Opinion, by BlogonautLos Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, who is up for re-election next year and plans to run, has issued statements that could blatantly effect murder defendant and renowned music producer Phillip Spector's right to receive a fair trial.
In the context of an interview ostensibly sought by Baca on the subject of jail overcrowding, Baca told the press that “wealthy people in general” should not be afforded bail pending trial (BEFORE THEY ARE FOUND GUILTY OR INNOCENT) on murder charges. Then, SINGLING OUT Phillip Spector, Baca said:
“The violent offenders, they should all stay in jail on a pretrial status And not be given the ability to roam around because they've got money," Baca said, singling out record producer Phil Spector who is free on $1 million bail while his murder retrial takes place. "He's one of the most dangerous guys that had never been caught fooling around with guns. ... Phil Spector should have no bail."
This is an outrageous attempt by Sheriff Baca to interfere with the Spector jury and certainly puts the trial judge’s prior gag order—directed SOLELY at Phillip Spector’s wife—into perspective as the clear and convincing evidence of bias that the order plainly appeared to be.
The fact that the same trial judge has not similarly enjoined public officials aligned with law enforcement from speaking out in a manner calculated to prejudice the Spector jury speaks volumes about the lack of fairness in this case.
See: LA sheriff may free 4,000 inmates due to budget
UPDATE:
According to blogger Sprocket, Sheriff Baca’s prejudicial press statements about Phillip Spector were brought to the attention of the trial court during yesterday’s session and Judge Fidler refused to impose a gag order on the Sheriff, stating: "I don't have any authority over Sheriff Baca. [...] (He's a separate entity.) I have no authority over (the) sheriff." Interesting response, since Judge Fidler imposed a gag order on Phillip Spector’s wife Rachel Spector for talking to the press during the first trial. I guess the Court feels that a man’s wife is not a “separate entity”.
According to blogger Sprocket, Sheriff Baca’s prejudicial press statements about Phillip Spector were brought to the attention of the trial court during yesterday’s session and Judge Fidler refused to impose a gag order on the Sheriff, stating: "I don't have any authority over Sheriff Baca. [...] (He's a separate entity.) I have no authority over (the) sheriff." Interesting response, since Judge Fidler imposed a gag order on Phillip Spector’s wife Rachel Spector for talking to the press during the first trial. I guess the Court feels that a man’s wife is not a “separate entity”.
13 comments:
The judge is worried about Mrs. spector's tiny blog but s willing to ignore the LA County Sherrif's main stream media attempts to influence the Spector jury?
Can we concevieve of more pursuiasive evidence of judical bias? I think not.
Why would a public law enforcement official single out a particuar criminal defendant to call him "dangerious" just 2 weeks prior to the jury getting the case for decision?
This is not good for LA County or Phil Spector.
Eat the rich!!!!!
How come Phil Spector's wife was the only person ordered not to talk to the media about the case, yet the LA County Sheriff can prejudice Phil Spector's right to a fair trial with blatant and outrageous statements to the press that Phil Spector is one of the most dangerous persons in the history of LA County to use firearms?
This comes just a week or two before the second jury deliberates?
Totally outrageous, transparently biased.
--ShivaTheGodofDeath A/K/A Arthur Edens
Could LA County be any more blatant about tring to tilt the outcome of this close case to the prosecution?
Since the LA County crime lab is operated by the Sheriff's Office (and is therefore controlled by Sheriff Baca), can someone please explain to me how this kind of blatant bias on the part of Sheriff Baca does not undermine the credibility of all of the criminalistics findings introduced by the prosecution in this case?
"Most dangerous" ever--more dangerous that, for example, the thousands of CONVICTED of gun murders apprehended in LA County?
More dangerous than the tens of thousands of armed gang members roaming the streets of LA?
More dangerous than the serial killers appended by the LA County Sheriff's office?
More dangerous than the Night Stalker?
More dangerous than Charles Mansion?
Talk about institutional bias against a specific defendant.
I wonder what the trial judge will do about this, after going after Mrs. Spector (and only Mrs. Spector) for talking to the press.
What am I thinking? Judge Fielder will do exactly NOTHING.
Fairness! Sounds like "WhinyBerg's"
posting comments now. If he would concentrate on our Philly boy perhaps he wouldn't have to begin making excuses before the "guilty" verdict.
Muaaah!
Spector is more dangerous than the night stalker and Manson~
In fact, if you had one or the other appear in front of you, bet on getting murdered.
Spector creeps up and none of the woman he attacked or aimed a gun at knew what was coming. Lana Clarkson had no clue when she reluctantly left with him on 02/03/03.
Coward, he is~
“Spector is more dangerous than the night stalker and Manson…”
“Fairness! Sounds like "WhinyBerg's" posting comments now.”
These two posts best exemplify just how ridiculous the extreme views prevalent on Sprocket’s Trials &Tribulations blog are.
The first statement is so asinine that it does not deserve a response.
The second, suggesting that “fairness” has no place in a criminal trial is equally ridiculous.
This is all a scam, they're pinning the blame for some crazy, failed and miserable half- actress who owed out a lot of money, just to be a trophy for Larry Fiddler to lock up and Alan Jackson to have a TV show out of...makes me sick. Just like the eking out of the Anna Nicole Smith's baby story (it wasn't a court hearing, it's all stories and fantasy).
FREE PHIL SPECTOR!
http://www.petitiononline.com/Spector/petition.html
Free Phil Spector!
I thank for the help in this question, now I will know.
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