The Ferguson, Missouri thread

[kuronosan]

The dysfunctional family story is absolutely relevant should this case go to a full blown trial. It limits the number of character witnesses the prosecution can use on behalf of Michael Brown. Any defense worth their salt will point to the monetary gain these family members have made exploiting his death.

This.

If you think this won't impact the case, you're nuts.

[BaneTheBrawler]

it is relevant but it shouldnt be

[Salodin]

How is that relevant to the murder though? Brown's family taking advantage of the situation has nothing to do with his character, or Wilson's decisions up to the shooting.

Not saying I don't believe you, cause you have more experience with this type of thing then even Neph, I just don't see how it's relevant.

Edit: errr, talking to xno

[notorious bum]

Character witnesses? For who? Michael Brown is DEAD. His family members aren't a testament to his character. The lie about him robbing a store wasn't a testament to his character. Whatever pseudo-thuggery quotes the bigots can dig-up on his twitter aren't a testament to his character. Which one of these things says he deserved to be executed and left to rot for 4 and a half hours on the street?

There is plenty of evidence and 3rd party testimony to this case. Nobody believes he will be indicted anyways, this has been made obvious by all these anonymous leaks and prep dialog by the FPD.

[kuronosan]

How is that relevant to the murder though? Brown's family taking advantage of the situation has nothing to do with his character, or Wilson's decisions up to the shooting.

Not saying I don't believe you, cause you have more experience with this type of thing then even Neph, I just don't see how it's relevant.

Edit: errr, talking to xno

It isn't relevant to the murder but it's relevant to his demeanor. "What does it say about Brown if his family acts this way?"

[Xno Kappa]

Jesus Christ. In every trial both sides use witnesses to testify to the character of the subject and/or victim. It's standard practice towards the end of a trial to help sway a jury. Right off the bat these individuals have excluded themselves from the pool of people the prosecution can use. Even worse they were direct family members.

It has nothing to do with using them "as evidence" or "justifying/damning" his death.

[notorious bum]

Why aren't people discussing the character of Darren Wilson? A coward who escalated a case of jaywalking into an assault, followed by a murder of an unarmed teen at range, surrendering.

What about the character of Belmer, who willingly lies to put protestors and the media in harms way? Who only recently asks DOJ to help train his keystone cops to not do simple shit like not using force every time they ASSUME someone is a threat.

Or maybe the character of the entire damn department, where racism dominates decision-making, anonymous doxxing and race-trolling, and a sanctioned fundraiser for racists to reward a cop that is on paid vacation for a modern day lynching.

I'm done venting, for now.

[kuronosan]

Dude, seriously.

[Nephlite]

And this is why I'd like to quit this thread, haha.

[notorious bum]

Ignoring my rant, what has been posted that is really important to this case? Obviously character witnesses are a thing, entire cases are built on them when evidence is missing. You know that article was nothing more than gossip at this stage, why else would you dig it up weeks later? Why not update us on all the sightings of military vehicles in Ferguson?

[Salodin]

I'm sure Wilson's history with the force will be brought up, and afaik he has never been repremanded for being a closet racist.

[Eurell]

Ignoring my rant, what has been posted that is really important to this case? Obviously character witnesses are a thing, entire cases are built on them when evidence is missing. You know that article was nothing more than gossip at this stage, why else would you dig it up weeks later? Why not update us on all the sightings of military vehicles in Ferguson?

Jesus fuck. Is he only allowed to post what you approve of?

[notorious bum]

No, I was just expressing how annoying it is to have to acknowledge what amounts to a 2-3 week old tabloid piece in a thread where shit is literally about to get all trample-y on civil rights all over again. There is actually so much going on the ground right now that I haven't been able to keep up.

With that said, I don't think this donation link was posted yet, here ya'll go if you wish to support the frontline protestors directly:

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[Quicklet]

The point is that it's extremely unlikely it would either be allowed or brought up in a hypothetical trial (which isn't even going to happen because it's obvious there won't be an indictment). You can't just bring up legally irrelevant arguments in a trial because it makes your side look better, and the core of any criminal case against Darren Wilson would be most likely based on forensics and independent witness testimony, not character witnesses. A wrongful death suit, if legally permissible, might be a different story, but nobody is talking about that.

[BaneTheBrawler]

but law and order does it

[Xno Kappa]

I'm not even defending Wilson's position or criticizing the Brown family, just trying to explain the trial process having myself attended and testified dozens of time at them. Of course this dumbass tabloid incident isn't the smoking gun. Of course it's not testimonial evidence. My only point is that the prosecution now has a smaller pool of character witnesses to choose from, key immediately family members now worthless, when the trial is all said and done and both sides are afforded the opportunity to bring in individuals to testify on what kind of individual was Brown/Wilson for the jury prior to their final argument. So yes, it does have a direct impact on the trial. I don't know how much simpler I can make it.

This is why this subforum is a joke. Some of you go straight pants on head retarded if someone ever so slightly insinuates they're not on Team Edward.

[Blubbartron]

I think the problem isn't that people don't understand, but have a reasonable idealistic belief that it's pants-on-head retarded to bring character witnesses into a question of "did this guy straight up murder someone who was surrendering at a distance".

[Xno Kappa]

Maybe I need to define what character witnesses are. They don't testify on the event itself, they solely talk about what kind of individual was the subject/victim. Granny saying "Michael was a saint, I miss him so much. He never did anything wrong and was killed in cold blood!" is going to be met with on cross examination by "How much money did you make off of t-shirts with his image?" Prosecutors are going to avoid this situation and not even bother to put Granny on the stand despite whatever legitimate praise or tears she has for Michael Brown.

[Blubbartron]

Maybe I need to define what character witnesses are. They don't testify on the event itself, they solely talk about what kind of individual was the subject/victim. Granny saying "Michael was a saint, I miss him so much. He never did anything wrong and was killed in cold blood!" is going to be met with on cross examination by "How much money did you make off of t-shirts with his image?" Prosecutors are going to avoid this situation and not even bother to put Granny on the stand despite whatever legitimate praise or tears she has for Michael Brown.

No, I'm pretty sure people understand what character witnesses are. The fact is that character witnesses, as a tool for determining truth, are fucking useless and have no business in a court of law. A character witness should not get someone off, nor should they convict someone who would otherwise be acquitted. They simply don't belong anywhere in courts. And yet there they are. Because the "justice" system is a crock of shit.

[BaneTheBrawler]

well in the absence of evidence all we have is feels. which is why everyone with a gram of sense wants lapel cams etc.