Police Stop Man Who Attacks Murderer In Courtroom

[bluestateguy]

STEUBENVILLE, Ohio -- Chaos erupted in a Jefferson County courtroom on Monday when a murder victim’s father attacked the defendant.

Michael Sweat plunged toward Antonio Clifford, the man who pleaded guilty to aggravated murder in death of Joshua Sweat.

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Michael Sweat was set to walk to the stand to give his victim impact statement.

Instead, he plunged toward the defendant and put his hands around Clifford's neck.

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In the end, no deputies or officers were left injured, and that's why Abdalla said he didn't arrest sweat.

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http://www.wtov9.com/news/13835663/detail.html

Let me emphasize once again, that this man was already found guilty of murder.

[mikelgb]

1. His emotions got the better of him

[TechBear_Seattle]

2. And let it be made perfectly clear...

If Sweat layed one finger on Clifford, he committed assault and should have been arrested. His target is irrelevant.

But then, justice and equality under the law is not something we find much of in this country.

[bluestateguy]

5. IF a jury would have convicted him

you have to get a jury of 12 men and women to find him guilty. I'm not so sure that a jury would have convicted him.

[TechBear_Seattle]

11. So assault is acceptable if you might get off free?

That sounds like Rethug philosophy.

Anyway, juries are allowed only to decide whether the evidence is sufficient to carry the charges. If someone assaults another in open court, with dozens of witnesses, it would be extremely difficult -- and a gross miscarriage of justice -- for a jury not to convict. But, if one were to assume that Rethugs have the right of it....

[bluestateguy]

12. I did not say that

But if a jury does not convict someone, then as far as the law is concerned, they are not guilty.

Jury nullification happens more often than people realize. Even though judges and prosecutors don't like to admit it, a jury is well within their rights to refuse to find someone guilty if they feel he or she is being unfairly prosecuted by the state.

[derby378]

3. I feel for Sweat, but I'm increasingly leery of victim impact statements

Not only can they affect the final sentence in many cases, but it seems like it counters Aristotle's old assertion that the law is "reason free from passion."

[RL3AO]

4. So the cops should have just let Sweat kill the guy?

[Gold Metal Flake]

10. Who said that?

Or are you suggesting they should have?

[Ikonoklast]

6. I would have given him, oh, say, thirty seconds or so

If I was the deputy.

[NYVet]

7. Under the court of law

He would have been charged with assault


Under the court of Jon


He would have been handed a baton and told to swing for the kneecaps to cripple the bastard









Edit for spelling

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

8. The law was being pragmatic

There would be little chance that the father would be convicted of assault, and the time and resources of the court would be better served trying another case.

But it might behoove this court to think about the protocols surrounding a victim impact statement in the future.

Let's remember that the reason we developed courts was basically so that we wouldn't have mob rule. And I feel for the cops who sometimes have to control emotional folks. I still recall when a little girl was abducted, raped, and murdered in a small town in Southern Illinois. They caught the guy and there was enough evidence that it was certain he was the guy. The ENTIRE TOWN went to the courthouse and asked that the sheriff release the perp to them. Instead, the sheriff spirited him away to northern Illinois, where he was tried on change of venue and convicted to a long prison term. But if it wasn't for the sheriff, he wouldn't have been alive.

[Elidor]

9. Quite an "impact statement"

Short and to the point. I give him 4 out of 5 stars.

[lpbk2713]

13. Arresting the dad and sending him to trial would have been a waste of time and money.

His attorney would have pleaded temporary insanity, that he acted out of the immense stress of the moment. The jury would have deliberated, oh, about thirty seconds and then everyone would go home. I don't think whether his actions were legally or morally right or wrong would have factored into their decision.

[brentspeak]

14. The piece of filth who murdered Mr. Sweat's son deserved to have been throttled

I can't say I blame Mr. Sweat for trying to send the killer back down to Hell, but there's no good reason for the father to end up in prison himself.

[Quantess]

15. He shouldn't have done it, but, I sure don't blame him!

I'm sure a lot of onlookers quietly, secretly, cheered.