Posted on 06/07/2015 5:06:07 AM PDT by don-o
Video of the deadly May 17 Twin Peaks shootout between rival biker gangs shows “Bandidos executing Cossacks and Cossacks executing Bandidos,” a prosecutor said Friday at a bond-reduction hearing for a Cossack from Northeast Texas.
The revelations from First Assistant District Attorney Michael Jarrett during Laurance Kemp’s bond-reduction hearing were among the first detailed glimpses provided by authorities of what occurred during the incident that left nine bikers dead, 18 wounded and 177 arrested.
In arguing against reducing Kemp’s bond to an amount that would allow him to be released, Jarrett said Kemp traveled 3 1/2 hours from his home in Bogata in Red River County that Sunday morning, proudly wore his Cossacks colors and associates himself with a group law enforcement considers a “criminal outlaw gang.”
After hearing testimony from the 40-year-old Kemp’s fiancee and her mother, 54th State District Judge Matt Johnson reduced Kemp’s $1 million bond to $250,000. His family said after the hearing that they would not be able to raise the money to secure his release.
Jarrett said video from the incident showed a group of Cossacks arriving at Twin Peaks and “spreading out across the patio in sentry positions,” obviously keeping close watch on their surroundings.
Later, video shows Cossacks looking in their vests and checking their holsters for weapons, Jarrett said. As a line of Bandidos rode through the parking lot, Cossacks scramble over patio railings as the shootout ensues, Jarrett said.
“The video clearly shows Bandidos executing Cossacks and Cossacks executing Bandidos, some at point-blank range,” Jarrett said. “The facts and circumstances of this case are so extraordinary and so different from anything we have ever dealt with, we believe adequate bonds need to be in place to ensure the safety of this community.”
Kemp’s attorney, Lawrence Johnson, argued that there is no evidence that Kemp did anything wrong that day and he shouldn’t be held on excessive bond just because of his biker affiliation.
Kemp’s fiancee, Julie Harrison, the mother of his 20-month-old twins, said one of the twins is disabled and that Kemp, who works for a road construction company, is the family’s sole breadwinner.
She said her 95-year-old grandmother has offered to help pay a portion of Kemp’s bond, but said $2,500 would be the maximum amount her family could raise.
The family would have to pay $25,000, or 10 percent, to make Kemp’s new bond.
Wiping away tears after the hearing, Harrison said her son has brain cysts that cause seizures and the family needs Kemp at home. With Kemp in jail, her family is suffering financial hardships, she said.
Harrison testified that the Cossacks group Kemp is associated with are good people who raise money for charities and who helped her family when their twins were born prematurely.
In other developments in the bikers’ cases Friday, two attorneys have petitioned the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in Austin on behalf of 144 bikers, seeking a “prompt and efficient administration of justice.”
The petition asks the court to order Judge Billy Ray Stubblefield, the regional administrative judge, to assign visiting judges to McLennan County to conduct immediate bond hearings for the bikers still in jail.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys for the bikers have negotiated lower bonds in about 70 cases, with about 53 of the 177 bikers being released after negotiating reduced bonds.
There were other bond reduction hearings set for Friday, but they were canceled after negotiated reductions.
More bond hearings are set for every Friday in June and several in July.
“Execute” rival gang members in front of police and swat teams? It seems the criminals are in the justice system.
Too bad we lost Bill Shakespeare so many years ago. The guy could really turn a phrase and I’m thinking that “something is rotten in the state of Denmark” could use an update for this situation.
OK. So who performed the majority of the executions? Bikers or police? This is oddly reminiscent of the YfZ fiasco some years back.
Gag me with a spoon...I find Assistant District Attorney Michael Jarret’s statements relative to the Waco event about as believable as Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby’s statements relative to the Baltimore event.
According to FR all of these bikers are Eagle Scouts and unarmed? Only the cops are the bad guys oppressing the innocent bikers.
My guess is the killing was done by the bikers, but we shall see.
Pray America is waking
No.
Early on, authorities stated “at least 4” were killed by police.
——The video clearly shows Bandidos executing Cossacks and Cossacks executing Bandidos-——
There were nine killed
This seems to say that the cops didn’t kill all nine As I seem to believe was reported previously.
You seen this one?
That's a strange question.
Over the years, I have found it to be best practice to at least TRY to know something about a story before I post a comment.
Who, exactly, are "these bikers" of whom you speak? Had you taken any time to look into the story, you would know that they are a mixed bag.
Had you taken any time to look into the story, you would know that there was a mass arrest of 174, all of whom were charged with conspiracy and racketeering and held under an unconstitutional excessive bond set by a hack JP.
Had you taken any time to look into the story, you would know that there has been a complete stonewall from the PD.
Had you taken any time to look into the story, assuming that you value due process and equal protection, you would know that there are many very ominous and disturbing things around this story.
What is the difference between these bikers and the minorities who traveled to Baltimore for the riots, with the intent on destruction and mayhem? There was a catch and release program for the Baltimore folks and many have indicated that they are willing to do more damage should the ‘need’ arise.
You seem to be assuming facts not in evidence and a presumption of guilty until proven innocent.
Are you aware that 115 of the 174 who were arrested and held under a $1,000,000 bond have NO CRIMINAL RECORD in the state of Texas?
Then show the video!
READ MY POST, IDIOT.
I AM BACKING THE BIKERS.
OH! Were you playing the race card? I know a LOT of FReepers do roll that way. I don’t.
Eight of the nine dead had head shots. That is some fine shooting with a pistol in a gunfight. My guess is they were hit with police sniper fire. The other wounded were most likely pistol fire or stray rounds from police SA fire.
I read your post three times. You fooled me too. You probably knew what you meant, but we [if I may, in this case speak for Don-O]did not.
Continuing active investigation blah blah blah. I did red that all the weapons have been sent to Washington for testing and anticipate it to take months to get results.
Nope.
No race card. How does BALTIMORE equal race?
But, nice try. Thank you for playing.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.