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Title: Michael Brelo Shoots Through Windshield at Unarmed Couple 15 Times: Found Not Guilty
Source:
Reason
URL Source: http://reason.com/
Published: May 23, 2015
Author: Brian Doherty
Post Date: 2015-05-23 18:48:37 by Deckard
Keywords: None
Views: 21033
Comments: 92
Some people in Cleveland back in November 2012 thought they heard a gun firing. It was a car backfiring. So they chased the car from which they imagined the gunshot came at high speeds, often reaching 100 mph, for 20 miles, themselves shooting at or into that car 137 times. One of the shooters, named Michael Brelo, leapt on the hood of the car after it was halted and shot 15 times. The people inside the car, Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams, were, predictably, murdered in this barrage of 137 gunshots all told. They were unarmed. Do you think Brelo committed a crime? Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge John P. O'Donnell didn't think so. This morning a trial for Brelo (the only one of the group of 13 people responsible charged with any crime, in this case "voluntary manslaughter") ended with a verdict from the judge of not guilty. Why? How? Oh wait—did I forget to mention Brelo was a police officer? Never mind! But the reasoning was, according to the Columbus Dispatch report: There wasn't any way to be sure beyond a reasonable doubt that it was the specific bullets that Brelo fired that ended Russell and Williams's life, after a nearly hour-long summation of his conclusion, an involved explanation of the decision that involved mannequins marked with the gunshot wounds that the two motorists suffered. As NPR summed up: it was impossible to determine beyond a reasonable doubt that either suspect would have survived if not for Brelo's shots. He also determined that Brelo's use of force was constitutionally reasonable given that he and other officers perceived that Russell and Williams posed a threat. "It is Brelo's perception of a threat that matters," O'Donnell said. Have a great weekend, Cleveland. Ed Krayewski blogged about this case in January, last November (about the $3 million civil wrongful death suit payout from the city over the murder, er, "incident"), and June. Brian Doherty is a senior editor at Reason magazine and author of Ron Paul’s Revolution: The Man and the Movement He Inspired (Broadside Books).
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#1. To: Deckard (#0)
(Edited)
Let the rioting and looting begin.... http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/05/demonstrators_react_to_brelo_v.html
Isn't that how we roll? A constitutional trial by peer or trial by judge... defendants choice. He was found not guilty. Ok... it pisses off the cop haters even though THIS WAS HOW OUR FOREFATHERS SET UP OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. I find it kinda funny, when a JURY NULLIFICATION happens in Florida, acquitting a drug addled shitbag, the cop haters SMILE... now it's time for me to smile.
Every society gets the kind of criminal it deserves. What is equally true is that every community gets the kind of law enforcement it insists on. Robert Kennedy
Wow! Judge John P. O’Donnell!! So, Judge O'Donnell was decider of Brelo verdict. The prosecution and the defense could not have asked for a better judge. O'Donnell has reputation as a careful jurist. He doesn’t cut corners from the bench, his deliberativeness means taking all steps necessary to arrive at a legal answer. O'Donnell tries so hard to represent both sides, looking for a middle ground,” Like a true judge, O;Donnnell analyzes and assesses almost every move and every statement.
Are you saying the judge listed to the evidence and held for the officer? How is this justice and why shouldn't Cleveland be burnt to the ground in a righteous uprising? Besides don't Ohio State football fans erupt in destructive conduct when the Buckeyes being home a championship?
The Patriot Militia, Inc.
Bet you're laughing about this shit-bag cop getting off scot-free for drunk driving.
There is no mention of a jury.
It's OK, he's a cop. Why should they bother with a jury?
Nah, I'm too busy laughing about this shit-bag pastor stealing thousands from church. Kingsport pastor charged with stealing thousands from church
It's the defendants choice to choose between a jury trial or a trial decided by a judge. If Deckard knew anything about the criminal justice system and constitution, he'd have told you that. He's obviously ignorant. Now, with that said, you don't see many defendants choose just a judge trial... that's risky. It's better odds to get just ONE jury member to have a reasonable DOUBT... then just one judge. Next the conspiracy clan will scream a pay off to the judge.
Every society gets the kind of criminal it deserves. What is equally true is that every community gets the kind of law enforcement it insists on. Robert Kennedy
Judge John P. O’Donnell, decider of Cleveland police verdict, has reputation as careful jurist
The whole article is ignorant. He was found NOT GUILTY. Nothing happening here, move on, stop the AGENDA drama... the story posted by the sites drama queen.
Every society gets the kind of criminal it deserves. What is equally true is that every community gets the kind of law enforcement it insists on. Robert Kennedy
Nothing happening here, move on At times like this it's traditional for the cops to riot for additional government handouts, and loot too. Routine graft and corruption, nothing new. They've got the riot gear, they're trained to riot, and paid well to do so. There's no doubt that they will. Professional rioters attack the press and peaceful demonstrators. Community Agitators, on the prowl.
Cops have their own constitution. The LEOBoR protects police officers from being treated as we are treated during criminal investigations: questioned unmercifully for hours on end, harassed, harangued, browbeaten, denied food, water and bathroom breaks, subjected to hostile interrogations, and left in the dark about our accusers and any charges and evidence against us. Not only are officers given a 10-day “cooling-off period” during which they cannot be forced to make any statements about the incident, but when they are questioned, it must be “for a reasonable length of time, at a reasonable hour, by only one or two investigators (who must be fellow policemen), and with plenty of breaks for food and water.” According to investigative journalist Eli Hager, the most common rights afforded police officers accused of wrongdoing are as follows: It’s a pretty sweet deal if you can get it, I suppose: protection from the courts, immunity from wrongdoing, paid leave while you’re under investigation, and the assurance that you won’t have to spend a dime of your own money in your defense. And yet these LEOBoR epitomize everything that is wrong with America today.
Check out them troopers...are they storm troopers?
A great book, and a pretty good movie.
The greatest job security LE has... is Deckard himself. lol
Every society gets the kind of criminal it deserves. What is equally true is that every community gets the kind of law enforcement it insists on. Robert Kennedy
The only problem with the cops is that they don't use those sticks to club 'protestors' like baby seals.
The Patriot Militia, Inc.
Every society gets the kind of criminal it deserves. What is equally true is that every community gets the kind of law enforcement it insists on. Robert Kennedy I'll have to disagree with you on this one. Our system may have been set u this way. But when it gets something wrong it is no reason to smile or celebrate. Unarmed innocent people were murdered. The fix was obviously in. Judges almost always automatically say guilty.
The judge leg a murderer free. Your defintion of a good judge is shit. You have forever lowered yourself in my view and others.
Brelo's attorney Pat D'Angelo filed the voluminous motion late Monday asking that O'Donnell be disqualified from hearing the case. "The actions of Judge O'Donnell in selecting the trial date of October 22, 2014 was purely for his own personal gain and personal interest in seeking election in his Ohio Supreme Court judicial race, against a sitting Ohio Supreme Court Justice," D'Angelo said, laying out his argument in 17 pages. (See the first 17 pages of the filing in a document viewer below or click here.) "The exposure the trial of this case will provide will personally benefit Judge O'Donnell with free publicity, and free publication of his name and image throughout the State of Ohio, conveniently for 13 days leading to election day." The Ohio Supreme Court, which will decide the case, will first give O'Donnell a chance to respond, a court spokesman said. The motion includes hundreds of pages of pre-trial transcripts, dockets from other O'Donnell cases and sworn statements from two other defense attorneys also representing Brelo. D'Angelo says they prove the judge is treating Brelo differently than other criminal defendants, who were arrested before his client and don't have trial set until after his – despite the fact many of their cases are less complex. He said the judge refused to consider the schedules of the defense attorneys despite doing so in other cases. O'Donnell "has demonstrated by his actions that he has an agenda and it has nothing to do with providing Officer Brelo a fair trial," D'Angelo says in the filing, which is the only time he's asked for a judge to be removed from a case in his 37-year career. Pretrial for Michael Brelo and other Cleveland police officers involved in deadly chase The case stems from the Nov. 29, 2012 cross-city police chase after which 13 Cleveland officers fired 137 bullets toward a car driven by Timothy Russell, killing him and his passenger, Malissa Williams. Police thought the pair was armed but an investigation later determined they likely were not. Actions of 12 of the officers were ruled justified and all but 15 rounds fired by Brelo were ruled justified as well. It is the final 15 rounds on which prosecutors are basing their case. O'Donnell has not responded to calls for comment on the filing. His Nov. 4 opponent, Justice Judi French, a Republican, declined through a spokesman to comment. Monday night, the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's office called D'Angelo's move a tactic to delay the trial. In an emailed statement the office said D'Angelo, "has resorted to the only low road remaining: personal and cheap attacks on the integrity of a fine judge, without evidence or basis in fact." Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Timothy J. McGinty has asked that D'Angelo be removed from representing Brelo. He has argued that D'Angelo has a conflict of interest in representing Brelo and the police union he belongs to, including 23 other Cleveland police officers who are potential witnesses in the case. D'Angelo also notes in the filing that the amount of evidence prosecutors have provided to defense attorneys need to review is the equivalent of 37 2-hour high definition movies, 74,285 high definition photos or more data than the entire Wikipedia encyclopedia. The information took a police union official more than 70 hours to transfer electronically so Brelo's other attorneys could access it, D'Angelo said. McGinty has responded to D'Angelo's arguments about the volume of evidence in the case previously, saying most of the evidence has been public since shortly after the shooting occurred, after Attorney General Mike DeWine released it in February 2013. McGinty also said D'Angelo was present when most officers gave statements. D'Angelo, in the filing, also takes umbrage with the trial being set on Oct. 22, which is also the a national day of protest by the "Oct. 22 Coalition to Stop Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation." Demonstrations are planned in cities across the country as part of the effort, according to the website October22.org. "These matters are not a mere coincidence," D'Angelo said in the filing. McGinty responded in an email specifically to that portion of D'Angelo's filing saying, "If the defense attorney actually believes that a judge would purposely set a trial date to coincide with a totally obscure organization that no one in this courthouse has ever heard of, then the poor guy is obviously suffering from a touch of paranoia." Good judge huh??
“Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
Looks like O'donnel should be tried as an accessory to murder. Then executed.
He does kinda look like he's a few cards shy of a full deck.
“Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
What if his car backfired. Then some thug cops came and execxuted him his wife and kids. That wouldn't be murder would it? Justice?
The investigation showed they were unarmed which is kinda surprising, you would have thought they would have "found" a whole arsenal in the car even though there were no bullet holes in any of the cop cars. At least any holes they wanted seen maybe they were shooting up each other during the chase? Leading the cops on a long chase even after been shot a couple of times wasn't too smart, guess that makes them guilty of something and worth being executed. At least it looks that way since "Urkel" was found not guilty even though the final "Cowboy scene" of jumping on the hood of the car and dumping his whole mag into them wasn't necessary..
“Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
If someone unloaded an ak47 into Michael Brelos head. That wouldn't be murder?
Good point. The "nullification" door swings both ways. Just goes to show what happens when we go by the rule of man, not the rule of law.
I'm not positive, but can't a defendant request a verdict by the trial judge instead of a jury?
What is this, 1920? They were driving a 1979 Chevy Malibu. They "backfire" a lot? While at high speed? If they had a gun, they threw it out the window during the 45-minute, 100 mph chase. Why were they fleeing the police?
The others don’t matter to me, you do. If someone doesn’t like something, it doesn’t mean that someone else has to not like it too. Before criticizing and judging someone’s statement or action, consider that they may have some reason for them. In doing that, a person cultivates tolerance to help them better understand people and judge them less. If one is to grow as a person and become wiser, then one should learn how to respect the right of other people to have opinions of their own. “Forever”…you say? If you meant that, then I will respectfully and kindly say goodbye to you and LF.
I don't see how you condone this. And still call yourself moral.
137 rounds were fired at the couple -- 15 of them by the cop on trial, 122 by others. Now, without hearing the evidence, seeing the evidence, reading the evidence, and with less legal background than the trial judge, you believe beyond a reasonable doubt that it was the 15 rounds fired by the defendant that killed the two people in the car. #1. Bullshit. #2. You're the reason why the defendant chose a bench trial.
It would appear to me that you read one sentence in one article and formed a STRONG opinion from that. The Judge listened testimony for days from all sides and made a decision from that. I condone the right of the Judge to make the decision he finds proper. He is a respected Judge by both the prosecution and defense. “While I may not always agree with the decision of a Judge, I will forever agree with his right to make the decision.” It is our American system of justice….it is all we have. If you meant that, then I will respectfully and kindly say goodbye to you and LF.
If they followed standard prosecutorial protocols, anybody who fired a shot would have been charged and convicted of murder, at least as the laws apply to the average american citizen.
Stone, I expressed my opinion. You had a right to also express your opinion. Instead of doing that, you attacked me personally and said I had forever lowered myself in your view, and then assumed the authority to say the same for others. As if that were not enough, you then proceeded with your display of apparently uncontrolled emotion to pronounced judgment on my morals….by proclaiming that “I can’t call myself moral.” Stone, it is obvious to me that you let your emotion override your good judgment, common sense and courtesy. I sincerely wish that had not happened. But it did. It is therefore with deep regret, that I must inform you that I can no longer share views and exchange information with you, because you now hold me in contempt with such a low opinion of me (forever) and consider my morals less than a standard set by you. I hold no animosity towards you in any way and I wish you well in life. With warmest personal regards,
The argument isn't about guilt or innocence, that's been settled, it's now about high capacity magazines & the number of rounds fired. Isn't it ironic that some people who squawk about the # of shots the cop fired want no such restriction (correctly so) on themselves? Logically it would hold that they'd also support more gun control, such as laws in NY and NJ which limit the number of rounds a citizen can have in his gun.
The Patriot Militia, Inc.
Don't let the door hit you in the a$$. Your attempt to paint yourself as some kind of "victim" of a meanie site owner has FAILED! You self destructed. LOLAY, retarded canary.
Oh the poor delicate man! What a sniveling little dweeb Gatlin has turned out to be.
Comments (42 - 92) not displayed.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/LatestHave a great weekend, Cleveland.
The D&R terrorists hate us because we're free, to vote second party
"We (government) need to do a lot less, a lot sooner" ~Ron Paul
#2. To: All (#0)
ended with a verdict from the judge of not guilty.
#3. To: Deckard (#0)
(Edited)
...Judge John P. O’Donnell...
#4. To: Gatlin (#3)
#5. To: GrandIsland, Gatlin, hondo68 (#2)
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Americans who have no experience with, or knowledge of, tyranny believe that only terrorists will experience the unchecked power of the state. They will believe this until it happens to them, or their children, or their friends.
Paul Craig Roberts
#6. To: Deckard (#0)
Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge John P. O'Donnell didn't think so. This morning a trial for Brelo (the only one of the group of 13 people responsible charged with any crime, in this case "voluntary manslaughter") ended with a verdict from the judge of not guilty.
#7. To: rlk (#6)
There is no mention of a jury.
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Americans who have no experience with, or knowledge of, tyranny believe that only terrorists will experience the unchecked power of the state. They will believe this until it happens to them, or their children, or their friends.
Paul Craig Roberts
#8. To: Deckard, GrandIsland, hondo68 (#5)
Bet you're laughing about this shit-bag cop getting off scot-free for drunk driving.
#9. To: rlk (#6)
There is no mention of a jury.
#10. To: GrandIsland, rlk (#9)
(Edited)
#11. To: Deckard, rlk (#7)
Why should they bother with a jury?
#12. To: Gatlin (#10)
#13. To: GrandIsland, paid well to riot (#12)
He was found NOT GUILTY
The D&R terrorists hate us because we're free, to vote second party
"We (government) need to do a lot less, a lot sooner" ~Ron Paul
#14. To: GrandIsland (#2)
Isn't that how we roll? A constitutional trial by peer or trial by judge... defendants choice.
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Americans who have no experience with, or knowledge of, tyranny believe that only terrorists will experience the unchecked power of the state. They will believe this until it happens to them, or their children, or their friends.
Paul Craig Roberts
#15. To: hondo68 (#13)
#16. To: hondo68, Fred Mertz (#13)
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Americans who have no experience with, or knowledge of, tyranny believe that only terrorists will experience the unchecked power of the state. They will believe this until it happens to them, or their children, or their friends.
Paul Craig Roberts
#17. To: Fred Mertz (#15)
are they storm troopers?
The D&R terrorists hate us because we're free, to vote second party
"We (government) need to do a lot less, a lot sooner" ~Ron Paul
#18. To: Deckard (#16)
(Edited)
WHEN THIS ….................…. BECAME THIS
#19. To: Gatlin (#18)
(Edited)
WHEN THIS ….................…. BECAME THIS
#20. To: hondo68 (#13)
#21. To: GrandIsland, Gatlin (#2)
Isn't that how we roll? A constitutional trial by peer or trial by judge... defendants choice. He was found not guilty. Ok... it pisses off the cop haters even though THIS WAS HOW OUR FOREFATHERS SET UP OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. I find it kinda funny, when a JURY NULLIFICATION happens in Florida, acquitting a drug addled shitbag, the cop haters SMILE... now it's time for me to smile.
#22. To: Gatlin (#11)
No need to when the have an outstanding judge.
#23. To: Gatlin (#3)
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Free publicity motivated Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge John P. O'Donnell to set an unreasonable Oct. 22 trial date in the voluntary manslaughter case of Cleveland Patrolman Michael Brelo, according to an affidavit filed with the Ohio Supreme Court.
#24. To: CZ82, Gatlin (#23)
#25. To: A K A Stone (#24)
#26. To: CZ82 (#25)
#27. To: A K A Stone (#26)
#28. To: CZ82 (#27)
(Edited)
#29. To: GrandIsland (#2)
"when a JURY NULLIFICATION happens in Florida, acquitting a drug addled shitbag, the cop haters SMILE... now it's time for me to smile."
#30. To: rlk (#6)
"There is no mention of a jury."
#31. To: Deckard (#0)
"Some people in Cleveland back in November 2012 thought they heard a gun firing. It was a car backfiring."
#32. To: A K A Stone (#22)
You have forever lowered yourself in my view and others.
#33. To: Gatlin (#32)
#34. To: A K A Stone (#33)
"I don't see how you condone this."
#35. To: A K A Stone (#33)
“Forever”…you say?
#36. To: misterwhite (#34)
137 rounds were fired at the couple--15 of them by the cop on trial. 122 by others.
#37. To: A K A Stone (#33)
Gatlin
#38. To: Gatlin (#35)
#39. To: misterwhite (#31)
(Edited)
Why were they fleeing the police?
To get away from the dumb bastards trying to kill them...
#40. To: Gatlin, not a victim, opus?, what a maroon, A K A Stone (#37)
The D&R terrorists hate us because we're free, to vote second party
"We (government) need to do a lot less, a lot sooner" ~Ron Paul
#41. To: hondo68 (#40)
Don't let the door hit you in the a$$. Your attempt to paint yourself as some kind of "victim" of a meanie site owner has FAILED!
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Americans who have no experience with, or knowledge of, tyranny believe that only terrorists will experience the unchecked power of the state. They will believe this until it happens to them, or their children, or their friends.
Paul Craig Roberts
.
.
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