Like Tree86Likes

Ferguson - No Charge against officer Wilson

Closed Thread
Page 1 of 12 1 2 3 4 9 ... LastLast
  1. #1

    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Posts
    4,574

    Ferguson - No Charge against officer Wilson

    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

  2. #2

    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Posts
    14,414

    Surprise suprise
    He's getting away with it


  3. #3

    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Posts
    2,711

    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?


  4. #4

    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Posts
    4,574

    it was decided by a grand jury, so I guess that's that.


  5. #5

    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    薄扶林
    Posts
    47,968

    And as expected the riots have begun ... tear gas being used ....
    Last edited by shri; 25-11-2014 at 11:31 AM.
    Rob2020 likes this.

  6. #6

    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Posts
    4,574

    People will just use this as an excuse to rebel. When will the looting start?


  7. #7

    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    薄扶林
    Posts
    47,968

    (Sorry, had the wrong tweet embedded).

    Looting ... probably started.

    Classic quote ... "So, let us smash windows to protest against the use of excessive violence"

    bshantell likes this.

  8. #8

    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    薄扶林
    Posts
    47,968


    Keep Calm, Dancing with Stars will be back soon.

  9. #9

    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    薄扶林
    Posts
    47,968
    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?
    @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.

    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.
    cookie09 and Tom007 like this.

  10. #10

    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Posts
    2,711

    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

    HK_Katherine likes this.

Closed Thread
Page 1 of 12 1 2 3 4 9 ... LastLast