[WS:] I guess a bunch of trial shysters can dispute even that the Earth is round and the Sun rises in the East ;)
But just think for a while - you are coming home minding your own business, a guy approaches you and wants something, you tell him to get lost, he does not, a scuffle follows during which he pulls out a gun and shoots you. If that guy were black, do you really think that this jury would find him not guilty even if the prosecutors did a less than stellar job? I sincerely doubt.
Regarding poor performance of the prosecutor - Z's dad was in law enforcement and I am willing to bet that these guys closed ranks and decided to protect one of their own. It happens regularly afaik. That is why they initially did not file any charges, but when they were forced to file them after public outrage, they did it in such a way that nothing happen.
While we are at that - is there any federal oversight of prosecutorial misconduct? I understand that one can claim incompetent defense as grounds for a new trial, but does that go the other way?
-- Wojtek
"An anarchist is a neoliberal without money."