First Monday In October

As most educated Americans know this is the Day the Supreme Court convenes after their long summer recess. This time of year various news organizations publish information about some of the cases before our Supreme Court that may somehow impact our lives.

The case that gun-rights advocates and haters alike are watching intently is Parker vs. District of Columbia. That case goes to the core of the Second Amendment. Either Americans have the absolute right to keep and bear arms or not. The weak and astonishing argument made by those who want guns banned is that the Second Amendment conveys that right to states rather than the people. Clearly the states are the government and inherently have the power to have arms without the Second Amendment.

Our Militia is not a government regulated organization but individual Americans with arms that can band together and deal with rebellions, insurrections, war and keeping the peace. The militia is also there to safeguard American freedoms should our elected officials and the bureaucrats they appoint engage in treasonous activities contrary to our Constitution.

The gun-rights haters want the court to take the activist position that sidesteps the existing method to amend our Constitution with a two-thirds majority. That activist concept wants the court to adopt the dangerous position that our Constitution is a “living document” that should be changed by the court to meet popular changes in attitude by some Americans. These folks want to rid us of that cumbersome amendment process requiring a super majority.

USA vs. Miller is the standalone case that has somehow allowed gun bans in America. The trouble with the Miller case is that it was not argued by anyone representing Miller. The case wrongly allowed government to only tax, and not ban certain firearms.

Leftist big-city politicians suffer serious crime problems, not because of gun-rights but their own failed social agendas. These same misguided Liberals introduced various sweeping bans across the country that victimized law-abiding folks by outlawing simple self-defense. The result of the bans were to make law-abiding Americans soft targets for our violent criminals.

One thing for sure The Washington DC gun ban may fall and this will impact similar such bans everywhere.

For up to date posting of the pleadings filed in Parker VS Washington DC visit this link.

The Sultan Of Sleaze Has Left the Building

Phoenix-47 year-old David Hans Schmidt was found dead in his townhouse of an apparent suicide. Schmidt was a reporter, turned publicist, turned wheeler-dealer, turned admitted extortionist who began his current career in earnest when he represented disgraced Olympic skater Tonya Harding helping her sell her own raunchy honeymoon video.

Schmidt liked to stay close to TV reporters and such always looking for a fast buck for information. Soon the reporters I know distanced themselves from Schmidt and his nefarious merchandise.

Too often Schmidt’s schemes had an extortionate odor to them as he made or tried to make deals with various celebrities such as O.J. Simpson, Paris Hilton, and Hugh Grant. Schmidt would try to “sell” the star's salacious and embarrassing items such as photos and videos he’d somehow gain control over.

Schmidt got a lot more than he anticipated when he tried to sell Mr.& Mrs. Tom Cruise copies of their own private wedding photographs. He was tethered to an electronic monitoring ankle bracelet while out on on a hefty bail. That along with an impending stretch in federal prison proved too much for Schmidt to handle.

Schmidt was no stranger to jail cells after his last marriage brought serious spousal abuse and contempt of court allegations.

One thing for sure, the Sultan was definitely one of the more unforgettable characters I have met. Perhaps there is a lesson here for others that wish to compete for Schmidt’s Sultan's title.

The Sultan’s website still can be found right here.

Did The L.A. County DA Violate Phil Spector’s Rights?

During the Phil Spector trial testimony we all learned that the normal investigative procedure for the L.A. County Coroner’s Office was obstructed by the District Attorney’s office. Lana Clarkson suffered a fatal intra-oral gunshot wound and based on early statements made by Phil Spector that this was an “accidental suicide” a standard psychological autopsy was both warranted and needed. The goal of such post-mortem examinations is to learn the true manner and cause of death with the history of the decedent’s alcohol, drug abuse and depression issues.

There was no psychological autopsy because DA’s office officials conspired with L.A. Coroner’s Office officials to engage in a cover-up to hide this crucial evidence from the defense, Superior Court, Grand Jury and ultimately any trial jury. This was a case of deliberate obstruction of justice rather than a simple mistake. It was done in an effort to frame the suspect Phil Spector on a bogus murder charge.

Phil Spector has the option of bringing an action in either federal or state court for the violation of his civil rights. The immediate impact of such a lawsuit would be the removal of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office from further proceedings because a conflict of interest would be established. Instead a special prosecutor would have to be named by the court to retry Phil Spector for murder.

The ultimate legal question I have is could this also force an end to further attempts to prosecute Phil Spector? Another question is also raised about the ability of Judge Larry Paul Fidler to hear this case. That’s because Judge Fidler may well have become a co-conspirator after he ruled against much of the psychological evidence produced by the defense from being disclosed to the jury.

Spector’s New Defense Team For Yet Another Trial

I’ve known a lot of criminal lawyers in my time and have worked with the Some of the best anywhere. Unfortunately there are a large number of media hounds that make high profiles for themselves as their clients go to prison.

I put some serious thought into who should be the new lead lawyer for Phil Spector. As the readers of this blog know, I sincerely believe Philip Spector is an innocent man. I would not wish on Spector any more of the headline grabbers or legal pundits.

My first choice would be Bay Area lawyer Gerald Schwartzbach who won a not guilty verdict for actor Robert Blake. Schwartzbach is brilliant, charming and has a great style. For a second chair I’d go with appellant lawyer, Dennis Riordan who was a late entry to the old team.

Spector had lots of great experts but lacked a needed firearms expert like author, Massad F Ayoob who’s been on the right side of some nearly impossible cases.

For investigators I can recommend myself to work with a little gal Schwartzbach used for Robert Blake’s case.

The defense can't be run by TV personalities but rather great speakers that will fill the empty defense holes like why Spector relied on the limo driver to call for help and the inexcusable 40 minutes that went by before police responded. Both of these things were used against Spector and were easily explained.

Mistrial Declared in Phil Spector’s Case

The vote was 10-2 in favor of a murder conviction against the legendary record producer Phil Spector. Judge Fidler did all that he could to unfairly lead the jury to a conviction. Under these circumstances the mistrial is a huge defense victory.

Further court action including dealing with the L.A. District Attorney’s announced decision to try this case again has taken place. The involved lawyers will get whatever feedback the jury will give them and use it to formulate their game plans. The lawyers will be back in court next Wednesday for further proceedings. Judge Fidler had what could only be described as a sour grapes facial expression as he announced the mistrial. Prosecutor Alan Jackson has tears in his eyes.

I suspect that prosecutors will have an even more difficult time with their witnesses as they forget the lies they told during the first trial. Of course the parade of bimbos from the ranks of Spector’s old bedmates may well be reluctant to face cross-examination again. I know the defense has some new questions for these ladies based on brand new information.

The good news here is the conviction train has come to a halt at least for now. It’s time for Judge Fidler to recuse from this case. I hope the next jury is sequestered by a new judge and there is at least an attempt at fairness.

New Spector Jury Deadlock Announcement @ 1:30 PM today

The jury and Judge Fidler communicated with each other this morning. The clerk announced that the jury ended deliberations and the Judge will have a court session at 1:30 PM.

We will again hear the word MISTRIAL!

This can only mean a final deadlock. Perhaps we will soon know the current split of the jury's vote and its direction. Of course Judge Fidler will be unhappy and may try again to force a conviction with some new scheme.

Was Judge Larry Paul Fidler threatened?

Los Angeles County Sheriff's officers have launched an investigation into a MY SPACE posting under Phil Spector's young wife's name today. That posting has since vanished from the site.

It’s no secret that I’m no fan of Judge Larry Paul Fiddler’s handling of Phil Spector’s murder trial. The judge has consistently ruled to make conviction a sure thing. He’s allowed the prosecution unusually wide leeway of what they could use against Spector. I hate Fidler’s actions because they threaten every American’s rights.

I met the judge nearly five years ago when he and that attractive Court TV reporter/lawyer, Beth Karas gave a seminar that I attended at the Investigative Reporters and Editor’s conference in San Francisco. Judge Fidler was as nice a fellow as I’ve ever met. Fidler struck me as knowledgeable, glib, articulate, and a fun kind of guy. Fidler seemed very fond of news reporters.

When Phil Spector was indicted I came to the courtroom and saw a not so small but opinionated army of reporters and Phil Spector book authors. Some went out of their way to share sordid stories and gossip about Phil Spector along with their theories of his absolute guilt. This seemed like an open and shut case to me but that changed, as the government’s case just did not add up to me.

I know that many of these reporters and authors had conversations with Judge Fidler who quickly learned what the popular media accepted conclusions were of Phil Spector’s guilt.

I’m not sure what influenced Judge Fidler to so aggressively attach himself to the prosecution side of this case. Fidler’s not wavered in his slant and effort to destroy Phil Spector’s life. Judge Fidler's actions did not fail to anger lawyers, friends and family members.

Nobody has the right to threaten anyone including a rogue judge. There are however thinly veiled threats that powerless people make against others. “If, you weren’t an old man, I’d knock you down” is one that comes to mind. Wishing or suggesting someone deserves to die or should die may be really ugly but is protected speech under the First Amendment.

Did Rachelle Spector threaten Judge Fidler on a My Space page? Do the words, “The evil judge should die!” constitute a threat? I notice that no judge was identified or singled out by name. Just who is the “evil judge”? If that statement qualified as a threat against Judge Fidler then the author of the threat has to be determined and that may not be so simple. Occasionally judges are murdered in America and some people don’t need much of a reason to kill others. Accordingly it’s the sworn duty of the L.A. Sheriff’s officers to error on the side of caution to keep our judges safe.

One thing for sure no matter what side of the Phil Spector case you’re on, emotions are running very high and some people are saying things they should not be saying. I’d like to think that all Americans would want a valid and just end to the trial of Phil Spector rather than a verdict based on hate and vague theories.

Can Phil Spector Be Retried For Murder?

The murder trial of Phil Spector can be called nothing but a pseudo-legal train wreck. Judicial abuses and excesses designed to do anything but grant Spector a fair trial appeared at every opportunity. The damage done to Spector’s due process rights under our constitution is now well established.

From the abuse of judicial discretion by bringing in alleged witnesses claiming Spector engaged in gunplay in unreported and uncharged,long past events well before many of the jurors were born. Another huge problem I have is their stories are all exactly tailored to fit articles published well before the women came forward. When witnesses testify and use identical words, gestures and phrases it’s always a sure sign of perjury. That’s what happened here..

Today it’s obvious that the jury is deadlocked, evenly divided 5-7 because half the jury saw through the hate and lies. Half chose to simply stick with the scientific physical evidence. I hope damage done to Phil Spector by Judge Fidler’s agenda will never cause this jury to surrender to this judicial miscreant. The problem with judges is that sometimes they gain mind control over a jury the same as Charles Manson gained control over his murderous family. The results and verdicts tainted by this kind of judicial influence can turn out to be very unjust.

Just recently many of our most renowned law experts from our most prestigious law schools have not minced words about Judge Fidler’s “new” jury instructions that contain much more than the very strong odor of jury tampering.

The prosecutorial misconduct began with the government’s cover-up of Lana Clarkson’s mental state by derailing a normally mandated medical examiner’s psychological autopsy of this deeply troubled woman. That along with the ever-growing list of biased and prejudicial rulings from Judge Larry Paul Fidler damaged this internationally broadcast murder trial far beyond repair. No second trial can free itself from the sensational and permanent taint applied by a publicity hungry and rogue jurist.

(Note about the graphic I used. That’s really a photograph of German Nazi Party Judge “Raving” Ronald Freisler That photo was taken as he presided over the trial and death sentences of the German Generals who plotted to assassinate Adolph Hitler in 1944. The resemblance of that monster to Larry Paul Fidler is uncanny.)

A Treat For Crimefile’s Readers

The joy of this blog is I can bring anything I want here. This is a welcome break from the very heavy things I’ve been writing about. I’m a fan of musical theater and enjoyed the music of one of my favorite plays for more than two decades now. I’ve also grown up with the songs of a great lady whose voice has never failed. Sit back and enjoy the next couple of minutes with the incomparable Petula Clark.

On second thought Les Miserables is anything but a "light" story! The music however is wonderful.

Judge Fidler’s “Wall Of Injustice” In The Phil Spector Case.

The jury in the Phil Spector murder trial deliberated for a week and they were deadlocked. The jury sent out the note and Judge Fidler polled them on the question of whether further instruction would help. Three jurors volunteered that it might help. But help change whose mind was my question? I suspect that those jurors wanted the other side of their battlefield instructed instead of their own.

Judge Fidler took the unusual step to remove an approved jury instruction that was somehow preventing the conviction of Phil Spector and replaced that with two new and convoluted instructions that beg the jury for anything but an acquittal.

To date, Judge Fiddler spent many months scheming to find ways to get a jury to convict Phil Spector. Judge Larry Paul Fiddler has been biased, abusive and feeding his own agendas. The ever-growing laundry list of judicial rulings are against fairness and any attempt for a neutral inquiry into the death of Lana Clarkson. Judge Fidler is more like a Mike Nifong in judicial robes.

Judge Fidler Backed Off His Compromise Verdict Scheme for the Deadlocked Spector Jury.

Judge Fidler saw the error of his way and reversed his dubious plan of instructing the jury to consider a new and lesser charge of Manslaughter. Had Judge Fidler reopened the trial to new evidence and new arguments it would have sent a message to the jury that the judge wants the jury to convict Spector on that new allegation. That would have been indefensible judicial mischief designed to convict a defendant at any cost.

Now it’s time to reread the not so easily understood instruction about Reasonable Doubt. Pinpoint instruction was ordered deleted as the judge will insruct the jury that other instructions cover this better. (That's really code for the prosecution that wanted this out and it will screw Phil Spector.)

The jury will be right back where they ended yesterday evenly divided and in their respective trenches. Let’s get this mistrial over and move on!

Second City Cop, The Internet And Free Speech

When I wore a police uniform there was no Second City Cop exploiting the Internet to expose the employment related injustices that plague the lives of too many hard working and dedicated cops.

Working as a Chicago cop has become less desirable every year. Micromanagement along with the likes of Black Panther Party members and other police haters running Chicago has demoralized rank and file officers that signed on improve the safety and quality of life. I have to say today that it would not enter my mind to waste some Saturday taking the civil service exam to be a Chicago policeman. Okay, I will surrender to political correctness just this once and say police officer!

Somewhere from the ashes came Second City Cop in the form of an interactive blog where bad management, incompetence and hazards to officer’s safety are exposed. Satire, gossip and fun have found its way into the mix too. Often it’s comments made by cops in the field that expose problems and at the same time give a voiceless cop an opportunity to vent about any issues..

Second City Cop has been able to resolve more crappy labor issues by accident than the FOP was able to do on purpose.

It’s not all serious because there are a lot of laughs sometimes at the expense of others such as the delightful looking, Sergeant Chris Hitney. Hitney has never failed to show up at history making events.

I began my blog after suffering a profound but temporary 7 1/2 month hearing loss and being somewhat inspired by Second City Cop. I have enjoyed being just another unpaid blogger. Second City Cop is a success and gift to every working cop.

Second City Cop, thank you, you’ve made a difference.

If you’ve not been to Second City Cop here is the link.

Judge Fidler Now Wants A Compromise Verdict Of Manslaughter Against Phil Spector.

Yet another judicial outrage today as Judge Fidler wants to give the deadlocked jury a lesser charge than murder to consider. This was settled before the jury retired but now the judge wants to have the jury compromise on something lesser which may sway those demanding acquittal to convict.

The jury is split seven to five and without knowing the direction of the split that’s nearly even and may have ended of this case. Judge Fidler being unhappy with any advantage given Phil Spector sent the jury home as he dreams up ways of keeping the prosecution railroad train moving over Phil Spector.

In the morning the jury will be brought back and pressured to victimize Phil Spector some more.

The three women on the jury seemed to think that additional instruction will help. There is no doubt in my mind that Fidler will interject the compromise lesser offense option. Look for no movement until Thursday or Friday as Judge Fidler helps the prosecution.

Citizen’s Arrest Powers and The O.J. Simpson Palace Station Hotel Mess

At the Place Station Hotel two groups of men with lots of personal baggage and strange motives were assembled. Group A consisted of property brokers and dealmakers selling purloined property. Group B consisted of O.J. Simpson along with men helping him recover stolen property and detain a few criminal suspects. Add to Simpson’s group a peculiar insider, and apparent agent provocateur with a tape recorder with his own moneymaking agenda. None of these men are sympathetic figures by any means.

This strange story may yet involve two off-duty cops that were spotted on Palace Station security video. We can count on stranger details to emerge as this tale unravels.

My not so simple legal question is, did Simpson’s group have the legal power to resort to self-help and citizen’s arrest?

The event ended without anyone being hurt in any way. The hot property brokers apparently chose to return the property to Simpson’s group. Did the Simpson group decline to make the citizen’s arrest because they felt the matter was peacefully resolved?

Las Vegas Authorities have moved forward with an Armed Robbery theory that sounds valid on its face until you begin examining the powers citizens were given by law to make arrests and keep the peace. It does seem that Armed Robbery charges and 30-year prison terms are an over-reaction to the reality of the event. `

As I raise this relevant issue I’m not suggesting this was a smart move on the part of Simpson’s posse. Involving authorities and avoiding the conflict was the smart way to proceed. Nobody will ever accuse anyone in either group of being smart.

Spector Trial Defense Afterthoughts

Yes there are a couple of things the defense team should have expounded upon. One was the fact that Spector called out to the limo driver for assistance, telling him to call for help. There is no other logical reason that Phil Spector did not call but for the fact he assumed the limo driver made a 911 call as he was asked.

The other was the limo driver’s X-Ray vision that allowed him to describe the brown wooden grips on the very small gun he claimed was in Spector’s hand. As you can see in the picture of A Colt Cobra in a small man's hand above that was impossible.

Another too late idea of mine was to have each member of the jury make a field trip to a police gun range and fire an identical Colt Cobra with .38 Special, +P ammunition. Since the Cobra is made of a light weight alloy metal instead of regular steel, the Cobra’s recoil is significantly more violent than the Colt Cobra’s all-steel twin, the Colt Detective Special. Watching the defense video of such a gun being fired was just not sufficient for the jury to experience.

Each juror would have all doubt erased about how Clarkson’s artificial front teeth were blown out by the explosion. The jury would also know that such an inter-oral explosion would spray the shooter with blood tissue and gun shot residue. The lawyers just did not know enough about guns to see the value of this exercise. I think that the prospective jurors would have had to be told of such a requirement before they were placed on the panel.

It’s Time For The Spector Jury To Face The Music

There will be no agreement and the foreman needs to get that note out to the judge that you’re all deadlocked. You can badger, threaten or nag all you want but people who understand and respect reasonable doubt will never budge.

Those jurors that feel that someone has to pay for a pathetic woman’s failed life and reckless actions with a loaded gun are a large part of society that hate the idea of personal responsibility.

Go ahead and grieve for Lana Clarkson’s mother and sister. Perhaps they failed Lana by not seeking intervention for this woman’s depression, alcoholism and drug addiction. The responsibility for Lana Clarkson’s death is a lot closer to home than Phil Spector ever was.

It’s time to let go of Phil Spector for good. Convicting Spector will not make life somehow better for anyone and Clarkson won’t be returning to this earth no matter what verdict is returned

The official Crimefile Review Of The Brave One

That memorable film starring the late, great Charles Bronson, Death Wish set the standard for vigilante heroes. The first movie led to a three-film franchise. As memory serves me the character, Paul Kersey went out looking for trouble but only engaged is justifiable homicide. Kersey’s only crimes were to break New York’s unconstitutional gun laws. Kersey always left the scene of his shootings which is never a crime. American’s have a right not to talk to the police under those circumstances.

The Brave One involves local New York radio host, Erica Bain (Jodi Foster) as a not so young bride to be who has found the love of her life. Bain’s dreams are destroyed in a vicious random act of violence. Soon NYPD detective Mercer (Terrance Howard) enters the picture as he's assigned to investigate and finds himself investigating a recent rash of homicides that appear to be connected.

The story is exciting and solid as is the wonderful acting of the entire cast. There are some script areas areas that indicate they should have had or taken technical advice from a seasoned cop. The general public won’t see the gaffs and what they don’t know won’t hurt them.Jodi Foster has never let us down yet in any films she’s been in. That’s why she gets the big bucks and gold statues along the way. When watching a film if you can be transported into the story because the actor is so believable you’ve got a winner. I predict yet another red carpet acceptance speech for this consummate pro. Terrance Howard really rocks in his role too. Casting for this film could not have been any better.

I don’t want to give away too much of this great yarn except to say it’s not Death Wish and stands on its own as a must see picture.

Here We Go Again, O.J. Simpson Arrested!

Okay, I told you so! That O.J. Simpson’s would hear his own words said to police and press out of presence of a lawyer read back to him in a desert courtroom. Las Vegas Metropolitan police have arrested Simpson for armed robbery. The Simpson arrest followed the arrest of the babbling, co-conspirator, Walter Alexander. Click on photo for his personal information.

Unlike his last scrape, Simpson will be out on bail in short order. Bail will be very steep and any money or property posted may well be seized to satisfy Simpson's civil judgment. This case is far from a slam-dunk and may take more than a year or even two to play out. I would not be surprised to see the entire Simpson posse including involved off-duty cops behind bars very soon.

Arrest Made In Armed Robbery Stew Connected To O.J. Simpson

An unidentified man was arrested by La Vegas Metropolitan police in connection with the private “sting” engineered by Simpson. Was this a case of O.J Simpson taking the law into his own hands in the form of an armed robbery? The law always allows a private person to make an arrest but that did not happen. There are way too many questions and conflicting statements concerning whether the property was turned over voluntarily or as a result of the threat of force.

Of course in the end you need a victim willing to testify to facts that established a crime. That too is in serious doubt according to a news story containing an interview by Associated Press reporters. Now that alleged victim, Alfred Beardsley is singing yet another tune claiming what he told the AP reporters was, “off the record”

Add to the mess the participation of any off duty police officers, who Simpson may have relied on to lawfully regain his property. The problem here may not be O.J. Simpson’s but that of the officers that apparently never executed any official reports. Of course if off duty officers were involved and determined that no crime or intent to possess stolen property was involved no reports are required. The peaceful transfer of property to a rightful owner is no crime.

As for any victims and witnesses, their First Amendment rights allow them to sell their newsworthy stories right now for big bucks to TMZ.com and those South Florida supermarket rags.

Complicated? That’s an understatement. Any prosecution may well depend on the stories given by various participants. If there ever is a prosecution here I would not be surprised to see immunity granted to Simpson in exchange for his testimony against his own posse.

Here is what the AP has published about this mess.

EXCLUSIVE! Were Off Duty Las Vegas Cops With O.J. Simpson During Alleged Robbery?

Crimefile News has learned from a reliable source that at least two un-named off duty cops may have been involved with O.J. Simpson in the alleged armed robbery at a guest’s room at the Palace Station Hotel. One of the officers is said to have organized crime ties. This strange story seems to be getting stranger by the minute. Stay tuned for more information.

Update: I’ve been told that Las Vegas Metro police will be un-founding this robbery investigation and not release the names of other participants. They will say it was much ado about nothing. I’m also told that the high quality surveillance tape used by the Palace Station has taken all of the guesswork out of determining just who was with O.J. Simpson.

O.J. Simpson Under Investigation For Armed Robbery In Las Vegas.

Las Vegas—You’d think O.J. Simpson would know how to say, “I want a lawyer” after his last and not so minor entanglement with the law. Today a lawyer less Simpson was blabbing to robbery detectives investigating him for an armed robbery.

Nearly every trip someone makes to a prison cell begins with an interview in a police interrogation room. Although police have not yet arrested Simpson the factt that he’s still free is meaningless. If police establish that a crime has in fact been committed and that Simpson is a suspect some Las Vegas bail bondsman and a lawyer can expect a new well paying client.

To charge someone with robbery police must be able to establish the ownership of property allegedly taken. If the property is Simpson’s there is no robbery. The only matter left for police are kidnapping, burglary, assault or weapons violations that may have been committed. Somehow I suspect we will hear Simpson’s own words read back to him in the not to distant future in a desert courtroom. The late Ernesto Miranda’s landmark Supreme Court legal precedent can’t help those who won’t help themselves.

Is The Spector Jury Deadlocked?

The line may well have been drawn in the sand as both sides of the jury squared off today. There was an early jury question this morning about procedures for dealing with a deadlock. Like so many of my friends the jury is divided and both sides are immovable. I could have predicted this outcome.

Should the jury inform the judge of a deadlock, he will do all he can to get the jury united with special deadlock jury instructions. The jury will have to spend yet more time in the same room as they begin to hate each other. We will all wonder how the vote is split. A heavy majority each way may determine if the case is retried.

Nobody wants to try this tar baby case again!

Update: The jury went home for the day and left no clues to help us understand their direction.

Judge Fidler’s Latest Jury Admonishment Falls Flat

It was beyond strange that both the defense and prosecution allowed Adam Gorfain a senior producer from NBC's Dateline to sit on the Phil Spector trial jury. That was in spite of his disclosure that he’s researched the Clarkson death investigation and Phil Spector.

Just this month Dateline has been drawing serious heat and another lawsuit for their sensational and ethically challenged series, "To Catch A Predator”.

Would Dateline hold off doing a story until the jury returned their verdict? With NBC’s dire need to boost their ratings decline, not a chance! Dateline problems were exemplified by their dumping of anchor Stone Phillips this week because they could no longer afford to pay his salary.

The Spector jury is far more at risk than any jury in memory for being contaminated by outside influences. Rather than sequester the jury Judge Fidler invited them to be bombarded with an avalanche of tabloid gossip by letting the jury loose in the unprecedented information age.

Judge Fidler apparently went out of his way to inform the jury of the Dateline hit piece targeting the Defendant. From the Court TV website Spector Trial Blog written by Harriet Ryan was the description of today’s judicial admonishment:

“The jurors are ready to call it a day. They look tired as they take their seats in the jury box. The judge wants to talk to them before they leave. "Dateline NBC" — the show, not the juror — is presenting an hour-long program tonight on the Spector case, and Fidler wants to make sure that channel-surfing jurors don’t ride that particular wave this evening.
“I have no idea what is in the show. I am not really interested, but the bottom line is, I am ordering you not to watch that show,” the judge says.
The judge gets a sly smile on his face and turns to Juror No. 2, the "Dateline producer." He says that while he is not expressing any feelings about the broadcast, “you are on lifetime jury duty.”
Everyone then laughs and then the juror replies tartly, “I thought I already was.”
Ouch, the judge says. More laughter, and the jurors are sent home.”

Here the good judge gave Dateline free advertising, and as they say in the TV business delivered a tease, a world class one at that. The lame warning did little more than tempt the jury to watch the Dateline special that included all of the material that Judge Fidler ruled inadmissible.

My prediction? Yet another well reasoned defense motion for a mistrial in the morning.

Cameras are Cops Friends Most Of The Time-- Just Not This Time

ST. GEORGE, MO--.This camera was set up by Brett Darrow, 20 who is a lad that’s been on the wrong side of run ins with local cops. It’s not the video but the audio that reveals an unfortunate verbal exchange between Darrow and Sergeant James Kuehnlein during a vehicle stop. The captured audio speaks for itself.

Had this been California and a citizen surreptitiously recordrd the audio of anyone the citizen’s car would get confiscated, held as evidence and the owner would face a serious felony charge. The illegal recording would never see the light of day in any legal proceeding against the officer!

Ever since Rodney King cops everywhere have been on notice that their bad behavior may well be memorialized for a hot television broadcast. Video cameras save many more cops every year from malicious liars that make false accusations against police.

This video with audio may well end Sergeant Kuehnlein’s career.

NBC’s Dateline to Exploit The Phil Spector Trial

NBC Dateline senior producer Adam Gorfain is right inside the jury room deliberating the fate of the legendary and gifted record producer, Phil Spector. I have no problem with this because it’s a rare day when you see the goings on during deliberations of any jury.

Often juries seem to miss admonishments, cross the line and engage in misconduct. The misconduct usually stays buried. I expect that secrets inside the Spector jury room will be few and far between giving the Defense exactly what they need to attack a guilty verdict should that happen.

I have confirmed a poorly kept secret. Dateline has planned to do at least one full hour broadcast on Gorfain’s jury experience.

Adam Gorfain is indeed a wild card and perhaps the exposure of the deliberations will keep the jurors honest. No I won’t dare predict the verdict or outcome but will be watching as the strong personalities emerge from this jury as they see a chance for stardom.

Update: 9/14/07 Dateline did a Spector hit piece last night you can learn about here.

Inside The Phil Spector Jury Deliberations

Here’s the way they should work:
1. Pick a foreman who stayed awake throughout the five-month trial.
2. Start with the physical and forensic evidence asking a simple question. Is it possible to shoot someone inside the mouth and not get significant spray of blood, tissue and gunshot residue on your jacket or shirtsleeves just inches away? If the answer is no the jury is finished and should sign and turn in the Not Guilty verdict form.
3. If the jury thinks Phil Spector is a world-class magician and figured out a way to make the bloody mess go away, then it’s time to guess motives of Spector to murder a total stranger and the motives for Clarkson to kill herself. In that mix there is room to examine the possibility of playacting with a gun. Did she know it was loaded?
4. If your still not satisfied that the government was able to prove its case it’s time to deal with Spector’s old girlfriends from decades past. The absence of injuries or police reports and their continued contact is a bit strange after their bedmate assaults them with a gun. Did the chance for fame and fortune bring these ladies out from under their rocks?
5. As for the Limo drive it’s really simple. Did he really understand or even hear Phil Spector’s mumbling?
6. If the jury has not figured it out by now its time to simply send a note into the judge telling him they are just not smart enough to decide this case.

The jury should have finished with just step one and two. If the hate campaign against Phil Spector has influenced the jury, look for them to be out more than two days.

Did Crimefilenews Cross The Line On Phil Spector’s Worst Nightmare?

First let me say that Crime, Guns and Videotape is a volg or blog. The rules are that there are no rules except honesty, decency and fairness. Opinions and commentary are really the wonder of the new age of communications.

The Internet is a great place where all men with computers are really equal. You can reach an audience further that you can shout. In the past you had to own a newspaper, radio or TV station to really be heard.

For those who don’t know I’ve spent nearly 40 years on the prosecution and defense sides of the criminal justice system. I’ve seen a lot of investigations, along with criminal and related civil trials. I know just how investigations are conducted and have observed hundreds of post mortem examinations. I have also done a lot of criminal defense work on behalf of innocent or overcharged suspects. Defense investigators can’t do much for the guilty but can be very effective for the innocent if properly utilized by defense lawyers.

I’ve examined all that I could on the Lana Clarkson death investigation, along with the arrest and prosecution of Phil Spector. After a careful study I could see the devastating damage done to Phil Spector’s life on a bad guess or perhaps a deliberate effort to hijack lady justice.

When I see injustice, I want to scream because it could be me or someone I love that becomes a victim. If we see injustice and ignore it we need to simply leave the human race. I can’t imagine passing my fellow man that’s been injured as he lay in the street. Phil Spector may be rich but he needs the help of others just like anyone in a crisis.

I’m not on Phil Spector’s payroll. I’m the guy in the crowd who sees an effort to destroy a man’s life and I refuse to simply stand and observe. I am on the side of an innocent man who has asked nothing more than for a fair investigation and trial. I am now on TEAM SPECTOR.

Jami Floyd of Court TV Got It Right On Phil Spector

Today, Jami Floyd of Court TV said it all when she addressed the evidence in the Phil Spector case.

Judge Fidler Issues Gag Order Against Phil Spector’s Wife!

Has the judge gone too far again? The biased judge wants to gag anyone but those who vilify and disparage Phil Spector. What about simple decency judge? What could Rachelle Spector have possibly said that is wrong or somehow an attempt to control the outcome of the trial? Why did Judge Fidler feel the need to bully Mrs. Spector?

As an aside Fidler extended his order to include Phil Spector too.

It’s time for a mistrial and for Fidler to remove himself from further proceedings. Fidler is definitely prejudiced beyond repair.

Here’s what happens if you say something good about someone close to you in Judge Fidler’s court:

Juror Misconduct and the Phil Spector Trial

Should the Spector jury somehow return a guilty verdict some members of that jury will find themselves in some very hot water. I know that members of the jury have been on their home computers reading blogs, media accounts and doing research on Phil Spector. After all they are human and who wants to give up the Internet for a long drawn out trial?

Should a conviction occur, you could count on the jury member’s computer records getting publicly examined. When the defense team finds the evidence and they will it will cause both a mistrial and a major legal problem for those jurors found in violation.

Of course that won’t matter if the jury returns a Not Guilty verdict. Nobody will care what those jurors did at night and on weekends. Somehow I think that the jury can be counted on to do the right thing and acquit Phil Spector.

Read all my articles on Phil Spector right here.

Maywood, IL Armed Robber And Urban Terrorist Is To Be Honored As A Role Model

Insane you say? Yes it is insane! Black Panther Party Chairman and armed robber Fred Hampton will be honored in his hometown, Maywood, Illinois by brain-dead local officials with no less than a renamed street and statue. This kind of honor for the leader of a hate group will work well to always keep hate alive in Cook County.

I’d like to help the Maywood Art Committee with Chairman Hampton’s statue design. I’d re-create that wonderful scene where he robbed an ice cream vendor right there in his very own hometown. What a great example for all the children of Maywood!

It was a miserable time for law enforcement when the Black Panthers organized under one unified goal, killing cops. They put on a show for news cameras feeding an occasional breakfast to a black child. The ammunition budget was far more substantial then their free breakfast budget. That fact was well documented with scores of funerals for fallen cops ambushed and murdered by the cowardly Black Panther Party members.

Fred Hampton lived by the gun and died by the gun one very cold Chicago December morning in 1969. Chicago cops assigned to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Police raided a Westside flat. When the raid culminated Fred Hampton and another piece of human refuse, Mark Clark were displayed on the Cook County Coroner’s autopsy tables. At least these two terrorists would no longer be a threat to White people or cops.

That raid on the heavily armed Black Panthers was litigated for decades. Three-score and eight years later some Chicago history revisionists have rewritten that disgusting and violent chapter of history. They can rewrite history all they want but the descendants of many fine murdered cops will always know the truth.

Did Judge Larry Paul Fiddler Drop The Ball On The Spector Case?

I noticed that Judge Larry Paul Fidler gives the usual admonishment to the jury every time they leave the jury box for any reason. They are not to discuss the case or read newspapers, listen to radio or watch TV news broadcasts about the Phil Spector trial. I guess that technology; Internet blogs or YouTube has not caught up with Judge Fidler or vise versa.

I never once saw the jury being admonished to stay away from blogs and Internet video sites. Was this an error? Could the case end in a mistrial because the judge did not admonish the jury members to stay off the blogs and such? I don’t think there is a simple answer to my question.

The Interview Judge Fidler does not want anyone to see!

Phil Spector may be caught in a very dark storm right now, but there is a bright light in his life. That light is his young, supportive and delightful wife, Rachelle Spector. Rachelle has been sharing the horror of her husband’s dangerous and lonely journey through the California criminal justice system.

Yesterday morning to the chagrin of the prosecutors and Judge Larry Paul Fidler, Rachelle Spector gave an interview to Court TV. Since the interview was not some hatemonger vilifying Phil Spector Judge Fidler threatened to impose a gag order. That was just another obvious effort by the judge to help prosecutors win a conviction to the peril of fairness and simple decency.

Here is that interview in two parts: (Thanks Duane!)



Read all my articles on Phil Spector right here.

The Phil Spector Trial Wrapped Today

It was too long, too contentions and too sordid. The prosecution was fueled by tabloid gossip, demonization and raw emotion. The defense was simple enough as nearly a total reliance on today’s criminalistics.

The trial included the prosecution's canonization of a drug addicted, alcoholic, depressed, destitute and failed actress. Lana Clarkson was also a woman who was driven to swindle her friends into funding her questionable video project through a series of forged letters from various studio executives. In the end we also learned that Clarkson engaged in sex with Phil Spector after knowing him no longer than the time it took to be driven to his home. Was that an act of love or simple commerce?

Closing arguments ended this trial in Judge Larry Paul Fidler’s court today. This was a railroad job instead of a fair trial as the judge let prosecutors round up Phil Spector’s old bedmates from decades gone by that were unable to marry or otherwise tame the legendary record producer. Through their testimony these women demonstrated one thing for sure, that Spector was often guilty of poor taste in his sexual conquests.

Like a huge landmark the key piece of evidence for the defense is that white diner jacket Spector undisputedly wore that night. What was missing was the messy blast of blood, tissue and gun shot residue that was expelled as the gun went off in Clarkson’s mouth. The only blood on the jacket was clearly a few smears transferred as Spector futilely tried to help the dead woman. Try as they might they could find no reason for the lack of blood spray, gun shot residue or tissue other than a solid fact, Spector was not near Clarkson as she shot herself.

It was laughable to see prosecutor Pat Dixon present an animated video of a figure depicting Phil Spector with a white dinner jacket standing in front another figure suggested to be Lana Clarkson putting a gun in her mouth shooting her. The animation was bloodless. Only a great magician could pull off such a feat.

The un-sequestered Spector jury is free but for an unenforceable court order to read every online newspaper, blog or YouTube video on their home computers. I promise you that that’s exactly what they will be doing this weekend. Last year I had members of a criminal jury reading my blog about the case they were deciding. I collected the ISP numbers. The case ended in an acquittal and my blog supported that outcome. Thankfully the defendant could not be retried.

Will emotion and a hate campaign overcome truth and justice? Will the jury be able to separate science for the impossible scenario of the prosecutor’s theory? We will find out sometime after the jury is instructed on Monday morning.

Whatever happens I don’t expect the defense lawyers to shake hands with the prosecutors.


Read all my articles on Phil Spector right here.

You Make The Topic

Some of my readers have stuff they want to post off topic so here is place to do just that. Please keep it clean!

The Phil Spector Trial Through The Eyes And Ears Of Linda Deutsch

In Los Angeles there is the undisputed Queen of court journalism. She is the above all, copiously objective and avoids commentary on the cases she reports. She’s sharp as a tack and fair until it hurts.

I was blessed to be able to chat with this master wordsmith over a short lunch during the Robert Blake murder trial and learned a bit about Ms. Deutsch. I already knew she has a warehouse full of awards for her writings over the years.

Ms. Deutsch told me about her policy never to take sides or dare predict the too often unpredictable verdicts of the trials she’s assigned to cover. When you inquire about a story this gal is covering you never have to say, “Just the facts ma’am.”

Columnists and commentators are the ones that give their opinions to the masses. Reporters on the other hand are given the task to simply report the naked truth. Few reporters can mask their personal opinions and tell it like it is as Linda Deutsch does so well.

Here is a shot biography of Linda Deutsch:
Ms. Deutsch has been a special correspondent for the Associated Press in Los Angeles, California since 1967. She has been a journalist for 40 years reporting on many high profile trials including the criminal and civil trial of O.J. Simpson, for which she was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and awarded the Oliver Gramling award by the Associated Press. Ms. Deutsch covered the trials of Exxon Valdez skipper Joseph Hazelwood, Rodney King, the Menendez brothers, and of Unabomber Theodore Kaczynski. She has also covered Presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan, the assassination attempts on President Gerald Ford, and the evacuation of Vietnam after the fall of Saigon. She received her bachelor’s degree from Monmouth University in New Jersey. Ms. Deutsch has received many awards including the Missouri School of Journalism’s Honor Medal for Distinguished Service in Journalism and the Society of Professional Journalists’ First Amendment Award.

For the past four years Linda Deutsch has doggedly covered the Phil Spector case. She has reported on the good, bad and the ugly of this sordid tale. I think this time Ms. Deutsch’s brutal honesty has tipped her hand when She called the case an “intriguing murder mystery”. That tells me above all else, that the state was unable to prove their case

Here is Linda Deutsch’s wrap story on the end of the evidentiary portion of the Phil Spector murder trial.

Phil Spector And Joan Baez Rocked!

I’ve written many articles about the tragic event at Phil Spectors’s home because I hate the merit less prosecution along with the incredibly slanted and defective rulings by Judge Larry Paul Fidler. Anymore American court trials are more about Las Vegas odds than justice. The jury will soon be charged with guessing what happened to Lana Clarkson. God help us all if when American juries are allowed to guess their way to murder convictions.

I ran into this video on YouTube that personifies just who Phil Spector really is. He’s a musical genius that has enriched our lives with so much great music. From my early favorite, Spanish Harlem, sung first by Ben E. King to that wildly popular song, You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling. Spector music and its huge influence is thankfully everywhere today.

Sit back now and watch Phil Spector direct the music and play the piano while Joan Baez delivers one incredibly soulful rendition of Spector’s work.