Congratulations to Brunswick, Georgia law enforcement for performing gunpowder residue tests on a murdered baby's mother, Sherri West, and her boyfriend, Louis Santiago, the baby's father. Is this another "the black men did it" lie uncovered?
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57594017-504083/antonio-santiago-update-gunshot-residue-found-on-slain-ga-babys-parents-report-says/
Although the couple tested positive for gunpowder residue, police had not named West or Santiago suspects in their son’s murder as of the writing of this article; however, Santiago was jailed for aggravated stalking of West. He allegedly threw furniture and accused West of killing their child. Does that mean Georgia has two innocent black boys under arrest for a murder they did not do?
De’Marquise Kareem Elkins, 17, and Dominique Demetrius Lang, 14, were arrested for murdering 13-month-old Antonio Santiago as his mother walked him in a stroller on March 21, 2013. West said the teens attempted to rob her and shot her in the leg and shot her baby in his face, killing him. Ashley Glassey, the mentally ill woman's daughter who was removed from her mother's care when she was a young child, said West asked how soon she could cash the baby's insurance policy in the same conversation when West told Ashley about her little brother's murder. Read more about the case at this article:
"The Mentally Ill as Witnesses"
http://dogjusticeformentallyill.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-mentally-ill-as-witnesses-brunswick.html
West gave numerous television interviews and accused the teens of being evil murderers for months. But the state took issue with news conferences planned by the boys' attorney, Kevin Gough. The State said that Gough is determined to try this case in the media. In April, prosecutors sought and were granted a gag order to restrict attorneys involved in this case from speaking with the media. Gough says West's willingness to talk about her baby's murder led to unprecedented media coverage and garnered 4.5 million hits on Google. He said that any statements the defense has made were meant to counter prejudicial pre-trial publicity. Troy Davis was also under a gag order in Georgia.*
http://dogjusticeformentallyill.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-mentally-ill-as-witnesses-brunswick.html
West gave numerous television interviews and accused the teens of being evil murderers for months. But the state took issue with news conferences planned by the boys' attorney, Kevin Gough. The State said that Gough is determined to try this case in the media. In April, prosecutors sought and were granted a gag order to restrict attorneys involved in this case from speaking with the media. Gough says West's willingness to talk about her baby's murder led to unprecedented media coverage and garnered 4.5 million hits on Google. He said that any statements the defense has made were meant to counter prejudicial pre-trial publicity. Troy Davis was also under a gag order in Georgia.*
It takes good police work, honest judges, credible prosecutors, ethical defense attorneys with adequate resources, and informed, unbiased jurors to Change the legal system to one in which Americans have "justice for ALL." The gunpowder residue test results should save Elkins and Lang from serving life in prison for Antonio's murder and other charges related to the baby's death. The only witness against them is West, who reportedly identified one of the teens from photos while it was she and her boyfriend who were covered with gunpowder residue. But misidentification by witnesses accounts for 75% of the nation's wrongful convictions (Buffalo News).
Forensic tests can avoid wrongful convictions and exonerate innocent inmates when evidence is available and untainted. That is why Brunswick law enforcement is congratulated for giving the parents gunpowder residue tests. It is SAD that Arkansas police did no gunpowder residue test on Chavis Carter, the black youth who supposedly committed suicide while handcuffed and locked in the back of a police car after having been searched twice. He supposedly committed suicide by shooting himself with a hidden pistol. The bullet entered Carter's right temple although he was left-handed and handcuffed. The officers who arrested Carter were not given a gunpowder residue test, either, and the police car's dash cam mysteriously stopped recording right at the time of the shooting. This writer does not expect a wrongful death lawsuit in this case, because The Cochran Firm frauds represent Carter's family. After a brief media blitz, Carter's death was ruled suicide and now seems forgotten.
For better or worse, the media plays a role in criminal justice or lack of justice. CNN interviewed Sherri West after her baby's murder when she accused the teens. However, this writer found no reports by CNN regarding the gunpowder evidence in this case. West's tearful CNN interview is at the first link in this article.
This may be another Susan Smith case.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Smith
Ashley Glassey shared her doubts about her mother's story in the interview embedded below and at YouTube link
http://youtu.be/POQhOi2y7-w . Ashley said she went to the media when police ignored her testimony.
Does it take four months to analyze gunpowder residue tests? Could it be that the justice system would prefer prosecuting two innocent blacks rather than a white woman with gunpowder residue on her hands, whose boyfriend is under arrest for throwing furniture and accusing her of the child's murder? West explained that her boyfriend went 'nuts.' West even has an explanation for the gunpowder residue, which is offered at the Fox news link below.
http://www.actionnewsjax.com/content/topstories/story/Sherry-West-says-murdered-babys-father-went-nuts/faabQKMeIkiKfAddU9x7Tg.cspx
Prosecuting the teens while ignoring evidence against the baby's parents could be volatile, especially so soon after the Zimmerman jury verdict. Hopefully, Attorney General Holder will monitor this situation to ensure justice in a racially charged trial for two impoverished black boys from a small Georgia community who continue to maintain their innocence. The trial was already removed to Marietta, Georgia in a change of venue, an area with a 33.5% African American population rather than to Atlanta, which is 60% black. One has only to browse online for "Brunswick Baby Murder" to note how the teens were immediately villainized in the press in a murder case that is essentially a matter of their word against a white mother's accusations - a mentally challenged woman who was concerned with her baby's insurance payoff from the moment the child died. West was essentially accused by both her daughter and the baby's father - people who know her best - as being Antonio's killer, but the world accuses and hurls racial insults at the teenage defendants.
The boys' murder trial begins in August. Most mainstream media affiliates and many independent news sources and bloggers carried reports about West's allegations and the boys' arrest in March, but there is a gaping scarcity of news regarding subsequent developments: the gunpowder residue found on the baby's parents' hands, West's daughter's suspicions, the father's arrest for acting erratic and accusing West of committing Antonio's murder, and West's mental illness. Reasonable doubt raised by these circumstances should lead to acquittal and release for Elkins and Lang. But in view of the shocking, racist language by Internet users against the young defendants, people who care about justice should challenge their so-called "leaders" to demonstrate some of their "justice for Martin" zeal to help these innocent boys.
Do not be surprised that the accused teens are referred to as innocents in this article. In America, everyone is presumed innocent until PROVED guilty in a court of law. At least, that is what America "said on paper" (MLK).
This is my second story out of the Brunswick, Georgia area. The first one also involved criminal allegations by a mentally ill person. Nathaniel Hickman, a black 100% disabled Vietnam veteran, alleged that his wife continually ran him over in her car. Yvonne Hickman was arrested and barred from Glynn County on Nathaniel's word, although her husband had absolutely no injuries. She said he has been hospitalized and incarcerated numerous times for chronic PTSD and drug addiction, and she was surprised at Brunswick's willingness to rely on his unsubstantiated testimony but deny her a trial timely. Eventually, criminal charges against Yvonne were dropped, but not in time to save the couple's home in a predominantly Caucasian subdivision from foreclosure. Yvonne was apparently presumed guilty from the time her husband alleged crimes that arose out of his hallucinations.
Being presumed innocent when facing criminal charges is a "right" that has little to do with reality in America's justice system, especially for Africans and people who lack wealth. Rights that are not defended and equally applied are nonexistent. This writer was told by Atlanta Police Department that I have no free speech rights in Georgia, and I discovered they were correct. I have experienced pronounced persecution and censorship for years since having the nerve to ask how and why my mentally, physically disabled brother was murdered after 18 days of secret arrest. We have been denied any records or explanation for a decade as of August 1. As blacks, we are expected to accept lynchings in stride in 21st century America, especially of "useless eaters" like Larry Neal was (Hitler's term). Persecution is particularly intense against my family at this time. I would like to advocate more for justice in this case, but out of respect for my relatives' safety which is threatened in Georgia, I will not. Hopefully, God has others in place who will make every effort to see that real justice is served.
*Below is a link to an article about the proposed gag order to stop defense attorneys from discussing the case after West had already told her side of the story to 45 million Internet viewers
http://www.actionnewsjax.com/content/topstories/story/Gag-order-challenged-in-Brunswick-baby-murder-case/NjGj54RCzUmry2npNwc0HQ.cspxFor better or worse, the media plays a role in criminal justice or lack of justice. CNN interviewed Sherri West after her baby's murder when she accused the teens. However, this writer found no reports by CNN regarding the gunpowder evidence in this case. West's tearful CNN interview is at the first link in this article.
This may be another Susan Smith case.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Smith
Ashley Glassey shared her doubts about her mother's story in the interview embedded below and at YouTube link
http://youtu.be/POQhOi2y7-w . Ashley said she went to the media when police ignored her testimony.
Does it take four months to analyze gunpowder residue tests? Could it be that the justice system would prefer prosecuting two innocent blacks rather than a white woman with gunpowder residue on her hands, whose boyfriend is under arrest for throwing furniture and accusing her of the child's murder? West explained that her boyfriend went 'nuts.' West even has an explanation for the gunpowder residue, which is offered at the Fox news link below.
http://www.actionnewsjax.com/content/topstories/story/Sherry-West-says-murdered-babys-father-went-nuts/faabQKMeIkiKfAddU9x7Tg.cspx
Prosecuting the teens while ignoring evidence against the baby's parents could be volatile, especially so soon after the Zimmerman jury verdict. Hopefully, Attorney General Holder will monitor this situation to ensure justice in a racially charged trial for two impoverished black boys from a small Georgia community who continue to maintain their innocence. The trial was already removed to Marietta, Georgia in a change of venue, an area with a 33.5% African American population rather than to Atlanta, which is 60% black. One has only to browse online for "Brunswick Baby Murder" to note how the teens were immediately villainized in the press in a murder case that is essentially a matter of their word against a white mother's accusations - a mentally challenged woman who was concerned with her baby's insurance payoff from the moment the child died. West was essentially accused by both her daughter and the baby's father - people who know her best - as being Antonio's killer, but the world accuses and hurls racial insults at the teenage defendants.
The boys' murder trial begins in August. Most mainstream media affiliates and many independent news sources and bloggers carried reports about West's allegations and the boys' arrest in March, but there is a gaping scarcity of news regarding subsequent developments: the gunpowder residue found on the baby's parents' hands, West's daughter's suspicions, the father's arrest for acting erratic and accusing West of committing Antonio's murder, and West's mental illness. Reasonable doubt raised by these circumstances should lead to acquittal and release for Elkins and Lang. But in view of the shocking, racist language by Internet users against the young defendants, people who care about justice should challenge their so-called "leaders" to demonstrate some of their "justice for Martin" zeal to help these innocent boys.
Do not be surprised that the accused teens are referred to as innocents in this article. In America, everyone is presumed innocent until PROVED guilty in a court of law. At least, that is what America "said on paper" (MLK).
This is my second story out of the Brunswick, Georgia area. The first one also involved criminal allegations by a mentally ill person. Nathaniel Hickman, a black 100% disabled Vietnam veteran, alleged that his wife continually ran him over in her car. Yvonne Hickman was arrested and barred from Glynn County on Nathaniel's word, although her husband had absolutely no injuries. She said he has been hospitalized and incarcerated numerous times for chronic PTSD and drug addiction, and she was surprised at Brunswick's willingness to rely on his unsubstantiated testimony but deny her a trial timely. Eventually, criminal charges against Yvonne were dropped, but not in time to save the couple's home in a predominantly Caucasian subdivision from foreclosure. Yvonne was apparently presumed guilty from the time her husband alleged crimes that arose out of his hallucinations.
Being presumed innocent when facing criminal charges is a "right" that has little to do with reality in America's justice system, especially for Africans and people who lack wealth. Rights that are not defended and equally applied are nonexistent. This writer was told by Atlanta Police Department that I have no free speech rights in Georgia, and I discovered they were correct. I have experienced pronounced persecution and censorship for years since having the nerve to ask how and why my mentally, physically disabled brother was murdered after 18 days of secret arrest. We have been denied any records or explanation for a decade as of August 1. As blacks, we are expected to accept lynchings in stride in 21st century America, especially of "useless eaters" like Larry Neal was (Hitler's term). Persecution is particularly intense against my family at this time. I would like to advocate more for justice in this case, but out of respect for my relatives' safety which is threatened in Georgia, I will not. Hopefully, God has others in place who will make every effort to see that real justice is served.
*Below is a link to an article about the proposed gag order to stop defense attorneys from discussing the case after West had already told her side of the story to 45 million Internet viewers
Contact information for some officials in this drama are listed below.
Brunswick Police Headquarters
206 Mansfield Street
Brunswick, GA 31520
(912) 267-5559
Fax (912) 267-5526
Jackie Johnson, Glynn County D.A.
Phone: (912) 554-7200
Sam Olens, Georgia Attorney General
(404) 656-3300
Fax (404) 657-8733
Kevin Gough, Defense Attorney
http://www.goughfirm.com/
(seven urls and one embedded video are in this article)
