 sj |
||
|
||
BS: victim recants... Convicted stay in jail
|
|
|
Subject: BS: victim recants... Convicted stay in jail From: GUEST,beardedbruce Date: 21 Oct 09 - 06:52 PM WTF???
AP - Wednesday, October 21, 2009 11:29:19 AM When a black woman told West Virginia authorities in 2007 that seven white people had raped and tortured her over several days in a racially motivated attack, minority rights groups rallied to her support. The Rev. Al Sharpton and Black Lawyers for Justice urged prosecutors to pursue hate-crime charges. The lawyers organized a march on Megan Williams' behalf. Sharpton addressed a rally in Charleston and donated $1,000 to Williams' family as a Christmas gift. More than two years later, Williams, now 22 and living in Columbus, recanted her story on Wednesday, and the groups that supported her stood at arm's length from the woman whose mother had described her as "slow." Sharpton has asked a prosecutor to vindicate anyone wrongfully convicted. The head of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in Logan and Boone counties in West Virginia said the group didn't rush to judgment two years ago, and won't now. "We did have some concerns about what was being done at the time and how it was carried out by Megan and the family, because of her mental condition," said the Rev. Audie Murphy, president of the group. Williams had said her captors, including boyfriend Bobby Brewster, beat her, raped her, forced her to drink urine and eat feces, poured hot wax on her and taunted her with racial slurs in a the trailer of Brewster's mother in a rural area of Logan County, about 50 miles from Charleston, W.Va. Williams was rescued after a passer-by heard cries from the shed where she was kept and an anonymous caller alerted authorities. The suspects all confessed to their actions and pleaded guilty. All but one were sent to prison. But Williams made up the story because she wanted to get revenge against a boyfriend who had beaten her, said her attorney, Byron L. Potts. She recanted because she no longer wants to live a lie, he said. Potts said Williams has received several anonymous phone calls from people threatening her life. "She is recanting the entire incident. She says it did not happen, and she's scared," Potts said. Potts said Williams stabbed herself with a straight razor to help embellish the story of being tortured. "She told me the only thing not self-inflicted were the bruises on her face," Potts said. Prosecutors, who knew about the relationship during the case, dismissed Williams' new claim, and lawyers for the defendants would not discuss their plans. Potts urged prosecutors in West Virginia to re-evaluate the case and he said that Williams wants people convicted to be released from prison. Brian Abraham, the former Logan County prosecutor who pursued the cases, said authorities realized early in the investigation that they could not rely on statements from Williams, who tended to embellish and exaggerate details. Instead, he said, the seven defendants were convicted on their own statements and physical evidence. "If she's going to say that she made it all up, that's absurd," Abraham said. "This looks like another attempt to generate more publicity." Lawyers for the seven did not immediately return phone calls Wednesday or declined to comment. Abraham said none of the seven have appealed. Potts said he did not know why the defendants have pleaded guilty to something they did not do. He said Williams is aware that she could face legal consequences for fabricating the story and that he wants to have her psychologically evaluated. He said Williams told him certain people were controlling her and influencing her during the case. He did not elaborate. He said she now lives with a caregiver, but would not give further details. In a January interview with The Call & Post, a black newspaper in Cleveland, Williams acknowledged she had been mistreated but said her mother made her embellish the story for exposure and financial gain. Williams told the newspaper that she was afraid of her mother, who knew some of the defendants. Williams' mother, Carmen Williams, died in June. Potts said he did not know what role the mother might have had in fabricating the case. In a phone call to the AP on Wednesday, Sharpton said the matter should be handled delicately, citing "psychological issues" with Williams. "This isn't cut and dried either way," he said. "Right is right, but I have no idea if tomorrow her story will change back." ------ Tom Breen reported from Charleston, W.Va. Associated Press Writer Lawrence Messina in Logan County, W.Va., contributed to this report. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: victim recants... Convicted stay in jail From: artbrooks Date: 21 Oct 09 - 08:24 PM Well, the AP story, partially quoted above, also says that " the suspects eventually confessed to their actions and pleaded guilty" and that Williams' lawyer "wants to have her psychologically evaluated.". I'd say that it requires a bit more investigation before those convicted are summarily released. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: victim recants... Convicted stay in jail From: Peace Date: 21 Oct 09 - 08:32 PM If a plea-bargain was involved, it's not as easy as "You're free to go." Was a case about ten (?) years back wherein a fellow who'd been accused of rape did three years in the slam before his accuser recanted her story. He continued to serve time until the cops/courts determined whether she bullshit the first time or the second time. We like to think that people are never convicted on circumstantial evidence, but such is NOT the case. David Milgard, Willie Nepoose, Donald Marshall. Did about 10 years each. Evidence was manufactured by cops, ignored by cops, etc. The three men were not guilty of the crimes for which they were incarcerated. The criminal justice system is a fucking mess, and courts try to clear the shit as fast as they can. Lots os innocent people have and are doing time. NO ONE gives a rat's ass. Justice as a concept is dead, or at least bleeding so much it will likely not recover. IMO. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: victim recants... Convicted stay in jail From: catspaw49 Date: 21 Oct 09 - 08:47 PM Well they call them the Halls of Justice but you never see any justice in the halls......unless one is going to the crapper. But seriously bb.......There's a helluva' lot of holes in this thing and your post ain't nothin' but another of your trolls. Spaw |
|
Subject: RE: BS: victim recants... Convicted stay in jail From: GUEST,beardedbruce Date: 21 Oct 09 - 09:36 PM this is what was there... 1. I posted the entire article, on the site I saw it at. I made no comment other than "WTF??? If this is being a troll, I suppose there are few to none here that do not live under bridges and eating goats.
-Joe Offer- |
|
Subject: RE: BS: victim recants... Convicted stay in jail From: Bill D Date: 21 Oct 09 - 10:35 PM bb...I suppose that you'll be folowing that case, and that if all the evidence IS examined, and the accused finally exonerated and released, you will post THAT story? |
|
Subject: RE: BS: victim recants... Convicted stay in jail From: number 6 Date: 21 Oct 09 - 11:00 PM Peace .... I'll add Steven Truscott to that list. " the suspects eventually confessed to their actions and pleaded guilty" " .... many suspects are coerced into signing confessions for crimes they have not committed. "NO ONE gives a rat's ass. Justice as a concept is dead, or at least bleeding so much it will likely not recover." with that statement, I agree. biLL |
|
Subject: RE: BS: victim recants... Convicted stay in jail From: GUEST,beardedbruce Date: 21 Oct 09 - 11:14 PM BillD, When those who commented negatively on Bush's actions post the stories that Obama is doing the same things that Bush did, without comment or complaint. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: victim recants... Convicted stay in jail From: Janie Date: 21 Oct 09 - 11:28 PM The woman who was assaulted is developmentally disabled. I don't know anything about this particular situation, but I do know from professional experience that the prosecution probably proceeded very, very cautiously and would not have brought charges unless there was significant evidence they were warranted and prosecutable (sp.) Bad example with respect to the general population. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: victim recants... Convicted stay in jail From: Amergin Date: 22 Oct 09 - 02:29 AM I am trying to figure out what Obama has to do with this story....or maybe BB's run out of his Zyprexa....and thinks Obama some how coerced them under torture to confess.... |
|
Subject: RE: BS: victim recants... Convicted stay in jail From: Stower Date: 22 Oct 09 - 05:55 AM I'm confused. Since I have no dealings whatever with this case - and I would hazard a guess that neither has anyone else who posts here, or if they do they should not post for legal reasons - then I don't know what I or anyone else can usefully contribute. Were the confessions false and the alleged perpetrators innocent? Don't know, and neither do you. Were the confessions real and the alleged perpetrators guilty? Don't know, and neither do you. Is she now retracting a false story because of guilt at innocent people being jailed, or retracting a true story out of fear (of who?), pressure (from where?) or some other unknown factor? Don't know, and neither do you. Why are the lawyers not discussing their plans? Don't know, and neither do you. Why did none of the seven defendants appeal their convictions? Don't know, and neither do you. Why would the woman in this case confess to lying when she knows that could land her in jail - if she didn't lie ... or if she really did? Don't know, and neither do you. Have I missed something? |
|
Subject: RE: BS: victim recants... Convicted stay in jail From: catspaw49 Date: 22 Oct 09 - 06:35 AM "When those who commented negatively on Bush's actions post the stories that Obama is doing the same things that Bush did, without comment or complaint" And you're not trolling? Yeah.....right.......Tell me another one........ Spaw |
|
Subject: RE: BS: victim recants... Convicted stay in jail From: meself Date: 22 Oct 09 - 11:33 AM "I am trying to figure out what Obama has to do with this story" You see, the complainant in the case is African-American and Obama is African-American - and the convicted apparent-perps are White and Bush is White - see how it all makes sense? |
|
Subject: RE: BS: victim recants... Convicted stay in jail From: Little Hawk Date: 22 Oct 09 - 11:37 AM What a mess! I'd have to go pretty much with what Peace said about the "justice" system. As for the particular case being discussed here, none of us here is in any position to know who told the truth and who didn't. That will have to be left to the (sigh) "justice" system to try and figure out... |
|
Subject: RE: BS: victim recants... Convicted stay in jail From: beardedbruce Date: 22 Oct 09 - 12:54 PM "Prosecutors in West Virginia have dismissed Williams' new claim," THAT is what bothered me. Not even worth looking into? "ou see, the complainant in the case is African-American and Obama is African-American - and the convicted apparent-perps are White and Bush is White - see how it all makes sense? " THAT sounds like someone making a racist comment to me. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: victim recants... Convicted stay in jail From: catspaw49 Date: 22 Oct 09 - 01:02 PM "You see, the complainant in the case is African-American and Obama is African-American - and the convicted apparent-perps are White and Bush is White - see how it all makes sense?" Yeah meself.....I think its almost perfect for bb, his kind of story. Of course if they could somehow find a Muslim involved, THEN it would be even better for him............ Spaw |
|
Subject: RE: BS: victim recants... Convicted stay in jail From: beardedbruce Date: 22 Oct 09 - 01:15 PM Spaw, If I were to ask you when you would be a reasonable person, and YOU answered "When Hell freezes ove!", would I be justified in calling you a religious bigot for bring up Hell? If not, shut the hell up. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: victim recants... Convicted stay in jail From: Bill D Date: 22 Oct 09 - 01:24 PM "I am trying to figure out what Obama has to do with this story..." because this is bruce's basic argument form for most issues.. "Anything *I* complain about is justified, as long as I can find even one instance of YOUR side doing (or that I can twist to look like it) anything remotlely similar at any time in history." I have been trying to get him to alter this reasoning...unsuccessfully... for several years. This particular thread did not being with a specific assertion, though it had that feeling. Then, when I asked MY question, it quickly surfaced in obvious form. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: victim recants... Convicted stay in jail From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 22 Oct 09 - 02:14 PM So suggesting that someone might possibly be a little bit racist is a racist comment... |
|
Subject: RE: BS: victim recants... Convicted stay in jail From: meself Date: 22 Oct 09 - 02:14 PM I would have thought it would be hard to figure out who is supposed to be on what side of this murky issue, until we were tossed that hint with the seemingly-irrelevant mention of Obama. Then I realized that, apparently, if we support Obama, we are supposed to approve of the continued incarceration of the convicted; if we support(ed) George Bush, we are supposed to want them released. Why this should be, I don't know. And, since the term "racist" has been introduced to the thread, I will let our dear readers judge who introduced racism to this discussion. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: victim recants... Convicted stay in jail From: catspaw49 Date: 22 Oct 09 - 02:17 PM LOL.....I call it "Strikeback Mode"......and Bill, you really are doing a terrible job in altering reasoning .........I can't even give you a high "F" .............You have just been an abject failure! I am sooooo disappointed............. And bruce......LOL again......Well, I spent a great deal of time trying to figure out what the hell you're talking about but at the risk of being called both a religious bigot AND a sexual pervert, may I just say the you're all fucked up to hell and begone? Spaw |
|
Subject: RE: BS: victim recants... Convicted stay in jail From: GUEST,beardedbruce Date: 22 Oct 09 - 02:22 PM Joe, I posted the ENTIRE article in the opening post. Nothing was missing or edited out. My post of 09:34 was an error on my part ( fat fingers). My point was that the information available o me left me wondering from post 22 Oct 09 - 12:54 PM "Prosecutors in West Virginia have dismissed Williams' new claim," THAT is what bothered me. Not even worth looking into? THAT is why I put it up here. If it is racist, then I will object to ANY post here that involve more than one race, regardless of why they are posted, as being ( equally) racist. BillD, When YOU ask the people YOU agree with the same questions, THEN you have the right to a better answer than the one I gave. Since YOU insist on requiring those you disagree with to comply to a different standard than those you agree with are held to, I felt it appropriate to treat YOU ( and others, such as Amos) in the same manner. Capish?
By the way, if you want to discuss something, perhaps it might be an idea to introduce the discussion with something a bit more literate than simply "WTF." -Joe Offer- |
|
Subject: RE: BS: victim recants... Convicted stay in jail From: Stower Date: 22 Oct 09 - 02:35 PM Bruce, anybody ... since the original post included the news story with no comment, I am still not sure what exactly we are supposed to be discussing, as per my previous post. Or are we just discussing our general ignorance of the events in this story? Since no one knows the details or real facts of this story, the wider implications - if there are any - must also be a mystery to us. Again, have I missed something? |
|
Subject: RE: BS: victim recants... Convicted stay in jail From: Stower Date: 22 Oct 09 - 02:40 PM It seems to me that in the absence of anything to actually discuss, this has just descended into insults left over from previous arguments. So I'll go and do something more productive. I'm beginning to wonder, do *any* of the threads on these contentious issues ever help anyone rethink their stance or become helpful to anyone? Do they ever generate more light than heat? Do they always and inevitably turn into slanging matches? If someone can post a link to such a positive thread, I'd be delighted - and surprised. Please, someone surprise me. Peace, all. Stower |
|
Subject: RE: BS: victim recants... Convicted stay in jail From: GUEST,beardedbruce Date: 22 Oct 09 - 03:24 PM I posted the original article ( the entire one that I saw) with the comment "WTF???" I thought that the last line would be obvious as the reason I posted: "Prosecutors in West Virginia have dismissed Williams' new claim, and lawyers for the defendants aren't discussing their plans. " I ignored the racial aspects- MY concern was that the accuser had withdrawn the accusation, and the prosecutors have ignored that. This seemed to be a miscarriage of justice. Art pointed out that there was more information in a different article ( which I had NOT seen when I posted ( Thank, Art!) and Spaw called me a troll for even thinking that this might be a problem worth looking at or discussing. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: victim recants... Convicted stay in jail From: Bill D Date: 22 Oct 09 - 03:43 PM "Capish?" Nope. You are trying to require ME to validate the very form of argument that YOU employ by asking me to formulate MY questions in ways that undermine MY own concerns. I don't feel inclined to do that. Capish? |
|
Subject: RE: BS: victim recants... Convicted stay in jail From: GUEST,beardedbruce Date: 22 Oct 09 - 03:56 PM No, I am asking you to formulate YOUR questions in such a way as to treat both those you agree with, and those you disagree with in the SAME manner. One set of rules for all viewpoints, not a biased set that favors those YOU wish to promote and denegrates those you do NOT apriori agree with. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: victim recants... Convicted stay in jail From: catspaw49 Date: 22 Oct 09 - 04:26 PM Capish......I think he's suggesting that you have a cap fetish Bill......or a weird predilection for wearing capes. Then again, he might be saying "Do you understand?" but that would be "capiche." No, I think he trying to say you're talking through your cap.....only slightly better than your hat. Spaw |
|
Subject: RE: BS: victim recants... Convicted stay in jail From: GUEST,beardedbruce Date: 22 Oct 09 - 04:39 PM OK, now the first post is NOT what I posted. I have no problem with the entire story being posted, but what ++ I ++ posted is not what is presently there- so all comments to and by me no longer reflect "eality" |
|
Subject: RE: BS: victim recants... Convicted stay in jail From: Amergin Date: 22 Oct 09 - 04:42 PM Neither do any of your posts..... |
|
Subject: RE: BS: victim recants... Convicted stay in jail From: Bill D Date: 22 Oct 09 - 05:46 PM "eality" ain't what it usta be? I have suspected that. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: victim recants... Convicted stay in jail From: M.Ted Date: 22 Oct 09 - 07:13 PM Bruce--with all due respect, in criminal cases, it is the prosecutor, on behalf of the state, who makes the charges, not the victim. The victim may not be even give testimony (in murder trials, for instance, the victim is almost never sworn in)--Juries seldom decide a case based on the victim's allegations alone, and in many cases, what the victim claims has little to do with what the jury decides. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: victim recants... Convicted stay in jail From: Joe Offer Date: 22 Oct 09 - 08:52 PM Seems to me, that we don't have enough information to form a judgment - although the lack of information seldom stops a lot of people from forming an opinion. If they don't think they'll win in court, defendants often confess to a crime and plead guilty - even though they may not have committed a crime. For various reasons, victims sometimes withdraw allegations of criminal conduct, even though the allegations may be true. So, where's the truth in this case? Maybe Bruce's original "WTF" comment was apropos, and nothing further needs to be said.... -Joe- |
|
Subject: RE: BS: victim recants... Convicted stay in jail From: Stower Date: 23 Oct 09 - 07:24 AM Re. my previous posts: I'll take that as a 'no' then. It seems I was right. My previous posts have been completely ignored because, I'm guessing, they were an attempt to bring some understanding and something positive to this thread. Some of you don't seem interested in that. You'd rather throw insults and engage in verbal scraps. Has that ever brought you anything positive, other than a sense of enraged righteousness and a conviction that the other person is an irredeemable idiot? And do we wonder why politicians don't engage, and why there is so much intransigent conflict in the world? "You must be the change you want to see in the world." - Mohandas Gandhi |
|
Subject: RE: BS: victim recants... Convicted stay in jail From: number 6 Date: 23 Oct 09 - 11:07 AM good one Stower. biLL |
