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I am passing this along at the request of the family and their attorney.
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We need to start emailing and writing political leaders and media outlets again. Unfortunately, we will probably be spending months trying to keep people focused on the Virgin Island justice system so that Jamie's murderers are convicted. In short, the VI government does not give a damn but we have to make them give a damn.
Yesterday, there was a bail hearing for Anselmo "Selmo" Boston. The prosecution requested the hearing so that they could request that there is no bail and Selmo remains in jail pending trial. You would think that this is a good thing and it was -- right up until the time that the prosecutor failed to show up for the hearing that she requested. After about 40 minutes, the judge became so angry that she just grabbed a prosecutor that had no clue about the case and made the prosecutor fill in for the absent prosecutor. Obviously, the request for "no bail" was denied, but fortunately, this judge had some common sense and at least set bail at $100,000. The judge showed up, the Cockaynes showed up, the defendant showed up, the defense counsel showed up, but where was the prosecutor? If everyone else could figure this out, why couldn't the prosecution? Ironically, the prosecution shows up for a bail hearing (i.e., Six Pack) and $75,000 bail is ordered, but when the prosecution does not show up, $100,000 bail is ordered! What side is the prosecution on?
Selmo's girlfriend attended the arraignment on Thursday. For about 40 minutes or so, she sat in the courtroom talking and joking with a VIPD police officer in uniform. That's right, Selmo's girlfriend is a good friend of the police officer. This police officer wasn't a witness but was kind enough to take a few minutes from her day to sit in court and support Selmo, et al. Why are our tax dollars paying a police officer to sit in a courtroom and joke around with the defendant's girlfriend? At a minimum, this is an appearance problem. It is certainly disgusting and horrible for the Cockayne family to watch. What side is the VIPD on?
Because of our media campaign, a mother contacted us concerning another Six Pack "issue." In October 2006, Six Pack stabbed someone in front of the Front Yard. What did the VIPD do? Nothing. That's not exactly accurate -- they took statements and listened to the young man that was the victim, but of course, that was it. Fortunately, that victim survived. The victim's mother told the VIPD that Six Pack will kill someone if they don't do something. The VIPD did nothing. Detective Hodges took the statement from the victim. Detective Hodges, in response to CNN's arrival on St. John, is the one that said: "you should know that the police will investigate a murder anywhere in the world." He said this to explain that the VIPD was investigating Jamie's murder and we were just getting in the way with the media. As an aside, the victim walked to the police station with his bloody arm and chest and was told to go to the clinic. No first aid was administered. No ambulance was called. They couldn't even give him a ride. The kid had to call a friend to get to the clinic. What side is Detective Hodges on?
Jeanie and Bill have been calling the Department of Corrections to find out if the defendants have been released on bail. In other words, did they come up with their bail money? Remarkably, the victim advocate cannot find this information out. Jeanie and Bill were chased off St. John twice in fear for their safety - once under police escort. Witnesses have fled St. John in fear of their safety. The defendants are accused of murder. Yesterday, the Department of Corrections told Bill that they cannot give him information concerning the defendants release and they hung up the telephone on Bill. Six Pack and Selmo are probably sharing a cell so they can get their story straight. It is typical for law enforcement to segregate co-defendants so that they don't "get their story straight." In addition, defendants typically tell their story to their fellow cell mate and that can be used against them later. Bill asked if the defendants were sharing a cell but, of course, that question was not answered. What side is the Department of Corrections on?
One of the most frustrating aspects of this investigation is that the VIPD has not picked up the getaway car. Here is the importance of the getaway car. Jamie was brutally stabbed. It is almost guaranteed that blood transferred from Jamie to the killer and to the car. Blood will be in the cloth material in the car. The defendants won't be able to explain that away. Incredibly, the VIPD have known the car and license plate number on the car for weeks. The car was videoed on CNN. If you drive through Cruz Bay, you'll probably trip over the car. At one point in time, the police had the car blocked in and it never crossed their mind to pick up the car - unbelievable.
Jeanie has been asking for weeks if the VIPD has Jamie's ball cap. On August 3, 2007, in a meeting with government officials, Jeanie was told that they would look into whether the ball cap was taken as evidence. Witnesses have told us that the cap was discarded because the VIPD was out of evidence bags. In the meeting, the following government official were present: Attorney General, Deputy Attorney General, Chief of Prosecutors, the lead prosecutor, police chief, and the FBI. Amazingly, none of them knew whether the ball cap was collected but they did tell Jeanie that they would find out. We still don't know.
Remember Pennington from Larry King?
PENNINGTON: Well, there have been arrests made. There have been two arrests made, one suspect that's been charged with first degree murder, and another one with witness tampering. I believe that from interviews with the police commissioner and other government officials that what's been done is consistent with what our new police commissioner has said even before he was the commissioner, that they have called in from what we've been told all of the outside agencies that were available, including the FBI.
Pennington followed this interview with an online editorial explaining that Larry did not give the VIPD (i.e., Pennington) enough time to respond. The Source, in support of Commissioner McCall, claims that this investigation is being handled just like all others. If that statement is true, it is sad.
What can you do? Start emailing the media. Update your political leaders via email or mail concerning the latest debacles. In particular, email the Source. The Source is the one that claims this investigation is being handled just like every other one. Make the Source's inbox explode. If the Source is truly independent, it will hold the police accountable. Here are specific questions to ask anyone that will listen.
Why didn't the prosecution show up at Selmo's bail hearing on Friday?
What are the consequences for their failure to show up?
Why did a uniformed police officer sit through the arraignment with Selmo's girlfriend?
What are the consequences for the police officer using public resources (i.e., her salary) to socialize with the defendant's girlfriend?
Why didn't Detective Hodges/VIPD follow up when Six Pack stabbed his first victim?
Does the VIPD believe Jamie would still be alive if they actually investigated Six Pack's first stabbing?
Why can't the Department of Corrections tell the victims family when the killers are released from jail?
Why won't the VIPD pick up the getaway car and search it for evidence?
Anyone can contact me with questions or concerns.
Sean E. Summers ([email protected])
Esquire
Barley Snyder LLC
100 East Market Street
York, PA 17401
717.852.4997 - Direct Dial
717.843.8492 - Fax
Barley Snyder LLC
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
Kind of an unusual way for lawyers to operate.
Not really when their is an attempt to trial in the press and web.
FYI - Summers - an associate with the firm Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Labor and Employment; Real Estate; Creditors Rights
- Barley Snyder LLC is a regional firm with offices in Lancaster, York, Harrisburg, Reading, Hanover and Berwyn. The firm serves national and local clients in a broad range of legal matters, including civil litigation, corporate, banking and securities matters, federal, state and local taxation, intellectual property and technology, environmental matters, municipal issues, health care, labor, employment and employee benefits, immigration, bankruptcy and creditors' rights, estate planning and administration, domestic relations and elder law.
This is a criminal case.
Not much experience in criminal cases, certainly not capital cases. Wouldn't be my choice. This is a time whn a judge sometimes issues a gag order.
Might be more of an issue if they were acting as defense attorney's, which they aren't.
might be more of an issue when they become the plantiff's attorney for any civil action.
[email protected]
If you Email the Source you will have to give them Your Real Name,address,and phone number for verification of the author.
No, they're not acting as defense attorneys, but for navigating through criminal procedures I'd still prefer someone with experience in criminal litigation. That would seem to me to be an obvious criteria. Of course if they're looking beyond that to future civil litigation, it would make some sense. Either way it's an unusual way for any lawyer to operate.
Actually, I'd probably also want to retain counsel from the VI. They'd have a much better sense of how to get things done.
Didn't the Source play the race card on this? Wasn't it the Source that made a big deal about the fact that Anderson Cooper of CNN wasn't on island for a previous murder where two men of color were killed (visitors) in 2005? When, in fact, Anderson Cooper of CNN had been on island for that story and had aired it on the show "360" in 2005, just as they did the Cockayne case this year. Why didn't the Source remember that, if it has been such a big deal? I remembered it.
Has that double-murder of visitors been solved, either? No. Well, they thought they had solved it, remember...there was witness. these two were murdered on the street, as well. .....but the witness later recanted his story. I wonder what makes you see 2 people get murdered on a bus stop, tell the police, then recant your story.
You couldn't make up stuff like this. The Cockaynes have been talking about the getaway car for weeks and yet the cops still do not impound it? What's the deal? Are they digging their heels in instead of doing the right thing?
And surprise, surprise....Six Pack stabbed someone at the same bar a while back. Hey Luke McCain....no alibi for Six Pack for that one? I wonder that that victim did to incur the violent wrath of Six Pack? Maybe he knocked over his bicycle or something equally heinous.
What of the VI cop who spent part of her day (in uniform and possibly on the clock) to sit and chat up Selmo's girlfriend. Awfully nice of the cop, don't you think? Too bad they couldn't spare five minutes to talk to the Cockayne's about the murder of their son.
Will this appalling sideshow of corruption and general ineptitude really be allowed to continue?
We received the same message from family members. The people who said lawyers don't generally behave like this is correct. HOWEVER, what is NORMAL about this case? It is being bungled from start to finish.
The heck with gag orders, where is the US Government? They should be more involved not only in this case but whatever else passes for law and order on this island.
Jamie Cockayne's murder seems like an unfortunate catalyst for change, but will change occur? All we know is the VI Government seems incredibly corrupt and inept. The residents of the USVI also deserve justice.
In the meantime, how many of you out there know of potential tourists who changed their plans? We know several, including one wedding.
Also see this article today and check out the posts on a website called phillyfuture.org
Very interesting.
http://www.thebulletin.us/site/news.cfm?newsid=18729601&BRD=2737&PAG=461&dept_id=576361&rfi=6
IT IS TRUE THAT WHEN BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO WHITE PEOPLE THERE WILL BE ANYTHING DONE AND PEOPLE WILL TURN OVER ROCKS AND BOULDERS TO MAKE SURE SOMEONE PAYS. WHEN BLACK MEN GET KILLED NO ONE GIVES A DAMN AND HEADS TURN THE OTHER, AS IF TO SAY, OH WELL JUST ANOTHER BLACK GANG MEMBER. EVERY LIFE ON THIS EARTH IS PRECIOUS. DOGS AND CATS ARE TREATED BETTER THAN YOUNG BLACK MEN IN AMERICA. NO LIFE SHOULD BE TAKEN UNLESS SO BY THE CREATOR. AND I CONDEMNED VIOLENCE. BUT FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS WHITES THINK THAT THEIR LIVES ARE MORE PRECIOUS THAN THAT OF ANY OTHER RACE ESPECIALLY BLACKS.
AND BEFOR YOU JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS, I AM A WHITE PERSON WITH AN ARRAY OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS FROM DIFFERENT RACES AND CULTURES. THIS COUNTRY IS BEING RUINED STILL BY THE COLOR ISSUES AND ONE RACE STILL BEING HELD SUPERIOR TO ANOTHER. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS LIKE TO BE A BLACK PERSON ESPECIALLY IN AMERICA, BUT I CAN GUESS IT IS A VERY STRESSFUL LIFE TO LIVE BY MOST.
Here we go.....
(let me break out the cheese for this whine fest).
Mango, I was on here with the same level of frustration in 2005 when the 2 men of color, who were visitors on STT for a wedding, were murdered. Nobody wanted to talk about that either.
No matter what attention the mainland pays....forget that. Let's look at what cases get solved.....pure and simple. Is the VIPD solving and is the USVI judicial system successfully prosecuting the cases of white victims any better than that of black victims? I'll guess not.
How about the man from American Express Corp who was chased on STJ by two local men with a shotgun and calling him "whitey" a few months ago while he was hiking? Wasn't he white? Did he go to the police? Yes. Did they help? No. They told him that it was too hard for them to go to where the men were - even after he pointed to the exact house on a satellite image of the island. Not even an attempt to help.
So much for the white guys having it so easy down there. I think it might be the other way around.
And, for the record, I'm half black.
it seems that blu brings up the Source and race card. Maybe she should read some of the links that are posted and the statements when it comes to race
http://www.topix.com/forum/city/new-hope-pa/T2DE62NN66OSBVOB6
Jean Gilligan Cockayne:
Things like that do happen and they did happen. My son was butchered and whether or not he was drinking or not will never change the fact that he is dead. Jamie was never the kind of boy that would start a fight. He never came home with a black eye etc. However he was not the kind of boy that would back down if he felt he was being pushed around. Furthermore as his frinds will attest he was always there for his friends and would stick up for them always. He just never spent time with people that would murder you over a stupid argument either. ... This was a hate crime pure and simple. Those thugs thought Jamie din't belong because he was white and he was out numbered.
oh boo hoo lets make this about race now... whatever.
