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Waco Is Suppressing Evidence That Could Clear Innocent Bikers
The Atlantic ^ | July 21, 2015

Posted on 07/21/2015 7:49:03 AM PDT by don-o

Why is Waco, Texas, fighting to suppress multiple videos of the shootout that killed nine bikers at the Twin Peaks restaurant on May 17? Why are some attorneys in the case now prohibited from talking to the press? And why haven’t Waco officials revealed how many of the nine victims were killed by bullets from police officers’ guns?

snip

Here are two theories.

One is the official explanation. Authorities say that this is a complex investigation that takes lots of time and that suppressing video evidence and issuing gag orders is necessary to prevent prospective jurors from being influenced by pre-trial publicity.

I find that explanation dubious.

Authorities in Waco have actively advanced a contested narrative of what happened at the Twin Peaks restaurant from the start, sometimes getting facts wrong. They haven’t tried to preserve the impartiality of jurors, instead, they've pushed a version of events that reflects well on the Waco police and the actions they’ve taken.

Here is an alternative explanation.

If there is video or ballistics evidence suggesting that lots of innocent people were arrested without probable cause, or that police bullets killed some of the dead that day in Waco, it will be a public-relations nightmare and a huge liability for Waco and its police department. Scores of bikers could sue for six- or seven-figure sums. And prosecutors might find it much more difficult to secure indictments in the case.

But if indictments can be filed before evidence inconvenient to Waco authorities is publicly revealed, the leverage changes. A biker might be indicted for conspiracy to murder, then offered a plea deal to accept a much lesser charge, like disturbing the peace, with the understanding that time served would take care of the sentence.

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


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: donutwatch; gagme; nifong; waco; wacobikers
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1 posted on 07/21/2015 7:49:04 AM PDT by don-o
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To: don-o; Alaska Wolf; DCBryan1; Slings and Arrows; Doomonyou; napscoordinator; Shimmer1; ...
JBT Ping list


2 posted on 07/21/2015 7:52:30 AM PDT by null and void (If the government can't protect the Marines, how can we expect it to protect us?)
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To: don-o
"Why is Waco, Texas, fighting to suppress multiple videos of the shootout that killed nine bikers at the Twin Peaks restaurant on May 17? And why haven’t Waco officials revealed how many of the nine victims were killed by bullets from police officers’ guns?"

The only explanation for this is that this evidence does not support the authorities. If the evidence backed up the police narrative they would be e-mailing that video to every media outlet and internet blog they could find.

3 posted on 07/21/2015 7:54:17 AM PDT by circlecity
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To: don-o; archy
We know that. And Our Archy tells why. After Katrina, some New Orleans cops got some prison time for what they did and lied about. The mass arrests were for witness discrediting and neutralization because the Waco cops knew that they violated the law.
4 posted on 07/21/2015 8:00:23 AM PDT by sport
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To: sport

“The mass arrests were for witness discrediting and neutralization because the Waco cops knew that they violated the law.”

Their leftist freak Hussein Head trolls work overtime here.


5 posted on 07/21/2015 8:06:06 AM PDT by treetopsandroofs (Had FDR been GOP, there would have been no World Wars, just "The Great War" and "Roosevelt's Wars".)
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To: don-o

The Waco powers-that-be have joined Obama’s regime in their ongoing criminal enterprise. As in all such criminal enterprises, the secondary participants get drawn in deeper and deeper. Waco is now engaged in covering up the cover up. They should keep in mind that the Obama regime (with its protecting DOJ agencies such as BATF) will not be in power forever. The truth will come out.

Remember Waco participants, the cover ups themselves are felonies.


6 posted on 07/21/2015 8:07:56 AM PDT by House Atreides (CRUZ or lose!)
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To: treetopsandroofs
Well every site is a target for metrosexual socialists.

Socialism? Check. They are guilty of something because they ride motorcycles in clubs. Group identity obviates need for evidence.

Metrosexual? Check. They deserve it because they are intimidating. Only effeminate people are entitled to sympathy or due process.

7 posted on 07/21/2015 8:22:29 AM PDT by MrEdd (Heck? Geewhiz Cripes, thats the place where people who don't believe in Gosh think they aint going.)
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To: don-o

I take it that the idea of waiting for trial and waiting to see the evidence is out of the question, a bridge too far.

So many seem insulted that the evidence has not been first run by them for their perusal before being admitted as evidence, and through their hands first, exposed first to their eyes, before being submitted to the court room.

It will all come out. If it is as treacherous as so many speculate and believe, such a thing will not be contained.


8 posted on 07/21/2015 8:30:24 AM PDT by RitaOK ( VIVA CRISTO REY / Public education is the farm team for more Marxists coming)
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To: don-o

two guy sitting in a bar, a third guy comes up and asks where he can put a bet on the Cowboy to cover, if they respond, the way I read the law they are all guilty.


9 posted on 07/21/2015 8:33:23 AM PDT by hadaclueonce (It is not heaven, it is Iowa. Everyone gets a "Corn Check")
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To: circlecity

Evidence is supposed to be secret until the trial or lawyers get discovery.

There are a lot of stories to cross reference.


10 posted on 07/21/2015 8:37:06 AM PDT by ImJustAnotherOkie
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To: RitaOK
I take it that the idea of waiting for trial and waiting to see the evidence is out of the question, a bridge too far.

And what of probable cause for 177 arrests in the first place? Being deprived of liberty is a very serious matter. Doing that in the dark should be unacceptable to a free people.

11 posted on 07/21/2015 8:39:51 AM PDT by don-o (I am Kenneth Carlisle - Waco 5/17/15)
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To: MrEdd

“Well every site is a target for metrosexual socialists.”

This used to be a much cleaner site.

I’ve been complaining for a couple years how heavily infiltrated FR is.

Kind of reminds me of now, after elections, some “news” organizations now like to inform us of how the illegal aliens voted.

The new reality, thanks to so many brain-dead American voters twice electing an anti-American racist POS thug.


12 posted on 07/21/2015 8:46:50 AM PDT by treetopsandroofs (Had FDR been GOP, there would have been no World Wars, just "The Great War" and "Roosevelt's Wars".)
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To: ImJustAnotherOkie
"Evidence is supposed to be secret until the trial or lawyers get discovery."

Only because the State requested a gag order. This way they can hide everything, stall things out, and then quietly dismiss or drastically plead down the charges against the majority of the defendants. It's an old game.

13 posted on 07/21/2015 8:56:40 AM PDT by circlecity
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To: don-o

There’s no legitimate excuse for not releasing the autopsy results. The decedents were either killed by police rifle bullets or hand gun bullets probably fired by other bikers. The authorities’ suppression of the autopsy results leads me to conclude the decedents were probably killed by the cops. I’ll change my opinion when I see credible autopsy results to the contrary.


14 posted on 07/21/2015 9:06:33 AM PDT by libstripper
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To: don-o

I struggle with the allegation of no probable cause. It is hard for me to believe that because so few believe it, that it is therefore actually proved.

I mean, I am admittedly impressed that THE ATLANTIC has finally been able to be persuaded to entertain the complaints, but the ATLANTIC writers are no paragon of justice.

The credible mainstream press and media, Congress, and even the people of Waco in general are waiting for the trial(s) to actually see what the evidence will be.

Do we actually think there will be no defense case, or something? There will after all, be a defense case made. If they can prove the prosecution has no case, the prosecution will lose.

Right?


15 posted on 07/21/2015 9:54:01 AM PDT by RitaOK ( VIVA CRISTO REY / Public education is the farm team for more Marxists coming)
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To: circlecity

A little research on the basic rules of prosecution says otherwise.


16 posted on 07/21/2015 9:54:38 AM PDT by ImJustAnotherOkie
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To: RitaOK
I struggle with the allegation of no probable cause. It is hard for me to believe that because so few believe it, that it is therefore actually proved.

Could you maybe say that with different words, because I cannot understand.

17 posted on 07/21/2015 10:13:24 AM PDT by don-o (I am Kenneth Carlisle - Waco 5/17/15)
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To: RitaOK

>>> I take it that the idea of waiting for trial and waiting to see the evidence is out of the question, a bridge too far. <<<

Waco has the information to CLEAR over 100 innocent people.

I think that’s just as important as prosecuting the guilty.


18 posted on 07/21/2015 10:17:04 AM PDT by JJ_Folderol (Diagonally parked in a parallel universe...)
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To: RitaOK
I mean, I am admittedly impressed that THE ATLANTIC has finally been able to be persuaded to entertain the complaints, but the ATLANTIC writers are no paragon of justice.

So impugn the source rather than engage the argument? Pretty weak sauce.

19 posted on 07/21/2015 10:20:59 AM PDT by don-o (I am Kenneth Carlisle - Waco 5/17/15)
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To: ImJustAnotherOkie

What rule would that be?


20 posted on 07/21/2015 10:39:29 AM PDT by circlecity
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