Cheney Could Face Charges in Shooting

[leftchick]

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=1623620

DALLAS Feb 15, 2006 (AP)— If the man wounded by Dick Cheney dies, the vice president could in theory at least face criminal charges, even though the shooting was an accident.

Dallas defense attorney David Finn, who has been a state and a federal prosecutor, said Wednesday that a Texas grand jury could bring a charge of criminally negligent homicide if there is evidence the vice president knew or should have known "there was a substantial or unjustifiable risk that his actions would result in him shooting a fellow hunter."

"The risk must be of such a nature and degree that it got to be pretty outrageous that a reasonable person would have to say, `I am not pulling the trigger because this other guy might be in front of me,'" Finn said.

The charge carries up to two years behind bars, but with no previous felonies Cheney would be eligible for probation, the former prosecutor said.



Vice President Dick Cheney, center, walks back to his office in the White House after doing a television interview, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2006, in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. At right is Mary Mataline, Cheney's former communication director. Man at left is unidentified. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

[Timefortruth]

1. It will never happen, never

The sheriff won't investigate and the prosecutor won't try to convince the GJ.

[Jack from Charlotte]

6. Chaney done "Laura Bushed" the other hunter. *

*

[KurtNYC]

2. Isn't DUI a felony? re: "no previous felonies"

2 of them

[JuniperLea]

3. It is the responsibility of all shooters/hunters

to know where the other people in his party are at all times. Know... not think you know, or thought he was over here...

Otherwise, it is extremely negligent as far as I'm concerned.

Whenever you carry a loaded gun, you are at risk of shooting someone else, period. So responsible people act responsibly. Period.

[lovuian]

4. What worries me is Whittington protected from Cheney

its scary that Cheney is speaking for Whittington... I would like a statement from Whittington...

[Trevelyan]

9. I would like a statement from the victim also -- According to Molly Ivins

Whittington was a liberal Republican (for Texas) and sounds like he really cared about the abuse of prisoners and conditions in American prisons and was very active in stopping the abuse. Molly was calling him a liberal Republican and "one of the good ones." She also quoted him as saying "prisons are to crime what greenhouses are to plants."

He also lobbied to ban the execution of retarded people, as well as, to keep them out of general prison populations.

"Heard on Democracy Now http://www.democracynow.org/...

Austin investigative reporter on Whittington:
"He is a wonderful guy, personally very warm. He's been active in state politics trying to -- doing volunteer work, trying to improve the state's prison system, mental health systems. He's volunteered -- sits as the chairman of the Texas Funeral Service Commission. He's a very personally very honorable guy and a man of tremendous principle. And Democrats and Republicans alike have tremendous respect for him."

Also Whittington was first taken to Kingsville hospital instead of larger, preferred Corpus Christi hospital WHY?????????? (This according to Paul Burka of Texas Monthly who also questioned this kind of physical trauma from 90 feet away.)"

"Smoking Gun Cheney Accident Report... accidental head shot??...shooting lil birds??

somebody posted a nasty hunting story about the PTB and they were not hunting 4 legged critters

Ever hear of the short story :"'The most dangerous game"?"

[VegasWolf]

5. Cheney, the Mighty Hunter shooting fat quails with clipped wings

released from a trap just in front of him. No wonder he had no stomach for Vietnam.

[Ladyhawk]

7. Yeah, and monkeys might fly out my butt. n/t

[Gidney N Cloyd]

8. Just get Frist to say Whittington is still alive.