Well this came out of left field (no pun intended). So back in 2011 St. Louis Police Officer Jason Stockley along with other officers chased Anthony Lamar Smith. Upon finally stopping him Officer Stockley said that Smith was reaching for a gun and Officer Stockley shot Smith five times. With an AK-47 Draco Pistol. Yes you read that right. The officer used his own personal AK-47 Draco Pistol. Obviously not Department policy to use such a weapon. (It's not a rifle but it still fires a rifle round AFAIK) Edit: Nope. Just read the states argument. Officer Stockly had the AK with him but used his Berratta to shoot Smith. The state and the federal government investigated and neither brought Officer Stockley on charges. The shooting was....... I can't find anything that says it was declared justified but if the state and the federal government investigated and didn't charge him..... Fast forward to 2016. St. Louis prosecutors charge Officer Stockley (whose now in Houston but I'm not sure if he's a cop in Houston) with First Degree Murder and Armed Criminal Action. The prosecutors allege new evidence proves Officer Stockley is guilty of murder BUT the state did not identify what that new evidence was during trial. The defense states there has been no new evidence in the case since 2012. Stockley said that Smith had a .38 caliber revolver on him when he was shot. Prosecutors claim Stockley planted the gun. Only Stockley's DNA is on the revolver. The defense claims it got on the gun from Stockley handling the gun after the shooting. The DNA analysts testified that they can not tell if the DNA came from saliva, blood or sweat. Only that Stockley touched the gun. Stockley testified that he did pick up the gun. A bag of heroin was found in the car and it had only Smith's DNA on it. Stockley also said during the chase, "going to kill this (expletive deleted), don’t you know it". Stockley claims he doesn't remember saying this and the defense claims it's taken out of context. Stockley told dispatch, during the chase, that shots had been fired but he did not mention seeing a gun. Stockley's partner Officer Bianchi had his weapon out when they finally stopped Smith. Bianchi however did not fire his weapon. The prosecutor says Bianchi saw that there was no threat and holstered his weapon. But the video doesn't show wheter Bianchi holstered his weapon before Stockley fired his or after Stockley fired his. The prosecutor did not call Officer Bianchi to the witness stand. Seems like a real stupid mistake to me. If you think Bianchi really holstered his weapon before Stockely fired his gun wouldn't you want the court to hear that? Seems to me that the prosecutors are making a claim that they aren't sure Officer Bianchi will back up for them. A witness testified that Stockley and Smith struggled with each other before the shooting. The defense claims Stockley's actions were justified in defending himself from Smith. Prosecutors claim that Stockley fired a kill shot that was within six inches of Smith. A witness however testified that all the shots fired came one after the other. There was no kill shot. Since Stockley and Smith were close enough to struggle with each other it's a given that the actual shooting would be very close range as well. It's a bench trial. No jury. The judge ordered both sides to sum up their arguments and give it to him bu August 18. Prosecutor's argument PDF Defense argument PDF Title: Final argument: The magic bullet, a tale of two guns and other fairy tales. Yes. That's the actual title. The judge gave no indication of when a verdict would come but everyone seems to think it's going to be today, Friday September 1, 2017. The city has been putting barricades up in front of the courthouse and police headquarters. They are claiming: “Barricades have been placed at various locations that have been the site of recent protests or have planned protests later this week. Due to recent events around the country, we are being proactive in ensuring the safety of citizens.” And there have been promises of mass disruption and protests if Stockley is not found guilty by the judge. Weird that this just seemed to come out of no where even though the trial took place last month. Here's a bunch of links: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/...cle_7a87901d-e54c-5516-beff-d6b64e2aeba6.html http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/...cle_68d0cc45-89e1-5ab3-a7e5-81bc39191de0.html http://www.stlamerican.com/news/loc...cle_74fbf9f2-8dd1-11e7-8411-8bfed1cd5287.html http://fox2now.com/2017/08/29/barricades-going-up-downtown-ahead-of-stockley-verdict/ http://fox2now.com/2017/08/18/misso...-st-louis-police-officer-is-guilty-of-murder/ http://www.theroot.com/shit-might-hit-the-fan-in-st-louis-tomorrow-1798672943
Oh and again I say that it appears to me that the state once again overcharged someone. First degree murder? Based on what? The "going to kill this (expletive deleted), don’t you know it" line which was said during the chase and in the heat of the moment? I think the judge has already told the city what the verdict is, not guilty, and that is why those barricades are going up. You wouldn't need barricades to protect the courthouse and police headquarters if Stockley was found guilty. Also doing this on a Friday smacks of the old Friday dump maneuver where you hope no one notices what you've released to the public.
Well, that and it appears he brought evidence along to plant. That suggests he was prepared to fabricate a justification for shooting someone. When doesn't the state/crown over charge? if you throw 10 darts, at least one of them will stick to the target. That murdering pig Forcillo was only convicted of attempted murder for the latter 4-5 shots he pumped into the kid who already had fatal wounds from the other half dozen bullets in him. Not that it matters. Convicting a cop? You have better odds to win a $150 000 000 lottery with a ticket you found on the sidewalk.
It sounds like an extraordinarily weak case brought by a DA who is hoping to get reelected. There is certainly nothing which is beyond a reasonable doubt and the clincher is the prosecutor didn't call the partner as a witness because they knew he would blow their wild conspiracy theory to hell and back. This is obviously politically motivated. I am afraid property owners in St. Louis may have to get out their guns and do what Korean shop owners did during the L.A. riots. It is a sad state of affairs that this happens so often.
Huh...I don't watch the local news much--I do read the weekend paper and keep up with news online, though. I don't recall seeing or hearing anything about this story at all recently. Maybe it's just now developing, but it hasn't been high visibility around here that I am aware of. So I'd be surprised to see the town "burning"...
I didn't read the arguments, but based on @Zombie's summary, there are multiple areas for reasonable doubt, and no solid evidence by the prosecutor that Shockley is guilty of anything. A chase, a bag of heroin, and a witness reporting the deceased physically struggling with the cops? I'd hire some extra security guards if I owned a business in downtown St. Louis.
When you read the states case you see they have no clear evidence he did such a thing. Now I'm not saying he didn't do it but you need a lot more than "we think he did it" if you want a judge to agree with you that Stockley is guilty.
That's what I see. The state argues that the court should look at Officer Bianchi as the reasonable officer. The state claims Bianchi put his weapon back in his holster because Bianchi saw Smith was no threat but the state never calls Bianchi to testify to that. Than you learn that the video evidence is not clear on when Bianchi actually holstered his weapon. Was it after Stockley fired on Smith? In which case it makes sense that Bianchi would holster. No need to keep the gun out when the guys clearly unconscious or dead. Or did Bianchi holster the weapon before Stockley fired because Bianchi saw no threat? Why wouldn't you want Officer Bianchi on the stand to testify as to when he holstered his weapon and why?
Because cops always lie to cover up for their buddies? Not saying that's definitely what would happen, but it's a possibility.
Of course it's a possibility but that is why you have depositions. So if the officer lies on the stand you just pull out the deposition on him.
That's what people who get their courtroom knowledge from TV think: that people's testimony on the stand ever comes as a surprise. All of the witnesses have been deposed. The attorneys ask questions that they already know the answers to. If there's a surprise in a witness's testimony on the stand, that witness is going to get slapped with a perjury charge.
No verdict yet but tensions are rusing: "If Stockley is acquitted, activists are pledging civil disobedience that could include shutting down highways and Lambert Airport. They have also threatened to disrupt downtown businesses. In anticipation of unrest, barricades now surround the Carnahan Courthouse where the trial was held, the civil courts building, and police headquarters." https://www.washingtonpost.com/nati...a169beb0953_story.html?utm_term=.b40c6086f986
Indeed. Your free speech should not violate my free movement and association - both integral parts of the first amendment. Unlike the made up separation of church and state.
You know, no one ever says the same when the road is blocked because of traffic or an accident, both of which are far more common than protesters. You never hear anyone claim it should be legal to run over two people in the middle of the road arguing over a fender bender.
good point about blocking traffic! I have a question maybe Elwood can answer: why do some cops create an insanely dangerous and counter-productive traffic obstruction by pulling cars over for routine stops IN THE MIDDLE OF A FUCKING BUSY ROAD DURING RUSH HOUR when there is an empty (fucking empty - the store won't open for another two hours) parking lot fifty feet further up the road where the cop and suspect can sit all day without causing a traffic jam? Seriously, you pull somebody over for speeding or not signaling properly or whatever, now cars have to go around you and risk getting hit or hitting someone thereby DEGRADING PUBLIC SAFETY! I see this all the time and it drives me crazy. Take thirty fucking seconds to have the guy pull up to a safe spot then get out your ticket book. Fucking THINK!
Especially when the people blocking the road are blocking it because of a minor fender bender and they don't want to move their cars to the shoulder of the highway.
Yeah, that is true. I suspect because people understand that no one wants to into an accident so they empathize with people who do. While protesters are just being jerks and deliberately trying to fuck with people's day because they are whiny self centered little shits banking on everyone else putting up with their childish behavior. What happens when other people decide they will not put up with it? Personally, I think everyone has a right to free speech but no one has a right to block traffic or vital public services. Any who do should be immediately arrested.
You really don't recognize the irony of wanting to run down protesters who you describe as whiney and self centered all because they are delaying your commute? That doesnt seem a bit whiney and self centered to you? Are you really that big of a fucking moron? And childish behavior? Only stunted, immature little boys think violence is the answer to inconvenience you twat.
I have to admit that is bad etiquette. They are supposed to pull to the shoulder. I notice in California people almost always do unless they have out of state plates. Where as in the south I noticed dumb asses would just sit there blocking the road and pop the hood. That was frustrating.
Well the verdict finally came in. Not guilty on all charges. The judges decision: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4047160-Stockleyverdict.html The protests are no longer considered peaceful by the St. Louis police. They have been pepper spraying people and arresting people. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jason-stockley-not-guilty-verdict-protest-police-st-louis-live-updates/ http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/...cle_c7ee91ad-e65b-5da6-84cb-0b478078c8cb.html
working on your comedy routine? The protesters won't look sideways at the courthouse or the police station. That might get them hurt! Better to raise a ruckus that inconveniences or otherwise affects the average joe. Anyway this case wasn't on my radar. I didn't know the deceases tried to run a cop over and had a lengthy violent arrest record. If the deceased were white we wouldn't have heard shit about this! Remember the Somali cop who shot some woman for making a loud noise during an investigation? Nothing but crickets within a week or so - imagine that!
