Indicted
Slager is indicted by a grand jury on a murder charge in connection with the April shooting death Scott. Under South Carolina law, there is only a single murder charge, which was described by the prosecutor as an “unlawful killing with malice aforethought”.
As long as malice is proven in the heart and mind, the state has proven its case.
Slager’s attorney:
The grand jury is a formal step, but just another step in the criminal process. Until we have an opportunity to fully evaluate the state’s case and to compare it with our own investigation, we will not be commenting on any aspect of the case.
Scott’s family:
We are happy and pleased about that right now.
Judge gives more time to settle dispute
A judge gives Williams wife and adult children until the end of July to settle their differences. There are over 300 items still in contention along with money to maintain one of his houses. Williams children claim his widow is:
adding insult to a terrible injury by trying to change the trust agreement and rob [us] of items [our] father clearly intended [us] to have.
Williams widow’s attorney says she is:
an emotionally grieving widow who is trying to honor her husband.
Indicted by grand jury
Mosby announces grand jury indictments against the police officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray.
These past two weeks, my team has been presenting evidence to a grand jury that just today returned indictments against all six officers.
Arraignment against the officers in the case is scheduled for July 2
‘Not responsible’ for male sex assault
Nungesser is found “not responsible” for any sexual assault on Adam, his alleged male victim, due to contradictions within Adam’s account and to Facebook exchanges between the two men. Adam had alleged that during a private conversation between the two men, in response to “relationship troubles” between him and his then-girlfriend (the “Natalie” who would later accuse Nungesser of assault) Nungesser massaged Adam’s back and shoulder and then gently pushed him down and massaged his crotch for approximately two to three minutes, while he was frozen in shock. Nungesser said that there was no sexual contact between the two during this conversation.
Additionally, the Alpha Delta Phi officer known as “Leila” who testified on behalf of Adam is the same person who wrote an email to the ADP listserv calling for Nungesser’s resignation and allegedly encouraged other members to come forward against Nungesser. Investigators:
At the time of the Complainant’s initial disclosure, at least several of his close friends and co-fraternity members were engaged in a process intended to evict the Respondent from the fraternity house.
Sues Cosby for defamation
Dickinson sues Cosby for defamation over denials made by the comedian’s representatives after she accused him of raping her in 1982. She seeks unspecified damages on defamation, false light and intentional infliction of emotional distress, and claims she has been further victimized and her reputation has suffered because of denials by Cosby’s attorney that the comedian drugged and raped her in a Lake Tahoe, California, hotel room. Suit:
Cosby knows that he drugged and raped Ms Dickinson. He knew that calling her rape disclosure a lie was a false statement.
Charged
Hughes is indicted by a federal grand jury on six charges, including three violations of national defense airspace, operating a vehicle falsely labeled as a postal carrier, operating as an airman without certification and violation registration requirements. The latter two charges are felonies. He faces up to 9 ½ years in prison.
170 held on $1m bond each
Around 170 motorcycle gang members are charged with engaging in organized crime in connection to the shootings, which are now considered a capital murder case “because of the number of people killed in one episode.” The gang members are each being held on $1 million bonds. Police:
That’s a pretty severe charge — engaging in organized crime in reference to nine individuals killed. It doesn’t get much more significant than that. There may be warrants on individuals that may be attached to that as well, but that’s a pretty serious charge…I can tell you that yesterday’s events started as bad guys on bad guys,” said Swanton. “When our officers got there and intervened in the active-shooter situation, those bad guys turned their hostility on our officers, which included Waco and DPS.
Some 50 weapons — including knives, brass knuckles, chains and clubs — have been recovered from the scene so far. Police:
These were bad-guy weapons. They ranged from brass knucks to knives to chains to clubs and to firearms. This was a true gang fight…What I want you all to understand: This is not a bunch of doctors and dentists and lawyers riding Harleys. These are criminals on Harley-Davidsons that are members of a criminal biker gang, and we know who they are. We know which clubs that they’re with.
Ex-wife, son sue for $250,000
Lemon’s ex-wife and younger son are suing him for $250,000 in child support. The basketball player’s former wife says he left her buried in bills and with little money to support her children. When the couple divorced in 1977, Lemon claimed he no longer had the income to pay court-ordered child support because he had left the Globetrotters. Lemon, who is now a motivational speaker in Arizona, said he will contest the matter in Connecticut court.
I don’t know what they are doing. John is 48 years old now. I don’t know if he is running out of money, but if that is so he ought to get out and get a job. My former wife was a good wife.
Generals arrested
Three army generals and two police generals are arrested for plotting a failed coup attempt against Nkurunziza, along with three lower-ranking officers and eight soldiers. One of the generals arrested is a former defense minister. Gen. Niyombare, is in hiding and has not yet been arrested.
Arrested
Apperson is arrested on one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, one count of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and one count of firing a deadly missile into a vehicle. Apperson turned himself into police and bond is set at $35,000. Police said they determined Apperson fired his gun at Zimmerman without provocation. Zimmerman’s lawyer says Zimmerman was in town for Mother’s Day and was on his way to the doctor when he noticed Apperson following him. He made a U-Turn, and Apperson followed. Then, he said, he caught up with Zimmerman and pulled along side his truck and fired a bullet into the side window. Apperson’s lawyer.
We expected this as Mr. Apperson, under the advice of counsel and exercising his Constitutional right did not provide additional statements to law enforcement. He had already made statements and this is deemed sufficient, as of now. Mr. Zimmerman apparently did make statements and as such, it appears a decision was made to arrest on the basis of Mr. Zimmerman’s statements. That is neither unusual nor was it unexpected.
Death sentence
Tsarnaev is sentenced to death. There was no visible reaction from Tsarnaev as the sentence is delivered. The jury’s verdict marks the first time in the post-9/11 era that federal prosecutors have won the death penalty in a terrorism case. Tsarnaev will likely be sent to the federal death row in Terre Haute, Indiana.
Charged with theft of school money
Five people are charged with theft of more than 870,000 from Chicago Public School System. All are charged with felony theft of government property. The charges are the result of a joint investigation of the Chicago Public Schools inspector general and Cook County state’s attorney’s office. Although the Inspector General is not commenting until after the bond hearing, officials say:
Charges have been expected in this case for some time. Three of the men [have been] arrested while the two others are still being sought.
Not liable in coffee spill case
Jury rules Starbucks is not liable for damages after Kohr claims he suffered third-degree burns when his cup collapsed, spilling his free coffee in his lap. Ten jury members vote in favour of Starbucks. Kohr thanks jurors:
I really appreciate their time, doing their civic duty, and helping us with our dispute. We thank everybody for the support and we’re looking forward to moving on and putting this behind us and moving forward.
Sentenced to three and a half years
Sterling is sentenced to three-and-a-half years in federal prison for giving journalist classified information about an operation to retard Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Judge Brinkema says she was swayed to reduce the sentence — which could have been between 19 years and seven months at the low end and 24 years and five months on the high end — due to Sterling’s accomplishments, but that he had caused particular damage by effectively revealing the identity of a man working with the CIA and that he deserved a harsher penalty than other recently accused leakers because he had not pleaded guilty and admitted wrongdoing.
If you do knowingly reveal these secrets, there’s going to be a price to be paid.
Sterling’s lawyers praise the sentence:
In some cases, the jury gets it wrong. That said, the judge today got it right.
Brinkema allows Sterling to remain out on bond untilprison officials determine when and where he will serve his sentence.
Defendants want Mosby removed
Attorneys for the police officers file a motion to dismiss the case or assign it to someone other than the city’s top prosecutor, who they say has too many conflicts of interest to remain objective. At a minimum, the request State’s Attorney Mosby should be replaced with an independent prosecutor, saying her prosecution has been “overzealous” and “politically motivated.”
The motion for her dismissal argues that part of the reason she acted so swiftly was to quash riots in West Baltimore, where Mosby’s husband is a city councilman. A separate motion argues that her rapid decision could be at odds with a law that requires a thorough investigation prior to filing charges.
The need to quell the raging inferno of human rage and revulsion within the confines of the 7th District was emergent. These officers soon found themselves offered up to the masses by Mrs. Mosby to quell the uprising that caused most harm to the district where her husband is the City Council representative.
Suspects charged
The four suspects in the murder of two police officers in Mississippi during a routine traffic stop are charged. Joanie Calloway, 22, is charged with two counts of capital murder, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation said Sunday. Marvin Banks, 29, also faces two counts of capital murder, along with counts of grand theft auto and felon in possession of a firearm. Police charge his brother, Curtis Banks, with two counts of accessory after the fact of capital murder, and a fourth suspect, Cornelius Clark, is charged with obstruction of justice. As deputies escorted Banks into the Banks wails:
I didn’t do it.
Shooting
Deen stops a 2000 Gold Cadillac Escalade in an industrial part of the city at around 8:30 p.m. local time Saturday. Officer Tate arrives afterward to assist him, shots are fired, and both officers are wounded. Both officers die of their injuries at a hospital. The officers’ deaths are reportedly the first for the Hattiesburg police force in 30 years.
Dismissal filing cites conflict of interest
Attorneys for the six Baltimore police officers charged in Gray’s death file a motion to have the case dismissed or have Marilyn Mosby’s office taken off the case. The motion lists what attorneys say are numerous conflicts of interest and concerns about the investigation. The filing says Marilyn Mosby’s husband, City Councilman Nick Mosby, represents the West Baltimore district where Gray was arrested, and that one of her chief prosecutors is in a relationship with a local television reporter who interviewed the prisoner who was in the police van with Gray on April 12. The filing also says Marilyn Mosby has a close professional and personal relationship with Murphy, the Gray family’s lawyer and unofficial spokesman. Filing:
Mrs. Mosby’s connection to Mr. Murphy is of great concern to the undersigned counsel and it should be of greater concern to the residents of this city/ The connection between Mrs. Mosby and Mr. Murphy is undeniable and the conflict it creates is detrimental in the pursuit of justice.
Files to see knife
Lawyers for Nero file a motion in Baltimore District Court, asking the police department and prosecutor to produce the knife that was the reason for Gray’s arrest. Mosby, when charging Nero, said that Gray’s knife was legal under Maryland law, meaning Nero had arrested Gray illegally. If the knife is deemed to be an illegal knife then Nero’s charges of second-degree assault, misconduct in office and false imprisonment will fail, as Gray’s arrest would have been justified.
Hot coffee spill suit starts
Kohr, a Raleigh police lieutenant, and his wife, are suing Starbucks for $50,000, including damages, attorney fees and medical costs. Kohr claims that a lid popped off the cup of coffee, and the cup folded in on itself. Kohr claims he poured cold water on the burn, but the pain intensified. He claims the injuries aggravated his Crohn’s disease and resulted in surgery to remove a portion of his intestine. The barista who prepared the drink and the company that made the cup have been dropped from the case. Before the case started, Starbucks attorneys argued that because Kohr had not actually paid for the coffee, he wasn’t eligible for a warranty. Jury selection has taken place and testimony in the case is expected to begin later this week.