by Duke?
As for the trial in Durham, I am not holding out much hope especially after what I have seen lately. Cheshire was bitch slapped a few weeks ago. Osborne was bitch slapped yesterday. Nifong will get his judge. Nifong will get his jury. There is a good chance these boys will be convicted.
When they are convicted that's it, they will go straight to State Prison. The system has failed these boys every step of the way and unless someone steps in or those of us who see these boys being lynched dig up some major dirt in Durham, those boys do not have a snowball's chance in hell.