Ferguson Grand Jury Has Reached a Decision in Michael Brown Case - The Atlantic
Just announced, no charge against officer Wilson in Ferguson - going to be a big night
Ferguson Grand Jury Has Reached a Decision in Michael Brown Case - The Atlantic
Just announced, no charge against officer Wilson in Ferguson - going to be a big night
i don't know the US law system but this was just a decision to have him stand trial, wasn't it? if that is the case, why wouldn't a prosecutor decide whether to charge him or not and then a jury/judge decides whether he is guilty or not?
or was this the actual trial already?
it was decided by a grand jury, so I guess that's that.
And as expected the riots have begun ... tear gas being used ....
Last edited by shri; 25-11-2014 at 11:31 AM.
People will just use this as an excuse to rebel. When will the looting start?
(Sorry, had the wrong tweet embedded).
Looting ... probably started.
Classic quote ... "So, let us smash windows to protest against the use of excessive violence"
@cookie09 the grand jury thing is weird ... think of it as a beta test for an actual trial, without an impartial judge and as far as I know, no defence attorneys.if that is the case, why wouldn't a prosecutor decide whether to charge him or not and then a jury/judge decides whether he is guilty or not?
Grand juries will work closely with the prosecutor, who will explain the law to the jurors. The jurors then have the power to view almost any kind of evidence they wish and to interrogate anyone they like. The procedure for grand jury hearings is very relaxed to allow the jurors as much flexibility as possible. Typically, the parties that appear before the grand jury do not have attorneys, and the rules of evidence allow much more evidence than is allowed at a criminal trial. Grand jury proceedings are held in strict confidence to encourage witnesses to speak freely, as well as to protect the suspect if the grand jury decides not to bring charges.
A grand jury's decision is not the final step in a case. Prosecutors use grand jury proceedings as test-runs for trials and take a grand jury's decision very seriously. However, if the prosecutor strongly disagrees with a grand jury, they may ignore the decision.
- See more at: What's the Difference Between a Grand Jury and a Trial Jury? - FindLaw
Last edited by shri; 25-11-2014 at 11:44 AM.
Thanks Shri, that explains a lot. It just looks hair-brained not to go for a full trial - even if it's just to exonerate the officer