Don't Pop the Cork Yet **UPDATE** Yeah-Like We Didn't Know the Ending To This Story!

*The "black teenager's" name is MARTIN L. ANDERSON!*

Feds to Review Boot Camp Death Verdict
Source: aol new (emphasis by Ivent)

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (Oct. 13) - Seven former juvenile boot camp guards and a nurse had barely processed an all-white jury's decision to acquit them in a black teenager's death before federal authorities announced they would review the case. Since jurors on Friday acquitted them of manslaughter charges, federal prosecutors likely would have to try another tactic, such as seeking an indictment alleging obstruction of justice, legal experts said.


Henry McFadden was acquitted of manslaughter charges Friday by a Florida jury. But he and his seven co-defendants could face new federal charges in the death of a teen at a Florida boot camp in 2006.

"It's too early to say that the final chapter has been written with respect to the criminal justice system in this case," said Kendall Coffey, a former U.S. attorney in Miami. Florida civil rights leaders called for federal charges hours after a jury took 90 minutes to exonerate the eight in state court in the death of Martin Lee Anderson, 14.By Friday evening, officials from the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington and the U.S. Attorney's Office in Tallahassee announced they were reviewing the state's prosecution.

Anderson died Jan. 6, 2006, a day after being hit and kicked by the guards as the nurse watched (and did absolutely nothing!) after he collapsed while running laps. The 30-minute confrontation was videotaped.

The altercation drew protests in the state capital and marked the end of Florida's system of juvenile boot camps. Defense attorneys argued that the camp workers were using accepted tactics and that the boy died because of a pre-existing medical condition. Coffey said state prosecutors might have laid a foundation for their federal counterparts to seek an obstruction charge by grilling the eight about inconsistencies and omissions in their written accounts of the last conscious moments of Anderson's life when they testified last week. But lawyer Bob Sombathy, who represented ex-guard Patrick Garrett, said he doubted a federal prosecution would be successful. Sombathy said the state trial showed the medical findings are on the side of the defendants."With a 90-minute verdict after a three-week trial (in the state case), it would be the same result," he said.

Ashley Benedik, defense attorney for nurse Kristin Schmidt, said the federal government might not bring charges."To a certain extent there was more at stake for the state, there was more of a public outcry," she said. At a vigil in the impoverished neighborhood where Anderson grew up, community leaders appealed for calm in the wake of the verdict, which they said was affected by Circuit Judge Michael Overstreet's decision to hold the trial in Panama City, where the boot camp was located."This is not the end of it. We can take it to a higher court and I hope it will be taken to a higher court," said Panama City Commissioner Jonathan Wilson. Laurie Levenson, a professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said she was not surprised the guards were acquitted by a "hometown jury." Nor would it surprise her if the federal government stepped in, she said."This is the very type of case you would expect the Justice Department to take a very close look at, just like the Rodney King case," Levenson said. King was pulled over for speeding in Los Angeles' eastern San Fernando Valley, where police officers who said he acted menacingly and refused to follow their orders were videotaped kicking him, pummeling him with their nightsticks and shooting him with stun-gun darts. After a jury acquitted the officers in 1992, riots broke out across Los Angeles and lasted four days, leaving 55 people dead and more than 2,000 injured. Federal prosecutors in the King case presented new evidence during their trial of the officers, including testimony that the officers had lied and had laughed about the incident, Levenson said. In the federal trial, two officers were convicted of violating King's civil rights.

*****

I'm at the point where, I just don't want to get my hopes up.

It sounds wonderful that the Feds are stepping in, but this is a situation of "hope for the best, expect the worse."

The african-community has been jilted by the justice system over, and over, and over again.

That is why I REFUSE to say the pledge of allegiance.

My kids are not to say it either, it's a lie.

We're not "one nation under God, with liberty and justice for all,"

Instead it should say "one community-who is in the correct socioeconomic class-will receive liberty and justice for themselves and their offspring"

It's the truth anyhow.

You better recognize.

Yeah-Like We Didn't Know The Ending To This Story!!

I remember when I first heard this story. I thought it was tragic the way this young man died. On top of that, it was videotaped. Surely, the guards would be dealt with...right? Wrong. I do not believe (my opinion) it's a racial issue, cuz this has happened to non-black children as well. It's an abuse of authority issue.

"You kill a dog, you go to jail. You kill a black boy and nothing happens."
-Gina Jones, mother of Martin Lee Anderson (AP)

Jury Acquits Eight in Boot Camp Death
credits: AOL News, AP

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (Oct. 13) - Residents in the hometown of a black 14-year-old who died after a videotaped altercation with juvenile boot camp guards, gathered at a local church Friday and shared anger that eight people accussed of killing the boy were acquitted by an all-white jury.

"In this country we are spending millions of dollars to fight wars that we say are to bring human rights and justice to other countries, but we don't have those things right here," said Bob Clark, a Panama City resident who helped organize the church vigil.


Florida State Attorney's Office, AP Video from Jan. 5, 2006, shows Martin Lee Anderson after being hit and kicked by guards at a juvenile boot camp in Florida. Seven ex-guards and a nurse were acquitted on Friday of manslaughter in his death.

On another side of town, many people hadn't heard news of the acquittals hours after the verdict was delivered. Others said they were interested, but not concerned that the seven guards and a nurse from the now-closed Bay County Juvenile Boot Camp were acquitted.

Chris Witts, who ate lunch outside on a sunny afternoon with friend, David Park, said he followed the case on television.

"I feel it's sad the kid died, but they didn't have the proof about what killed him," Witts said.

(SECURITY TAPE IS GRAINY/"PIXELY"...VIEW AT 5:19)

Park, who has lived in Panama City for more than 30 years, said he doubted the verdict, while unpopular with some in the conservative, southern, town, would lead to major demonstrations because two of the guards of the guards are black.

"From what I've heard, it (the boy's death ) was not something that could have been prevented," he said.

Defense attorneys argued that the guards properly handled what they thought was a juvenile offender faking illness to avoid exercising on his first day in the camp . They said Anderson's death was unavoidable because he had undiagnosed sickle cell trait, a usually harmless blood disorder that can hinder blood cells' ability to carry oxygen during physical stress.

Prosecutors said the defendants suffocated Anderson by covering his mouth and forcing him to inhale ammonia during the 30 encounter in which they kneed and hit Anderson and dragged him around the exercise yard.

Gerald Bryant was among those who gathered Friday at the church in Anderson's former neighborhood.

During the trial, defense attorney Waylon Graham told jurors that "agitators" from outside of Bay County had protested the results of an initial autopsy that found Anderson died of sickle cell trait.

"Agitators is the term they used for the civil rights marchers back in the 60s. Calling us agitators, that is a racist term to say that we are agitators," Bryant, who lives in Panama City, said.

And Bryant said he wanted the acquitted defendants to know one thing - "this isn't over."

Those who gathered at the church said they would organize marches, rallies and push for the eight to be indicted on federal civil rights charges.

"This trial never should have been held in Panama City in the first place," said Summer Tunner, who was at the church. "This community is going to come together and push this thing further."

******

I mean, how many times have we heard of stories such as this?

Poor person, abused by authorities.

Abuse documented on tape.

Abuse is undeniable.

Authorities are acquitted.

Although the courts ruled in favor of the accused, I hope that Martin's parents

will be able to forgive and move on.

Better yet, use this as a stepping stone to create an organization, a support group,

or make changes in legislation. Maybe name a bill after Martin.

God is able.

You Better Recognize.

Ivent