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OCEANSIDE: Gang member gets life in officer killing<br> Sentence gives Taeotui no chance for parole
North County Times ^ | 01/12/09 | TERI FIGUEROA

Posted on 01/13/2009 8:00:04 AM PST by BoneHead

VISTA ---- An 18-year-old gang member who took part in a fatal sniper attack on Oceanside police Officer Dan Bessant will spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole, a judge ruled Monday.

As he listened to the judge lay out his fate, Penifoti "P.J." Taeotui showed no visible reaction.

(Excerpt) Read more at nctimes.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: bessant; gangs; oceanside
Be sure to read the article. Steve Bessant is the father of Dan Bessant the murdered Officer.

His statement is remarkable:

Neither did the slain officer's father, Steve Bessant, who moments before had invoked his Christian faith and forgave Taeotui, encouraging the young man with a troubled and unstable upbringing to ask God's forgiveness.

Bessant, however, asked Superior Court Judge Runston Maino to send Taeotui to prison for life without parole, the maximum sentence permissible, given that Taeotui was 16 at the time of the shooting.

"Please do not confuse my forgiveness with weakness," Bessant said in a crowded courtroom, directing his words to Taeotui. "While I wish the best for you, I do not trust you, and my hope is that you will be separated from the innocent and honest for the rest of your life. I am aware of no evidence of a desire for change, to leave the gang lifestyle behind, or of remorse for killing my son."

Still praying for the Bessants.
Bonehead

1 posted on 01/13/2009 8:00:05 AM PST by BoneHead
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To: BoneHead

Illegal alien or something? NC is becoming like NJ thanks to libs and libs moving to NC.

Well those Mayberry losers Andy & Opie voted for Obama.


2 posted on 01/13/2009 8:04:47 AM PST by Frantzie
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To: BoneHead

Except of course this is a California case. The Supreme Court is now looking at whether life really means life and whether parole can be denied because of “the heinous” nature of the crime. The land of fruits, flakes, and nuts we truly are.


3 posted on 01/13/2009 8:05:08 AM PST by the long march
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To: BoneHead

That will put the cop haters into mourning.


4 posted on 01/13/2009 8:07:16 AM PST by Mojave (http://barackobamajokes.googlepages.com/obama_funny)
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To: Frantzie
No not an Illegal Alien. Just a Gang member. deep valley.

Original Incident:
Oceanside, CA PD officer shot

Teen arraigned in Oside Officers slaying

Teen suspect to be charged in Oceanside officer's slaying; 16-year-old to face charges as an adult

Third suspect arrested in officer's slaying

Oceanside police arrest second teen suspect in officer shooting

This from November 2008:
OCEANSIDE: Teenager convicted of murder in cop-killing

5 posted on 01/13/2009 8:16:43 AM PST by BoneHead
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To: La Enchiladita; Arizona Carolyn; onyx; SoCalPol; dalereed; sgtbono2002; BunnySlippers; VU4G10; ...
FYI.

End of one trial. The First participant down, the shooter to go. His trial starts in early February.

Regards
Bonehead

6 posted on 01/13/2009 8:20:13 AM PST by BoneHead
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To: Frantzie

“Well those Mayberry losers Andy & Opie voted for Obama.”

Why badmouth Andy & Opie? They have more sense than any Obama voters.


7 posted on 01/13/2009 9:11:20 AM PST by caver (Yes, I did crawl out of a hole in the ground.)
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To: BoneHead

“It’s unfair,” said Mike Dempster, who coached Taeotui in youth football. “It’s sad about the victim, but he deserves a chance. He’s not a bad kid.”....

And just what defines “bad” to this idiot?....


8 posted on 01/13/2009 9:43:50 AM PST by AngelesCrestHighway
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To: caver

You must not have seen the YouTube commercial for Obama by Andy and Opie ...


9 posted on 01/13/2009 9:44:49 AM PST by Jackson57
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To: AngelesCrestHighway

“It’s unfair,” said Mike Dempster, who coached Taeotui in youth football. “It’s sad about the victim, but he deserves a chance. He’s not a bad kid.”....”””

Mike Dempster: The most heinous of the criminals the world has EVER produced also are the most able to mold their behavior and actions to those around them....

In a word, sir, you were scammed by this killer.


10 posted on 01/13/2009 9:58:34 AM PST by ridesthemiles
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To: Jackson57

No, I’m in the dark. I’m one of the few people who have only looked at YouTube a couple of times.


11 posted on 01/13/2009 10:44:26 AM PST by caver (Yes, I did crawl out of a hole in the ground.)
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To: BoneHead
End of one trial. The First participant down, the shooter to go. His trial starts in early February.

Thanks very much for the ping, BoneHead. A death sentence at the time of the shooting would have been ideal.

Condolences to Steve Bessant and the remainder of Dan Bessant's family and friends.

12 posted on 01/17/2009 6:45:23 AM PST by PGalt
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