A Commentary of Criminal Law Cases In The News
A brief discussion and commentary on three cases making headlines in the national news this week.
ROGER CLEMENS
In last weeks proceedings, the prosecution did a great job of showing what a fantastic baseball player Roger Clemens was. If that was what the trial was about they would have hit a home run. Unfortunately, it is not about that but about whether or not Clemens lied about his steroid use to Congress. In its second go around, the prosecution seems to have lost control of this issue. In fact, the two ex Blue Jay catchers testimony today served the defense rather than the prosecution. Their friendly banter directed towards Clemens and their obvious respect for him, was not what the prosecution had intended. Their star witness, Pettite, “misremembers” whether Clemens stated he used Human Growth Hormones (HGH). The wife of their other main witness, McNamee, testified that she did not know about Clemens using steroids or ordering McNamee to injecting him, contradicting the testimony of McNamee himself and casting aspersions as to its truthfulness. In the end, America is scratching their head and wondering why the US government cares so much about this, because the people certainly do not.
DREW PETERSON
So where is she, will be the question on the minds of jurors, when hearing of statements made by fourth wife Staci Peterson. The judge in Drew Peterson case ruled there will be no mention of his fourth wife, Staci Peterson, being presumed dead, or killed by the Defendant. However, the prosecution plans to use specific hearsay evidence of her statement that she believed Drew Peterson killed his third wife. Without any mention of her whereabouts, it will be hard for a jury to understand why she is not personally testifying. In a trial that is striking for its total lack of physical evidence, presenting hearsay statements of a wife who Planned to divorce Peterson, will most likely confuse the jury, helping Peterson. Indeed, the evidence in this trial, is more akin to a gossip column accusations than a real trial.
GEORGE ZIMMERMAN-TRAYVON MARTIN
Just when Zimmerman was starting to gain credibility with the release of pictures showing he was hit in the back of the head, he effectively destroyed it. The defense is scrambling to repair the damage Zimmerman has caused to his defense regarding the willful lying under oath regarding his finances. Zimmerman has been granted a second bond hearing on June 29, 2012, where his attorneys will argue that he allowed his financial situation to be misstated in court, however, they allege he has been forthright in everything else. Whether or not, the judge will grant him a new bond, the damage to his credibility in front of the judge who will preside over this trial, is done. Didn’t he learn anything from the Sopranos, assume all phone calls are recorded?