Judge Wants to Know Why Prosecutors Want Death Against Only Black Defendant

[NNN0LHI]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBEZXA4V2E.html

Judge Wants to Know Why Prosecutors Seeking Death Against Only Black Defendant in Human Smuggling Case

HOUSTON (AP) - The lawyer for a man accused of abandoning a truck crammed with illegal immigrants in a deadly smuggling attempt claims the driver is being singled out for the death penalty because he is black. A federal judge Friday told prosecutors to explain.

At a hearing, Judge Vanessa Gilmore asked Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Roberts to provide her a letter from Attorney General John Ashcroft explaining his office's refusal to "disclose why you sought the death penalty on this guy, the only black guy, and not on the others."

Truck driver Tyrone Williams, 33, of Schenectady, N.Y., is accused of abandoning a trailer crammed with illegal immigrants traveling across Texas in the stifling heat; 17 bodies were found inside the trailer and two others died later.

Gilmore said she would hold Roberts in contempt if she didn't get the letter Friday.

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[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Well. They are seeking the death penalty against the black guy

because he's the black guy. What else is new?

[NNN0LHI]

2. Ya think? n/t

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. Well, only until they find someone darker.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

4. In MD they only give the DP to black guys who kill

white people.

[xchrom]

5. she gets the joke...

she just wants to hear the punch line complete with the rim shot.

[Tsiyu]

6. Wonder how Asshat will explain his racism

Perhaps he will write in his letter that Jeebus Rice told him negroes are evil and must be eradicated, but white folk can do no wrong?

[Laughing Mirror]

9. Do you really think Ayatollah Ashcroft is going to write that letter?

Seriously now, to explain why a truck driver, the lowest man on the totem pole, and black to boot, gets the death penalty and none of the 14 others responsible does?

[kclown]

7. Because they want to kill black people.

Could it be any simpler?

[David Zephyr]

8. Kick!

[discordian]

10. hmm, because he's the one who's action killed those people?

If I read the story right, he chose to abandon the truck load of people in the blazing sun. The rest of the people were running a human smuggling ring, a crime in itself. But this guy is the one that took the action that made the difference between a dangerous trip and a deadly trip. If the truck broke down, he could have opened it up and let the people out. Better to get caught than to die slowly by baking/asphyxiation.

[Jack_DeLeon]

13. I agree with you...

its funny how everyone here jumps on the "it must be racism bandwagon" without even knowing anything about this case.

[Judi Lynn]

11. They should be ashamed, but you know they're incapable.

Makes life easy for the ones who finance the opertions and hire the drivers, doesn't it, when someone else runs all the risks and pays the penalties, up to, including death sentences?

[Jack_DeLeon]

14. Who should be ashamed?

The driver deserves to pay the death penalty he commited the worst crimes. He abandoned those people in a locked trailer. He is the one responsible for thier deaths. He didnt unlock the fucking door, he just abandoned that trailer, locked, knowing that there were people in there. He deserves to fucking die.

[arikara]

15. Let me guess...

you're "pro-life"?

[Jack_DeLeon]

18. No, I'm pro-death.

I'm pro-choice on abortion but I dont think think most abortions are right.

However there I have no problems with the death penalty for people who deserve it.

[Jack_DeLeon]

12. This is bullshit, it isnt because of racism...

The black guy was the truck driver, he found out the people were in the trailer and instead of letting them out he just abandoned it with them still locked in.

He didnt unlock it, he didnt tell authorities, he just abandoned it. He definately deserves the death penalty. He is the one who is most responsible for the deaths of those people. He is a murderer.

Yes the others the ones who made all the arrangements are responsible as well, however none of them are as directly responsible for the deaths as the truck driver was. They didnt commit murder they wanted those people to make it into the US alive.

[NNN0LHI]

16. If it is so simple let them explain it to the judge then

Lets see what she has to say afterwords.

Don

[rocktivity]

17. The judge's concern is legit--this an open-and-shut case of felony murder

Roberts said he doubted he would be able to get the letter in time, and reiterated a previous argument that "other co-defendants organized and led the conspiracy, but ultimately, none of the co-defendants had control over the (immigrants) once Williams drove away from the initial loading location."

Williams acted on behalf of the 14 others. Smuggling illegal immigrants is a felony. And when someone dies as a result of your comitting a felony, you've also committed a murder. Everyone involved should be charged with a count of felony/third degree murder for each person who died. The "wheel man" in a bank robbery who just waits outside in the car isn't charged or punished less severely than the people who actually go into the bank and pull the job!

:headbang:
rocknation