Posted on 08/11/2017 9:37:52 AM PDT by Bubba_Leroy
A federal judge in Las Vegas cut short the testimony of an Idaho gun enthusiast in the middle of his Bunkerville standoff retrial Thursday.
Eric Parker was photographed in April 2014 pointing a long gun through a barrier on an Interstate 15 overpass that overlooked a sandy ditch where protesters had gathered to face Bureau of Land Management agents.
Prosecutors first objected to Parker’s testimony about 20 minutes after he took the stand and uttered the words “First Amendment.”
Before the start of the second trial for Parker, a married father of two, and three other men, U.S. District Judge Gloria Navarro barred the defense from referencing constitutional rights to freely assemble and to bear arms. She also prohibited mention of alleged misconduct or excessive force by law enforcement.
After a lengthy sidebar, Parker’s testimony continued before prosecutors objected to his use of the word “sniper.” The judge disallowed the comment and sent the jury to lunch.
After returning from the break and spending less than an hour testifying on the stand, Parker described being handed a pair of binoculars while in Bunkerville before he “looked up and to the right.” He seemed to be referencing the same area where he believed a sniper had been positioned.
Acting U.S. Attorney Steve Myhre immediately objected and requested a meeting with the judge and defense attorneys.
Moments later, Navarro returned to the bench and told Parker to step down. The judge ordered Parker’s testimony stricken before asking defense attorneys whether they planned to call any more witnesses Thursday afternoon.
(Excerpt) Read more at reviewjournal.com ...
There is a more detailed article at AZCentral that cannot be posted on FR because of copyright claims.
Parker’s being railroaded and denied the opportunity to defend himself against the charges.
Thereby violating their rights, supposedly protected and guaranteed by the Constitutional
What the hell is going on with these Judges?
When the SHTF I suspect a lot of them are going to have to resign (or be resigned, if you catch my drift)
This judge and the prosecution need to be taught a lesson about what “of, by, and for the people” looks like.
The judge has decided how she wants the trial to come out and is pissed that the first jury refused to go along with it. She is doing everything she can to make damned sure that this jury rules how she wants.
Hey, The Judge is just giving him lots of appeal options.. what a railjob. This is America?
This whole trial is a sham, waste of time and money. Any decision against the defendants will obviously be overturned by a higher court. This is a clear case of “judicial overreach”. This judge is nuts and doesn’t belong on the bench.
Sounds like a Soviet-style show trial.
This is what happens to White Lives Matter members.
The AZ Central article made it sound like the prosecution is stunned by the judge’s actions because it will mean a mistrial. One of the jurors felt like the witness to a beheading, the article said.
It’s an overused word but still best describes the judge and prosecutor.... evil.
Grounds for a mis-trial..........
Sounds like a Soviet-style show trial.
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That’s exactly what it is.
Fedzilla does not like it when anyone challenges its authority.
From the description above, it sounds like this trial is taking place in a Medieval English court.
This is all that is required for an appeal:
” U.S. District Judge Gloria Navarro barred the defense from referencing constitutional rights to freely assemble and to bear arms. She also prohibited mention of alleged misconduct or excessive force by law enforcement.”
This instruction denies a rational defense.
i.e. - explaining his rights that require no defense
- explaining the threats he was responding to
Complying would only allow 5th Amendment violations, by inviting self-incrimination.
Typically, the cops don't ask questions when you do that.
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