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 Legal Updates 11/10/00 Update from: R2K Legal Court Update Tuesday, November 7th 12th and Arch Trial 4 defendants Judge Kirkland Two defendants had their case dismissed on grounds of lack of evidence and proper identification. One defendant was found not guilty because of lack of probable cause. One defendant was found guilty and sentenced to 60 days of non-reporting probation and $135 in court costs. Most of the police officers that were brought up to testify were from the bike patrol. Their testimonies were weak and contradictory. It was a victory for us in that we did a very good job of making the police look bad. One officer identified a defendant in the courtroom as the one he arrested, however in the polaroid photo taken of him with the person he arrested from August 1st, it was obvious that the defendant he identified in court was NOT the person in the photo. The prosecution also admitted in court that because we did not give our names and made their job so difficult, they were confused and making mistakes and having generally a hard time with our cases. The defendant who was found guilty made an eloquent statement about how he stood in solidarity with those with felony charges and high level misdemeanors. And he addressed our committment to continue to fight for the freedom of Mumia Abu-Jamal, all political prisoners, the rights of illegal immigrants and asylum seekers, and an end to the prison industrial complex. R2K Legal considers the 12th and Arch trial a WIN because the group set up goals and by and large achieved those goals in court. Wednesday, November 8th 12th and Filbert 6 defendants Judge Merriweather Two defendants had their case withdrawn minutes before the trial started because of lack of evidence from the prosecution. One defendant was found not guilty because of lack of probable cause. One defendant was found guilty of a summary offense of disorderly conduct and conspiracy. Two defendants were found guilty of summary offenses of disorderly conduct, obstructing a highway, and conspiracy. All guilty verdicts were given a fine of $100 and they filed for appeal. Defendants and supporters wore RESIST patches and ties and wore black bandannas to represent our solidarity with groups within the movement, in particular the Blac Block, who have been targeted because of their tactics. One defendant testified and he did a great job of incorporating a lot of politics and issues into the testimony. All of those with guilty verdicts attempted to make statements. They were all eventually cut off by the judge. The public defenders again did a great job of making the trial political by arguing for selective prosecution, however it was not granted. Again the sloppy police work and contradictory testimony from the police was obvious. Afterward there was a press conference by SLAM and the August 1st Coalition re-addressing the issues of August 1st. Friday, November 10th Jugde McCaffery Two defendants who had their felony charges remanded to misdemeanors had their trials today in front of Jugde Seamus McCaffery. The first defendant was from Everybody's Kitchen and had been arrested outside the puppet space. He was found guilty on charges of misd. assault and was given of sentence of 2 yrs. non-reporting probation and a fine. As of yet he has not appealed. The second defendant was found guilty of misd. assault charges and sentenced to 2-3 months jail, 2 yrs. probation, and a fine. The defendant is appealing the ruling. The group trial of 300 N 16th St. was continued to an unknown date (probably mid to late December) because the Public Defenders received additional discovery from the state police yesterday that revealed there were four undercover state troopers in the blockade at that intersection who were arrested with the other protestors and loaded on the bus with them. This trial now will be heard after the motion argument for outrageous police misconduct is heard on November 21st. In Solidarity, R2K Legal |
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