You have a viceo, sure. In fact you have a dozen videos. And you have eyewitness testimory. But if you don’t review all that before bring charges, you’re not doing your job. You have to get statements, review the videos, and get a history.
So, after seeing that video once- is it an accidental shooting? A premediated murder? Did the cop ever arrest the victim before? Did the cop and the victim have any personal history? Has the police officer any history of violence? How about the victim, he has a record, was it for violent crimes? Can you see any of that on the video?:dubious:
You need to know the facts before you rush to file charges, otherwise the judge will throw it out, and/or you’ll lose your job.
Because the video is only one piece of evidence. The gun is another piece of evidence and (I’m supposing) would need to be completely analyzed to rule out faulty works which could cause accidental discharge. The eyewitness evidence is another piece of evidence outside of the video. Lots of cops there to interview to determine whether a charge of murder with intent or negligent homicide is more appropriate to the evidence presented.
I’ve never worked in a DA’s office, but with so much attention on this case, no doubt had their hands full and were actively looking at all angles. I can’t tell you why precisely it took 13 days; I can only speculate. You can’t tell me either because you also don’t have unfettered access to the Alameda County DA’s investigation; you can only speculate. Neither of us know who’s right. Maybe we’re both wrong. But at least I can see possibilities outside of “the cops hate black people and they are protecting their own.” (I’m not saying *you *are saying that, but many people are.)
I apologize for it coming across that way. I meant ‘you’ in the collective sense and petulant in terms of the protests over alleged police favoritism. It seems like people are stomping their feet and demanding an arrest based on emotional reasons and feeling held down by The Man rather than calmly expecting a full and complete investigation and looking to the powers that be to seek out and administer justice with due diligence.
Still, I apologize for my misstatement.
Not the point. The point is the North Carolina AG specifically noted that a rush to accuse and bravado on the part of the DA resulted in the legal mess that was the Duke lacrosse incident. I’m just saying that can serve as a lesson for this DA for a much more scrupulous approach to the investigation and analysis of all available evidence.
No, you appealed to my sense of emotion in asking me how I would feel if it were my family member. I’m saying that the emotional plea is not useful in logically discussing the merits of the DA’s investigation.
Plenty of people might, but plenty of people aren’t district attorneys. Plenty of people see this video as all the evidence they need to convict Mehserle of cold-blooded murder. I am not plenty of people apparently. Because I hold the apparently minority belief that the DA is on the up-and-up with regard to this case until proven otherwise, doesn’t mean I’m wrong. I understand having video of this incident is outside of the norm. I’d like to believe that corrupt DAs, who don’t know squat about evidence gathering, are as well.
I could be wrong, but my red flags aren’t going off because it took as long for charges to come down as the ACDA actually said it would take.
So the public would not be subject to witnessing a serious crime (apparently) committed by a cop right in front of their eyes, and the eyes of several other cops, and walking away from it without any visible consequences.
You can call it bad PR, I suppose. But IMO it goes beyond that.
But hey, come on, can’t you understand the stress the officers were under? People were yelling at them!!! They were really, really loud!!! I mean, when things are noisy who can blame you if you occasionally punch and/or shoot a black person in the back? It was just one of them, it’s not like there’s a shortage… jeez… Plus, you know, they may or may not have been fighting one another, if BART hadn’t intervened, something bad may have happened…
Maybe it’s just me, but Mehserle was only on the guys back for 20 seconds or so. Not much time to make an effort, and than say all of that. Plus, it just seems a bit too… perfect?
Nevermind the timeframe, do you know *anyone *who’d say stuff like that ?
“I’m putting money in the machine. The coffee doesn’t come. I pushed the button but the coffee doesn’t come. I’m thinking that machine is busted right now. I’m going to hit the machine.” :dubious:
Well played, sir.