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Self-defense is not logical given that Michael Brown was unarmed and had run at least 25 to 35 feet from the cop. We already know from what the witnesses have said that the cop was pursuing Brown, which further indicates that Brown was attempting a rapid retreat away from the cop, not towards him.
It is not logical to think that any unarmed person would suddenly turn and run towards a man who is shooting at him from more than 20 feet away. It goes against all self-preservation instincts.
And yet it has happened before on plenty of other occasions. Even saw a case here in our city where that happened. I can only guess at why an unarmed person would do so - perhaps not believing the cop will actually shoot? But yes, it's happened enough for me to assign that as a logical scenario, albeit not smart of the attacker.
The other scenario, of the cop being panicked, has, I think, an equally logical explanation behind it. It would make even more sense if Brown attacked/fought with Wilson and then on walking/running away, Wilson told him to stop and he either didn't or made some move that caused Wilson to panic.
Without more evidence I cannot say one is the more likely scenario than the other. As to the eyewitnesses, besides the documented issues with eyewitness accounts as to their accuracy in general, I am naturally suspect of anyone that would run to the media to tell their side of the story.
IMO, in order to increase confidence in pds, I'd like to see the following procedure:
If a cop kills someone, they are taken to a city building (not pd, perhaps city hall), and told to stay alone in a room until media can interview them on what occurred. No witnesses , pd brass, city brass, union reps, ..present..just the media and the cop taping and later broadcasting every single word.
I find the delay before the pd broke "facts" questionable, at best, conspiring at worst.
And the 5th Amendment? Roll it up and wipe your behind with it?
IMO, in order to increase confidence in pds, I'd like to see the following procedure:
If a cop kills someone, they are taken to a city building (not pd, perhaps city hall), and told to stay alone in a room until media can interview them on what occurred. No witnesses , pd brass, city brass, union reps, ..present..just the media and the cop taping and later broadcasting every single word.
I find the delay before the pd broke "facts" questionable, at best, conspiring at worst.
Except you run into some constitutional issues there. He does have the right to remain silent and if you're giving the media this power, you are, in essence making them an arm of the justice system. Miranda would then be applicable.
A panic-induced over-reaction would make it murder.
A panic-induced over-reaction beyond a reasonable reaction from a normal person would make it manslaughter. If a normal person in the same situation (not a trained police officer, but an average person off the street) would also fire that many shots, it's not even voluntary manslaughter.
Which gets into one weird aspect of this. If there was a struggle in the car initiated by Brown (and the burden would be on the state to prove it was initiated by Wilson), or if Wilson was punched, in Missouri, under our self-defense laws, an ordinary citizen doing this would be able to claim self-defense because Brown never completely disengaged from the scene according to all of the eyewitness accounts.
IMO, in order to increase confidence in pds, I'd like to see the following procedure:
If a cop kills someone, they are taken to a city building (not pd, perhaps city hall), and told to stay alone in a room until media can interview them on what occurred. No witnesses , pd brass, city brass, union reps, ..present..just the media and the cop taping and later broadcasting every single word.
I find the delay before the pd broke "facts" questionable, at best, conspiring at worst.
But all of you are discounting the witness accounts.
So your [sic] ignoring the evidence of the eyewitnesses. And you offer shaky explanations as to "why you don't believe..."
But none of you were there. And not a single witness has cleared Wilson or felt the shooting was justified.
So let's be real here. All of you are waiting on that one piece of evidence. Because at this point of time, people are TELLING you things went down differently.
And YOU were also not there. Yet, you keep tossing around words like "murder" when you don't know all the facts--NONE of us do. Are you saying that everybody should jump to conclusions as you do?
Let the forensic evidence and investigation speak for themselves in due time.
Sounds like Al Sharpton's plan for nyc. Instead of getting the community to be civilized, law-abiding citizens, he is pressing for less policing / enforcement of lesser crimes. Sounds like the foundation of a great neighborhood.
Unless charges are laid against the police officer there will be no trial, no oath taking, and no cross examination. Odds are the state won't prosecute.
I agree.
In that case......we will never know how the witnesses would have stood up under cross examination.
Except you run into some constitutional issues there. He does have the right to remain silent and if you're giving the media this power, you are, in essence making them an arm of the justice system. Miranda would then be applicable.
He could be silent if he wants, and I'd request the media to report that.
Allowing pds as many days as needed to "come up with something" is far worse.
PS: I'd also like a media gentleman's agreement not to air any future pd reports on the incident. So the initial interview would be the sole chance to discuss the case in a manner the public would here, before any trial, of course.
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