I figure they must both be in the back, otherwise one of the two parties would have had to go all the way around, and the account makes it sound fairly immediate after exiting the building.
Posted on 10/06/2018 6:57:18 PM PDT by Olog-hai
A black man has been acquitted of all charges in the shooting death of a white man outside a bar in a case his attorney said stemmed from “ugly racism.”
Jurors deliberated for four hours Friday before acquitting Stephen Spencer of homicide, aggravated assault and terroristic threats. He was freed after 453 days in Luzerne County Correctional Center following the July 2017 shooting.
Spencer, 31, was accused of killing Christopher Williams, 32, in a confrontation outside the Pittston bar in July 2017 after another man refused to shake his hand because of Spencer’s race following a dispute over a game of pool. Spencer had testified that he fired in self-defense as a group of would-be attackers came at him outside.
The handshake refusal “may and should offend some of you,” prosecutor Brittany Quinn had told jurors during opening statements, but she told the mostly white panel that the killing had “nothing to do with” the earlier dispute.
Prosecutor Tom Hogans said during closing arguments that Spencer had the opportunity — and the duty — to retreat rather than pull his gun. …
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...
You cant win with lawyers.
they want to make something out of a hit to center of mass.
if not, they will try to say he shot to wound, which they would then say proves shooting the other person wasnt necessary.
They held him for 453 days? Is Jimmy Carter the DA there???
Where I worked, we used the term “shoot to stop the threat.” I think it was just a legalese phrase.
On the surface, it looks like another OJ trial. Most people would get locked up forever.
wink...wink...nod...nod........its a “minority” so they always get a pass....its a total sham...
I figure they must both be in the back, otherwise one of the two parties would have had to go all the way around, and the account makes it sound fairly immediate after exiting the building.
..... Ok ..... I’m no expert ..... But .... In the real world ... Shouldn’t the charge have been lowered to 2nd Degree Murder instead of acquittal??
I just read another account that really played up the race angle by the defense attorney, saying something like “What’s going to trigger a racist? A black man in their white bar. Fueled by alcohol,” Pike said.
It would be interesting to see the evidence rather than reading media reports on it. I have to accept that the jury saw things the media didn’t have any interest in portraying. Sounds like the articles are all about the race angle.
I see only 3 people leaving together. Not 4.
Agggh. You are correct. So it was the deceased, his friend, and his girlfriend. Thanks for that correction. The now-deceased walking in front, tailed by his friend and his friend’s girlfriend.
Makes it even less of a self-defense thing, but...I wasn’t there.
I have been attacked by four full grown men once, and if I had a gun at that time I suppose I would have used it. But two guys, and neither of them laid a hand on me and were yelling curses...I don’t think I would.
What’s sorely lacking in this article was the threatened use of force -
Ok they wuz raciss- I get it and at some point both parties leave through separate exits. Then the black man shot teh evil white raciss.
Uh... waitasec... it sounds like they both ended up near the shooters car and the defense is saying they were laying in wait and the prosecutor is saying that was just happenstance. And then the black guy shot the white guy.
I’m all for stand your ground but there has to be an actual threat - not a perceived one.
Case in point - in Jacksonville FL a few years back a white man had a racial argument with some black men at a gas station. The white man felt the black men were coming after him so he shot him. Convicted on all counts.
I have to trust the jury on this one but I will say this - funny how the AP doesn’t say anything bad about guns or gun control or their usual son story of gun violence. Guess they found something they approve of gun use with.
Almost sounds like Spencer was laying in wait. I don’t see any interaction outside the bar. Except the gun shot.
That last point seems to be reflected in their blatant race-baiting headline.
Kind of sounded that way to me too, or the guy panicked.
Why? Because he's Black? Nonsense! He doesn't owe anyone a cut and run. I fully support the guy has briefly stated. More information might change my mind. I would need a decent reason.
Something was wrong with the jury.
It’s the defense playing the race card here rather than the prosecution.
And I certainly would like more info myself.
The prosecution stated he should have backed away.
That doesn’t sound like stand your ground to me.
Granted, we didn’t get much here.
I will be willing to change my mind, if the facts warrant it.
Lesson to be learned here. Stay away from those areas where diversity is practiced.
Well being at a bar wouldn’t be exactly the best place to get into any type of entanglement....best to just leave before the witching hours.
It’s Pittston PA.....troubled area to begin with. I was always told when working in Wilksbarre to avoid Pittston altogether.
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