<p>Is there any judicial discretion in cases like this? Can’t a judge overturn a jury’s decision if s/he thinks it egregious? </p>
<p>It’s sad to think people are so stupid, and so mean, and there’s a majority of them out there. Sad and frightening. </p>
<p>As sad as it is, this doesn’t come as much of a surprise to me judging by past history and moreso, the political sentiments of many Staten Islanders who are likely to have made up the jury are such they’re not going to question anything the the police does, especially if the victim happens to be a racial minority. </p>
<p>The fact a lot of NYPD are perceived to live on Staten Island is likely to be a factor. </p>
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<p>The general distrust of police by black people (whether or not the police in the area have a racism problem) has other unpleasant effects, such as making it easier for criminals to prey on black victims. Recall the incident where a black student was allegedly being harassed in a racist manner by suitemates in a dorm? The victim did not want the police involved. Only after his parents found out did the parents get the police involved. After investigating, the police recommended charging the suitemates with various crimes like assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm, false imprisonment, attempted theft, conspiracy, and hate crime.</p>
<p>Police report here: <a href=“Police Report: Read San Jose State University Police account of dorm hate crime allegations – The Mercury News”>Police Report: Read San Jose State University Police account of dorm hate crime allegations – The Mercury News;
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Yes and no. A judge can order an independent prosecutor if they feel that the DA is biased and is not pursuing an indictment as vigorously as the law requires them to… but they cannot directly nullify the grand jury, and it appears that in this case it is doubtful that a Staten Island grand jury would be likely to indict even with an aggressive, even vindictive prosecutor.</p>
<p>If someone is not indicted, double jeopardy does not yet apply. That is, they can still be indicted, if they haven’t been indicted. </p>
<p>But the fix is in. This murdering cop, like the other murdering cops, will skate.</p>
<p>I guess where certain Staten Islanders are concerned, as long as a black man is guilty of having done anything illegal, if he is killed by the police, he was complicit in his own death, and therefore, deserved to die.</p>
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<p>Anyway, try putting a choke hold on a cop, killing him, then saying “I didn’t MEAN to kill him”. One way or another, your life will be over.</p>
<p>DD hopped on the train to NYC/Times Square with a bunch of her college mates to protest. I’m heartbroken. Animals get better treatment and better justice for wrongs against them. </p>
<p>Someone up thread mentioned how she was witness to shopping while black. It happens all the time. I was shopping last week and had a woman follow me. You have no idea how degrading and dehumanizing it is. I am a thief because of my skin color. Sick and tired of being sick and tired. </p>
<p>I’m sorry to hear that NewHavenCTmom, that’s awful. </p>
<p>This is why I am suspicious of the lack of indictment in Ferguson. There is a symbiotic relationship between the local prosecutors and local police departments. There needs to be outside forces that protect the integrity of these cases. </p>
<p>Walking while black, shopping while black, driving while black is real. The melanin in our skin makes us automatic suspects. No matter what our accomplishments, economic status or education level.</p>
<p>Stats on deadly force:</p>
<p>“Young black males in recent years were at a far greater risk of being shot dead by police than their white counterparts – 21 times greater i, according to a ProPublica analysis of federally collected data on fatal police shootings.”</p>
<p><a href=“Deadly Force, in Black and White — ProPublica”>Deadly Force, in Black and White — ProPublica;
<p>I just went back and looked up the article that I remembered reading in The New Yorker about teen opioid addiction on Staten Island. This seems like a MUCH bigger problem than single cigarettes. It is treated as a medical and social services problem rather than a criminal problem from what I gather here, though. The middle class addicts are treated as victims of the larger “big fish” cartels rather than as criminals themselves. Hmmmm . . . it also mentions that many started with prescriptions pain meds from the cabinets of their parents on the force.</p>
<p><a href=“How Staten Island Is Fighting a Raging Heroin and Prescription-Pill Epidemic | The New Yorker”>How Staten Island Is Fighting a Raging Heroin and Prescription-Pill Epidemic | The New Yorker;
<p>I am reminded of an incident that took place at DS’ middle school. He went to a private school located in a very, very, very upscale suburban community. The school was on 25 acres in an area of country roads lined with wooded, multi-acre estates. It went from pre-school to grade 8. So the oldest students were 13. The school was small; only ~20 in my son’s grade. The town center was about 10 miles away.</p>
<p>One of his friends was a black boy, not AA but from Jamaica. He had very dark skin. He also had a beautiful smile and an outgoing personality, very gregarious, comfortable with adults. He was one of the most popular kids there, and a talented musician. One day, after school, he was walking along the pickup line for the lower school. As he got close to a very expensive sports car, he heard the locks being engaged. My son told me about this, and said that his friend thought it was funny. I found it profoundly disturbing. </p>
<p>Oh, and I heard on the radio that Cuomo could have named a special prosecutor to handle this investigation, but chose not to.</p>
<p>Did we know that Mr. Pantaleo has been sued twice already for alleged racially motivated misconduct on the job? I mean, I know past actions can’t confirm future ones…but come on. </p>
<p>"Oh, and I heard on the radio that Cuomo could have named a special prosecutor to handle this investigation, but chose not to. "</p>
<p>Yes, he should have. His father did it in the Howard Beach killing and the cops were indicted and convicted. </p>
<p>Andrew is not his father. </p>
<p>@NYMomof2 the locking of the doors is nothing new. Again, something that we black’s deal with all the time. It’s like second nature for us. </p>
<p>^^ He is definitely not his father. I admired Mario. I think that Andrew is beneath contempt. </p>
<p>JoBenny, I have posted in both threads that officer Pantaleo had a history. It was well known here.</p>
<p>PoetsHeart, I do not presume to know what happened in the grand jury, but there is a great deal of heartbreak and outrage among Staten Islanders. People want to know why this officer wasn’t fired years ago. He should have been, but that decision wasn’t up to the grand jury. Punks like him are racist, but they are also abusers and women and anyone not like them are in danger. I often post that I rarely drive. I rarely drive because I have been taught to be afraid by the pervasive culture here. And for those who are unfamiliar, the pervasive culture is not native, that iculture present on the diverse north shore, which is home to some of the most integrated schools in the entire country. The pervasive culture drove across the Verrazano bridge and is very much ethnically based.</p>