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    UncleCCClaudiusEnid Shaw
    9/17/14 6:53pm

    Wilson wasn't under any obligation to testify

    The fuck? I was called before a Grand Jury because my name was on a scrap of paper in a trash can. I was served in front of about 100 people by six guys in suits and sunglasses at 1 AM. This guy blows away a kid with his arms up and it's all "we're having a get together, it's totally chill if you want to drop by."

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      missopinionUncleCCClaudius
      9/17/14 7:01pm

      The Grand Jury hears the prosecutors case and looks at the evidence they have. The defendant for any case is never obligated to testify no matter the nature of the crime. In fact sometimes it's advisable that they stay away from the grand jury as everything they say will count as under oath testimony and can be used against them in a trial. They also testify without a lawyer.

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      Taint NuttinUncleCCClaudius
      9/17/14 7:06pm

      I was served in front of about 100 people by six guys in suits and sunglasses at 1 AM.

      It's alright. Even the best of us lose dance battles every now and then.

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    ihatebrasEnid Shaw
    9/17/14 7:08pm

    "We just want to be more open," a spokesman for McCulloch's office said, according to the Associated Press.

    Mmmmmm Hmmmmm... because so far you guys have been super good at that whole transparency thing.

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      KRITIK4LM4SSihatebras
      9/17/14 7:17pm

      I want to like your comment, but there's that abomination of a pop star (and that's coming from someone who grew up loving Ace of Base) that's keeping me from looking at my screen.

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      ihatebrasKRITIK4LM4SS
      9/17/14 7:23pm

      I agree she is an abomination but since Darren Wilson is an abomination of a police officer and Ferguson is an abomination of police and government it felt appropriate.

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    Windier E. MegatonsEnid Shaw
    9/17/14 6:44pm

    Sitting in a room practicing a version of the story that makes him look as good as possible, no doubt.

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      kareemaWindier E. Megatons
      9/17/14 6:55pm

      Along with a shitload of lawyers.

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    Multi-CarnieEnid Shaw
    9/17/14 7:43pm

    The fact that Wilson testified is another reason I think the grand jury here is set up to fail, or rather to not indict.

    As other people have noted, typically, the grand jury's role is to hear the prosecution's case and decide whether, if everything the prosecution says is true, there could be a conviction. This is usually pretty cut and dry. When my mother was on a grand jury in Illinois, they heard literally dozens of cases a day and issued the indictment in all but about two cases. (Apparently, suburbanites in Illinois really like cocaine). In other words, you usually have to try to not get an indictment.

    I think that's what's happening here. It sounds like McCullogh is giving the jury "all the information and letting them decide" in the same way that creationists want students to have "all the information" so they can make their own decision. He's putting a big fat thumb on the scale under the guise of fairness and transparency. That's not what the grand jury process is for.

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      KatAMulti-Carnie
      9/17/14 9:28pm

      Yeah, it's looking like it's heading toward Zimmerman territory. Where the prosecutors are clearly against the charges but are filing them to appease the public. I have little faith in their prosecutorial abilities even if the grand jury does indict.

      Though Ferguson has a large minority population and the police have seemingly been out of control for a while, so they may surprise us with an indictment.

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    CleverUsernameEnid Shaw
    9/18/14 8:50am

    I'm a little surprised that, in the age of social media, being publicly outed isn't more of a deterrent for violent cops.

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      boobsmcgee223Enid Shaw
      9/17/14 6:57pm

      Hoo boy, how about that Grand County Jury!

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        Enid Shawboobsmcgee223
        9/17/14 7:03pm

        Bear with me. I'm extremely old.

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      OnlyHappyWhenItDoesntRainEnid Shaw
      9/17/14 6:58pm

      St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCulloch also announced today that audio recordings and transcripts of the grand jury investigations will be released to the public in the event that Wilson isn't indicted.

      This is not a really hopeful statement. So, even if all the audio recordings and transcripts are released "in the event that Wilson isn't indicted", it won't make up for the fact that this trial is being conducted by a grand jury, which is essentially an invisible silent trial...where the effectiveness of testimony, and proof are decided in secret.

      Why doesn't McCulloch get that, and why is he STILL getting away with this crap?

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        That's a WinnerEnid Shaw
        9/17/14 9:13pm

        Not only was the suspect armed, he was double armed. And he had them in the air, which made me fear for my life.

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