Posted on 02/15/2016 3:33:46 PM PST by FR_addict
Two days after Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia died suddenly in remote West Texas, a former D.C. homicide commander is raising questions about how the death was handled by local and federal authorities.
"As a former homicide commander, I am stunned that no autopsy was ordered for Justice Scalia," William O. Ritchie, former head of criminal investigations for D.C. police, wrote in a post on Facebook onSunday...
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
The body sounds like it was positioned into a very peaceful position except for the pillow. I thought it might be an in-your-face act. Someone else suggested a warning perhaps.
Actually, I am quite familiar with the statute. I just didn't have the cite handy.
Under art. 49.04, the JP first determines whether or not an "inquest" is necessary. There is a laundry list of circumstances listed when an inquest is required. Under art. 49.01(2), an "inquest" is defined as simply "an investigation into the cause and circumstances of the death of a person, and a determination, made with or without a formal court hearing, as to whether the death was caused by an unlawful act or omission."
Under art. 49.10, the JP then determines whether an autopsy may or must be performed. In making this determination, a JP may, at his discretion, "obtain the opinion of a county health officer or a physician concerning the necessity of obtaining an autopsy in order to determine or confirm the nature and cause of a death."
If a body is subject to an inquest, then the JP is required, again at the JP's discretion, to either (1) direct a physician to perform an autopsy, or (2) certify that no autopsy is necessary.
Finally, there are some limited circumstances when the JP has no discretion not to request an autopsy (such as death of a child by abuse or neglect).
As I stated above, in most cases, no autopsy is required or conducted. In this case, however, I think the JP should have exercised his discretion to request one.
A lot of people actually sleep with their pillows on their faces, sometimes because they’re very sensitive to light or noise or it makes them feel snigger.”
I’ve actually tried to do that as I’m very sensitive to light when I try to sleep. I last for about a minute before I get the feeling of smothering. Off it goes.
I believe the phone conversations count as an inquest.
Sorry, I started typing my reply, and got lost on a YouTube video.
The immediate beneficiary is the teachers union with a case before the court where dues would be mandatory. Without Scalia they will now be mandatory
Is a pillow over the head suspicious?
A piss poor inquest under the circumstances, but again not at all unusual but for the fact of who the decedent was.
A death that benefits Obama - why would anyone think that might be caused by foul play?
I sleep with a pillow over my face to block light. I know it sounds nuts but I’ve got some weird habits
His host, who met him once, then paid for his weekend, and entered his room alone to find him dead with a pillow over his head, is a democrat donor. But I’m sure that’s not important.
Breitbart 2.0..
The JP was free to conduct the inquest where the body was found, where the death occurred, or "at any other place determined to be reasonable by the justice." Art. 49.05(b)(3).
In this case, the JP determined it was reasonable to conduct the inquest on the phone and without an autopsy. Again, based on who the decedent was, I disagree. Otherwise, that would be typical in a rural area.
If it does, then the only thing his doctor could have said was that he expected Scalia to suddenly drop dead at any time.
Reading through the code, it does sound like there is wiggle room for this Justice of the peace on what an inquest is.
I noticed this part in the code. I would have thought that the US Marshals would have notified someone above the lowly rank of Justice of the Peace about this death. Why not the County Attorney?
If they did, why didn’t he have someone order an autopsy, just to be on the safe side?
Was the Governor of Texas called?
(e) A justice of the peace shall order an autopsy performed on a body if:
(3) directed to do so by the district attorney, criminal district attorney, or, if there is no district or criminal district attorney, the county attorney.
Then the only thing his doctor could have said was that he expected Scalia to suddenly drop dead at any time.
Any other situation would have required an examination of the body.
And, given that he was a Spend Court Justice, the Justice Department should have claimed jurisdiction and ordered an autopsy. White House silence on this matter is nothing other than complicitly clouding the waters.
This post has some more stuff about Poindexter
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3397479/posts?page=38#38
That crossed my mind. “Ask your doctor if you are healthy enough for.....”
I’m beginning to get paranoid that no one sees this should just be SOP when any member of one of the three branches dies. Even if it’s absolutely known by everyone he has a dread disease and is dying, it should be THE STANDARD that one of these people has an autopsy. .
That’s just basic common sense.
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