|
Driver plead "Not Guilty" to all charges at first Arraignment Hearing on November 20,2007
Next court date moves to January, but gets bumped almost immediately and gets re-scheduled and re-scheduled again and again
So the process begins its descent
It drags on and on and on ...
Next time driver stands before a Judge,(on May 7, 2008) just so happens to be only two days shy of the one year mark.
May 7th:
Driver's defense attorney uses the setting sun as best defense statedgy to turn a 'Pre-Trial' hearing event into a 'Probable Cause' hearing instead.
Judge takes case under advisement and sets continuance date for July 14th.
On May 30th, Judge rules there is probable cause and so the continuance date sticks.
July 14th:
Continuance date arrives and at this hearing it must be determined if an actual trial will be necessary and how will such a trial proceed (by Judge or by Jury).
July 14th:
Defense makes known their intent for chosing a Trial by Court (not by Jury - as jury will most likely be too emotional and not in best interest of defense to let jury have this case).
July 14th:
A formal decision is rendered that this case trial will begin no later then July 18 because of a more important case (a drug case) should be heard first and should be settled quickly that same week.
And so it is said:
The case of Minnesota vs. Ransall Swenson will be heard possibly on July 17th, but absolutely on July 18th.
July 17th:
Other court case gets settled on July 16th, but no judges are working on July 17th - this case will exceed trial calendar allotted for month of July - darn - it will have to be 'continued' to the next available court trial calendar.
July 21st:
Court calendar for trial dates is posted and they just can't squeeze this case on the books until October 13, 2008.
*
Now, a betting man would consider making wagers at this junction...
After all, the 13th of October is a national holiday, surely given the lattitude this court has express so far when a death is involved, could possibly have to acknowledge ther being a short court calendar for the month of October ...
Could this case possibly have to be re-scheduled again ....
Any takers?
*
Perhaps every defense strategy begins with the excercise of determining how much time is possible for creating every hope that enough time will pass that the tragedy won't seem so severe anymore (and after all), if enough time passes, lots of people will give up and forget to care about the demands for justice.
Surviving victims are never afforded the closure they need to move on.
--- And so bitterness grows ---
Eye Witnesses are never able to get back to normal!
(They are always being pursued by one entity or another (with every aspect of the event being up for more examination by so many, over and over); hardly able to move forward and always trying to find ways to put behind those awful memory flashbacks that surface every time the dates are changed or someone else has another question.)
--- And heartaches never get to heal, they are opened and re-opened like poking a stick at something, not worth the mention ---
Nothing settles down.
Nothing goes away.
And all must endure (whether innocent or guilty)- and all because our judicial system must protect the defendant and it not only lets anyone work the system to their own advantage for as long as it takes -but- it invites every defendant to do so!
How does anyone in this circle ever find closure?
The defendant (in this country) is always afforded every exhaustible measure (regardless of the crime he/she is charged with) to avoid a fine, to avoid being found guilty; to avoid the enivitable sentencing day; to avoid and postpone as long as possible the final day of facing their guilt (when guilty) or finding their innocence declared unanimously (when innocent).
Next court date:
October 13, 2008
|
Yellow Pages
Pets
Judge it!
Poll:
Who's the best pick for new Mayor?
33°F
Leo
Most Popular