Posted on 02/15/2006 1:24:33 PM PST by iPod Shuffle
If lawyer dies, Cheney could face negligent homicide charges
02/15/2006 02:42:17 PM
DALLAS (AP) -- If the man wounded by Dick Cheney dies, the vice president could -- in theory at least -- face criminal charges, even though the shooting was an accident.
Dallas defense attorney David Finn, who has been a state and a federal prosecutor, said Wednesday that a Texas grand jury could bring a charge of criminally negligent homicide if there is evidence the vice president knew or should have known "there was a substantial or unjustifiable risk that his actions would result in him shooting a fellow hunter."
"The risk must be of such a nature and degree that it got to be pretty outrageous -- that a reasonable person would have to say, `I am not pulling the trigger because this other guy might be in front of me,"' Finn said. *
The charge carries up to two years behind bars, but with no previous felonies Cheney would be eligible for probation, the former prosecutor said.
Mark Skurka, first assistant district attorney of the three-county area where the shooting took place, said prosecutors did not have an investigation under way.
"If something unfortunate happens, then we'll decide what to do, then we'll decide whether we're going to have an investigation or not," Skurka said.
Harry Whittington, a 78-year-old lawyer, was struck in the face, neck and chest with shotgun pellets over the weekend while Cheney was shooting at quail. Whittington suffered a mild heart attack Tuesday after a pellet traveled to his heart.
But on Wednesday, hospital officials said he had a normal heart rhythm again and was sitting up in a chair, eating regular food and planned to do some legal work in his hospital room. Doctors said they are highly optimistic he will recover.
In the only other case of someone being shot by a vice president, Aaron Burr was indicted on murder charges in New York and New Jersey for killing Alexander Hamilton in a duel in 1804, but he was never tried and finished out his term in office.
Thanks for the reminder to get Powerball tickets. I could use that 300 mil.
Last I heard, the Clinton body count is up well over 50 and as of yet, neither Scumbag nor his ugly wife have faced negligent homicide charges . . .
Vince Foster can verify that. Just ask his ghost.
The media should look into the non-prosecution of Teddy Chappy Kennedy for DUI, leaving the scene, vehicular homicide, perjury and obstruction of justice. (OH, I forgot treason.)
NO"
And what would have been justice in both cases? The fact that Teddie the drunk weaseled his way out of the charges is no excuse for Cheney.
Right...and if Cheney dies of a heart attack, Whittington could be prosecuted for popping up from the bushes and scaring him half to death.
Hunting with Dick Cheney is still a safer bet than driving with Ted Kennedy.
Notice how the media dehumanizes this man.
It is not even "if man dies..."
they go with "if lawyer dies..." so that the dumies will cheer for his death.
The AP is truly disgusting.
***If lawyer dies,***
Many Americans will call it a "good start!"
"Firat, kill all the lawyers!"....Shakespeare.
They are making more of this non-fatal accident than they did when the Vietnamese Hmong psychpath hunter killed six men in the Wisconsin woods with shots to their backs.
The media are communist rats who are desperately scrambling their resources to viscerate conservative politicians and groups. They are doomed to fail and they know it, hence their dispicable, vile hatred for any one or anything that stands in their way.
Yes, and one of the lawyers in my town says that if the moon turns into blue cheese and falls into the Pacific, we'll all have a lot to eat.
Actually, all this attention to the incident is a good thing. First of all, it makes the press appear like a bunch of childish whiners, as they are. Everyone I have spoken too, even liberal leaning, says the same thing, that the incident is overblown.
More importantly, it provides an excellent and valid opportunity to bring up Chappaquidick and Vince Foster. My kids have never heard of Chappaquidick, until yesterday.
This is so sad and also so true.
That could backfire on them. So let's say Cheney steps down. Maybe Condi becomes the VP, then runs in '08. With a beefed up resume as the first female VP, she'd probably stand a better chance of winning. Liberals would go crazy with rage if a black female Republican were elected President.
"May', 'if' and 'will' aren't news but propaganda - progressive's wishful thinking. PHUI Tagline...
EXCELLENT find.
But, it is the vice president. You know, the politician in the highest level of the government. Shouldn't he receive special treatment?
He is given special treatment both by the Republicans and the media(Democrats). Republicans are sticking with their making excuses and even blaming the guy who got shot. And the media(Democrats) are smelling blood and are all over it.
I mean, if it were some Joe Blow accidentally shooting somebody, I'm sure nobody here would be so defensive about the possibility of a prosecution, nor they would ask for blood in the media.
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