Pal Threw Punch That Paralyzed Bartels: Witness

A bombshell witness took the stand in the case against New Lenox man Joseph Messina and accused one of their pals of throwing the fateful punch that put a Joliet man into a coma.

[Anonymous]

Thank You Ed. I have never heard another name until now. No one sits accused of crime this long and waits three years to actually say, " no it wasn't me, it was my friend" what a bunch of BS. So they are trying to sell that only two people saw another person do it now. And those two people are a charged felon and his best friend, and they are blaming another friend.

[Dave]

You don't know what your talking about. Clearly this case has been delayed that long they really haven't had that much time in court where they made progress on anything. So really they've spent about 2 weeks in real court. And the whole time joe has been pleading innocent which clearly means someone else did it which is why in his turn to call witnesses the real truth came out. And for Ed who claims the other witnesses are more reliable than any of joes shows he's ignorant to the facts. Which are the girl testified that she had her back turned heard the thud than turned around. So she couldn't have seen the actual punch and the other brilliant eyewitness gave a completely different description of the clothes that joe wore that night. I believe joe is innocent as I've heard from friends of mike that he has admitted to them that he did it. I have come to realize all the years of reading the paper and all the shit they put in it to make a story really ruins people's lives. All you people on here bashing joe don't know the real truth. The paper has made joe out to look like an animalistic cage fighter which he's not. The truth is joe is a stand up guy and didmt want to rat out his friend in hopes he would come clean but that wasn't gonna happen because the kid turned his back on him so left joe no choice. So before you pass judgement on a story you know nothing about take the time to hear both sides

[Proud mama]

Joe is a "stand up guy"? Obviously this is before he drinks himself into obvillion every weekend, stumbling around like a fool flapping his loud mouth. I'm innocent, did nothing Joe found hiding in his parents van after "his buddy" knocked Eric to the ground? Why did Joey run and hide from the police? Little Joey scared? OR guilty?

[Witness]

Dave perhaps you should obtain a GED before you post again you ignoramus.

Dave wrote:

You don't know what your talking about. Clearly this case has been delayed that long they really haven't had that much time in court where they made progress on anything. So really they've spent about 2 weeks in real court. And the whole time joe has been pleading innocent which clearly means someone else did it which is why in his turn to call witnesses the real truth came out. And for Ed who claims the other witnesses are more reliable than any of joes shows he's ignorant to the facts. Which are the girl testified that she had her back turned heard the thud than turned around. So she couldn't have seen the actual punch and the other brilliant eyewitness gave a completely different description of the clothes that joe wore that night. I believe joe is innocent as I've heard from friends of mike that he has admitted to them that he did it. I have come to realize all the years of reading the paper and all the shit they put in it to make a story really ruins people's lives. All you people on here bashing joe don't know the real truth. The paper has made joe out to look like an animalistic cage fighter which he's not. The truth is joe is a stand up guy and didmt want to rat out his friend in hopes he would come clean but that wasn't gonna happen because the kid turned his back on him so left joe no choice. So before you pass judgement on a story you know nothing about take the time to hear both sides

[Obama Suks]

Please, you illiterate piece of of trash learn basic grammar.

Dave wrote:

You don't know what your talking about. Clearly this case has been delayed that long they really haven't had that much time in court where they made progress on anything. So really they've spent about 2 weeks in real court. And the whole time joe has been pleading innocent which clearly means someone else did it which is why in his turn to call witnesses the real truth came out. And for Ed who claims the other witnesses are more reliable than any of joes shows he's ignorant to the facts. Which are the girl testified that she had her back turned heard the thud than turned around. So she couldn't have seen the actual punch and the other brilliant eyewitness gave a completely different description of the clothes that joe wore that night. I believe joe is innocent as I've heard from friends of mike that he has admitted to them that he did it. I have come to realize all the years of reading the paper and all the shit they put in it to make a story really ruins people's lives. All you people on here bashing joe don't know the real truth. The paper has made joe out to look like an animalistic cage fighter which he's not. The truth is joe is a stand up guy and didmt want to rat out his friend in hopes he would come clean but that wasn't gonna happen because the kid turned his back on him so left joe no choice. So before you pass judgement on a story you know nothing about take the time to hear both sides

[Anonymous]

Dave, that is so dumb, grammar subsiding. No one accused of manslaughter would wait for anyone to " come clean". That's your life in the balance, and you wait fot him to come clean. Joe will go down, and this last minute ploy will not work. Just like you I know people at the bar as well, and no one has ever said Mike did it. EVER!

[dollar bill]

I've heard since the beginning of this tragic event that Mike thru the knock down punch.

I've always questioned why Mike never admitted to it or why Joe never passed blame.

I've been told Mike struck the man and then Joe pounced on him when he was down.

If this is true both should be on trial.

I only wish more people who know what happened would come forward or the Police should have investigated better.

[Anonymous]

Knock to call you a liar Dollar, but I heard the opposite and that Mike did not throw a punch at all. And like I stated , and like a lot stated I know people there as well. In my opinion Joe never passd the blame because there is no blame to pass. It's a desperate ploy to get off if you ask me.

[dollar bill]

IllinoisBean wrote:

Knock to call you a liar Dollar, but I heard the opposite and that Mike did not throw a punch at all. And like I stated , and like a lot stated I know people there as well. In my opinion Joe never passd the blame because there is no blame to pass. It's a desperate ploy to get off if you ask me.

I'm not sure why liar comes into play. I've known these men since they were boys. I know their extended circle of friends and I know what has been said the day after the tragedy.

It's not my place to come out if Joe won't.

Not sure how this will effect trial. I'm thinking maybe mistrial and then retrying both Joe and Mike.

[Common sense sez]

If you keep your hands to yourself and stay away from trouble you really won't find yourself in situations like this.

[Sue]

Joe did not do it.

[Sue]

I also love some good crack.

[Whatever]

Sometimes drunk people have no idea what they do

[Dave]

Illinois bean I didn't say I knew people from the bar who said it. I said I know his closest friends who he has told them he threw the punch. And on top of it everyone has gotten away from the sad truth that Eric was well known for his confrontations as I know alot of people who all say he was a asshole who tried fighting all the time so one guy knocks him out and he is in the hospital all of a sudden we feel sorry for him and he's an innocent victim. In my opinion he finally got what was coming to him because of his loud stupid mouth

[Just Saying]

Whatever wrote:

Sometimes drunk people have no idea what they do

True. We can tell that just by what Sue moo posted. Yea ya found the crack in the pants I had on but..... They're not my pants. Lol

[baker1]

Was Joe into martial arts? Did he have a girlfriend with him that night? If so, what did she say in court? Does his family have strong connections to the community?

[Edward]

Justice has been done

[Jake]

Dumb jocks will always stay dumb. Sad but true.

What was the fight even over....who can drink more?

Sad for both sides and sad that ALL of their friends seem to be losers who cannot keep a story together or tell the truth.