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3 Aug, 2015

Arrests two suspected terrorists

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Cameroon authorities arrest two suspected members of Boko Haram disguised as female refugees. The men, who were carrying explosives in their luggage, are stopped at the Minawao refugee camp in the north of the country, near the border with Nigeria. Cameroon’s government spokesman says the men are being interrogated. He also says authorities arrested a number of foreigners suspected of collaborating with Boko Haram.

Aug 2015

Sue for video

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Police officers sue to erase videos of their raid of Sky High Collective. Lawyer for Sky High:

It’s pretty pathetic for police to say if we don’t like something that it can’t be used as evidence.

Attorney for Santa Ana Police Officers:

The video was taken without the officers’ knowledge and was handled by Pappas, among others, prior to being made public.

3 Aug, 2015

Lawyers gag guilty plea

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According to his lawyers, Roof wants to plead guilty to all the crimes he has been charged with, but they have advised him not to enter a plea until prosecutors inform the court on whether or not they’ll seek the death penalty.

Roof has told us he wishes to plead guilty. Until we know whether the government will seek the death penalty, we cannot advise Mr. Roof.

The Magistrate enters a not guilty plea for Roof.

Shoplifting arrest

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Richards is released on $5000 bail after spending the night in jail after being accused of taking about $600 in merchandise from a Target store in the Van Nuys area.

Arrested

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Karpeles is arrested at his home by Japanese police who say he accessed a computer system and falsified data on its outstanding balance. Police say Karpeles protested at his arrest and said he will not sign any documents until his lawyer arrives. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police say they believe Karpeles had manipulated transaction records on a computer system that Mt. Gox used to swap Bitcoins for dollars, and had “unjustly inflated the balance” of an account held under his name:

He created false information that $1 million had been transferred into the account, when in fact it had not been.

Karpeles has not been formally charged. Police can detain him for up to 23 days before charging him.

Arrestation de Mark Karpelès, fondateur de la plateforme d'échange de bitcoins Mt. Gox

Zimbabwe seeks extradition

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Muchinguri, Zimbabwe’s environment minister, says the process to extradite Palmer from the United States is underway.

Unfortunately, it was too late to apprehend the foreign poacher as he had already absconded to his country of origin. We are appealing to the responsible authorities for his extradition to Zimbabwe so that he be made accountable. This must be condemned in the strongest possible terms by all genuine, animal-loving conservationists who believe in sustainable utilization of natural resources.

She also says Palmer’s use of a crossbow and arrow to shoot the lion before he was eventually shot and killed with a gun had breached Zimbabwe’s hunting rules.

30 Jul, 2015

Sentenced for breast assault

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Ng is sentenced to jail for three and a half months for assaulting a senior police officer with her breast. Ng Lai-ying tells the court that she yelled “indecent assault” out of fear immediately after the chief inspector’s hand landed on her left breast when he failed to grab the strap of her bag. But the magistrate says she “used her female identity to trump up the allegation that the officer had molested” her, calling that a malicious act that harmed the officer’s reputation. She is bailed pending an appeal.

Pleads not guilty

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Former University of Cincinnati Police Officer Ray Tensing pleads not guilty to charges of murder and voluntary manslaughter. His attorney, Stew Mathews, says that no matter what the body camera seems to show, he is convinced that his client was genuinely scared for his life when the shooting occured.

The guy jams the keys in the ignition. Turns the car on, jams it (into) drive and mashes the accelerator. He wasn’t slowly pulling away. (Tensing) feared for his life. He thought he was going to be sucked under the car that was pulling away from him. He thought he was going to get sucked under and killed.

Released on $1 million bond

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Tensing pleads not guilty in court and is released on bond. Judge Shanahan set;s Tensing’s bond at $1 million. Tensing has his head bowed, eyes closed and does not look at anyone in the court. Tensing’s father and other family members are  in the courtroom during the arraignment. When Shanahan sets the high bond, applause breaks out in the courtroom, and she admonishes the attendees. Tensing’s lawyer says he would do his best to raise the money to get his client out of jail and Tensing leaves the Hamilton County jail eight hours later after spending the night behind bars.

29 Jul, 2015

Turns himself in

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Tensing turns himself in to the Hamilton County Courthouse. Tensing’s Lawyer criticized Joe Deters’ announcement, saying he believes his client “has been thrown under the bus,” and that “what Deters’ said was a disgrace” to Cincinnati law enforcement.

Murder charge

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Tensing is charged by grand jury indicted with murder and voluntary manslaughter. If convicted, Tensing faces a sentence of at least 15 years and as much as life in prison on the murder charge and as much as 11 years on the manslaughter charge. Prosecutor Deters said he would seek life in prison for Tensing:

Can you imagine the outrage you would have if this was your kid, or this was your brother? This guy didn’t deserve to be tased, and he certainly didn’t deserve to be shot in the head. This is the most asinine act I’ve ever seen a police officer make. It was unwarranted. It’s an absolute tragedy that, in the year 2015, anyone would behave in this manner…He wasn’t dealing with someone who was wanted for murder. He was dealing for someone who was wanted for not having a front license plate.

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Guides appear in court

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Bronkhorst and his co-defendant, farm owner Honest Trymore Ndlovu, who were arrested for illegally hunting Cecil, appear in court. The Safari Operators Association of Zimbabwe, has revoked Bronkhurst’s license. Association President:

Ethics are certainly against baiting. Animals are supposed to be given a chance of a fair chase. In fact, it was not a hunt at all. The animal was baited and that is not how we do it. It is not allowed.

The proceedings are delayed because prosecutors are “making their assessments”. If convicted, the men face up to 15 years in prison in Zimbabwe. Later Bronkhurst is released on a $1000 bond.

28 Jul, 2015

Court issues restraining order

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The Los Angeles Superior Court issues a temporary restraining order prohibiting the Center for Medical Progress from releasing any video of three high-ranking StemExpress officials. Planned Parenthood provides StemExpress with fetal tissue. Center for Medical Progress leader:

StemExpress was using meritless litigation to cover up an illegal baby parts trade. The Center for Medical Progress follows all applicable laws in the course of our investigative journalism work.

A spokesman for StemExpress is:

grateful its rights have been vindicated in a court of law.

Lion killer identified

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Zimbabwean authorities say that Palmer, a Minnesota dentist, is responsible for slaying Cecil, a protected lion. Palmer paid at least $50,000 to track and kill the animal. Palmer faces charges of poaching. The conservation group alleges that Palmer worked with the guides to lure Cecil from the national park to an unprotected area by strapping a “dead animal to their vehicle.”

Pleads guilty to aiding escapees

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Mitchell pleads guilty to helping two convicted murderers escape from a maximum security prison last month. She allegedly provided tools to Matt before the escape by concealing them in hamburger meat. She pleads guilty to first-degree promoting prison contraband and fourth-degree criminal facilitation. She faces a prison sentence ranging from 2 1/3 years to 7 years. She also agrees to cooperate with the investigation and give up her teaching certificate. The judge says Mitchell, who wiped away tears while making the plea, could be released on $100,000 cash or $200,000 bond. Mitchell will be sentenced on Sept. 28.