Posted on 05/31/2015 5:20:38 PM PDT by don-o
WACO, TEXAS—After a gunfight between rival motorcycle gangs outside a crowded restaurant left nine dead, police rounded up everyone on the scene wearing biker vests. Now, as 174 people sit in jail on organized crime charges, legal experts say prosecutors face a difficult challenge, and that many of those arrested could end up going free.
“They have bitten off more than they can chew,” said Robert Draskovich, a Las Vegas criminal defence lawyer who represents bikers. “Prosecutors often overreach and charge too many people, but I’ve never seen it to this extent.”
To prove the current charges, which have capital murder as the underlying crime, prosecutors must show each defendant took part in the shootout. Although the law allows for broad interpretation of participation, experts say the case is muddled by Texas’ strong self-defence and gun rights, as well as issues with witness credibility and a lack of co-operation.
snip
The last mass biker arrest in the U.S. occurred in 2002 in Las Vegas after a brawl broke out between the Hells Angels and the Mongols at Harrah’s Casino. Three people were killed and about a dozen others were wounded. Authorities rounded up 120 people. Only six of 44 Hells Angels indicted in federal court were convicted; six Mongols members were convicted in state court.
Draskovich represented one of the Hells Angels defendants whose charges were dismissed. He sees parallels between that case and the one in Waco.
“There’s generally a smaller group who, if a law was broken, they broke it,” he said. “So that’s why I say the majority of the people they arrested (in Waco) are going to walk.”
(Excerpt) Read more at thestar.com ...
Waco has a track record here.
We got to burn the children to save the children.
Texas biker shootout: Can 174 people be convicted of murder?
Legally, yes.
Practically, no.
The question is can 12 angry people in McLennon County, Texas convict them of anything they want to?
You betcha.
The Act is the shooting by one or more Actors.
The reality is that at least 30% of the bikers lawyers have probably already negotiated a deal to testify against the actual shooters.
Familiar with Torrey Pines and climbing.
Sadly my old carcass is no longer capable.
Toe holds are easy going up.
Skeery looking down when you decide there is no forward path.
Oh darn, I misremembered he was killed. Very sad.
Nevermind — I found where you got that tidbit about the nailclippers. Just ... wow!!!
Do not tell anyone a bottle of water in a gym sock works like a sack of door knobs..
Well, they were wearing vests and the cops grabbed everyone wearing vests, per the article.
Vests = guilty.
Hang them.
If he had anything to do with Windows 8, shoot him.
/s
Well I reckon that is fair LOL
Yes, it is serious.
I sent a link to @WacoPolice (aka Sgt Swanton) with an article talking about the social and cultural cost of the militarized police. Within hours, the site where the original article was published, removed the article. It was still in Google Cache. @WacoPolice blocked me from their site.
I doubt the Waco police could have convinced the author to remove the article. But someone did. It is still on several sites on the web, but not at the source.
And for several days I was having serious problems with malicious code on my computer. Not only did I have to clean up my Linux PC but my wife’s Windows PC.
And there were Trolls on Twitter mocking those who discussed the Waco shootings.
the malicious code thing is no longer a problem and the Trolls have disappeared.
So yes there is someone who is promoting an agenda. I don’t think it is based in Texas. But I have an idea who it is.
The other side to this story: The TwinPeaks at the centre of this fiasco, consequently lost its franchise.
***Economic collateral damage***
Texan Police are all hat and no cattle
I read it also. It is in one of the earlier threads.
In most jurisdictions an agreement signed under duress is not valid.
It may take years, but governments have very deep pockets and with this many potential plaintiffs lawyers will be circling until the truth comes out.
bttt
And still no coroner’s report. Still no officer in charge has been produced. Does Waco need a militia to demonstrate what is meant by “good order”? How can that many police have spontaneously decided on their own to meet at that place and time? Looks more and more that the most evident conspiracy to commit a crime took place BEHIND the badges. Wrong answer in America. Whoever you are if you think you can pile up so much crap as to “fundamentally change America” that we won’t even be Americans anymore then you are delusional. America ain’t a bunch of laws on paper. We won’t stand for it.
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