Jury foreman calls guilty verdict against Spanier a 'mistake'

[AtlantaLion]

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/Spanier-verdict-foreman-jury-mistake-Sandusky.html

Must've wanted their weekend free.



For those that don't want to click:

Jury foreman calls guilty verdict against Spanier a 'mistake'
Updated: March 30, 2017 — 4:05 PM EDT

by Angela Couloumbis & Karen Langley - Staff Writers
HARRISBURG -- The foreman of the jury that convicted former Pennsylvania State University President Graham B. Spanier of child endangerment said Thursday that he believes the verdict was a "mistake," and he regrets not changing his vote and forcing a mistrial.


Richard Black, a 78-year-old retired truck driver from Dauphin County, said he’s made peace with the jury's decision last week. But Black said if he saw Spanier today, he’d say “I’m sorry.”

His comments, in an interview in the state Capitol, is likely to deepen the divide over the split verdict and what it means to Penn State faithful.


After a day of deliberations, the Dauphin County panel of seven women and five men convicted Spanier, 68, of misdemeanor child endangerment for not taking steps to alert child-welfare authorities in 2001 after learning Jerry Sandusky had been caught showering with a boy after hours in a campus locker-room shower.

The jury acquitted Spanier of the more serious felony conspiracy and endangerment charges, and downgraded what had been a felony endangerment charge to a misdemeanor.

 

[lionlurker]

This thing will never end.

 

[Pardlion]

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/Spanier-verdict-foreman-jury-mistake-Sandusky.html

Must've wanted their weekend free.

What a jackass.

 

[Detective_MackDaddy]

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/Spanier-verdict-foreman-jury-mistake-Sandusky.html

Must've wanted their weekend free.

You mean:

"With the benefit of hindsight, he wishes he had forced a mistrial." But, he's made peace with his decision. But, if he ran into Spanier he'd say he was sorry.

I think I'm gonna open another bottle of wine.

 

[dshumbero]

(Sgt. Carter's dream/conscience) over Gomer's $10K insurance policy....

"Tain THousand DOLLARS" (over and over again)!

 

[step.eng69]

This thing will never end.

LOL

 

[mn78psu83]

Shoulda, coulda, woulda.

 

[wensilver]

Sigh.......this was the older gentleman on the lower far left. Perhaps, with benefit of hindsight.......

I was watching him doze off while Ditka was jangling her charm bracelet and striding about - getting all huffy, flipping her hair and Z-snapping in the courtroom.

This my friends, I suspect is why going before a jury is a crap shoot.

 

[Sharkies]

This thing will never end.

But Karen Peetz assured us!!!

 

[joeparules]

What a jackass.

Totally agree. Imagine if he was on a murder trial. "Sending him to the electric chair was a mistake, I regret not changing my vote, but I've made peace with it. I would tell him I'm sorry but his sentence has already been carried out. Oops, my bad."

 

[ChiTownLion]

 

[TheGLOV]

(Sgt. Carter's dream/conscience) over Gomer's $10K insurance policy....

"Tain THousand DOLLARS" (over and over again)!

I'm miss OUR Sgt. Carter.

I hope he is looking down on all of us and smiling!

Go Tribe!

 

[joeparules]

I felt I owed it to him.

 

[Pardlion]

Sigh.......this was the older gentleman on the lower far left. Perhaps, with benefit of hindsight.......

I was watching him doze off while Ditka was jangling her charm bracelet and striding about - getting all huffy, flipping her hair and Z-snapping in the courtroom.

This my friends, I suspect is why going before a jury is a crap shoot.

Yeah, and this is the guy that the rest of the jurors elected to be their foreman.

 

[baircub1!]

Sigh.......this was the older gentleman on the lower far left. Perhaps, with benefit of hindsight.......

I was watching him doze off while Ditka was jangling her charm bracelet and striding about - getting all huffy, flipping her hair and Z-snapping in the courtroom.

This my friends, I suspect is why going before a jury is a crap shoot.

My guess is that Spaniers Lawyers must feel pretty good about getting this misdemeanor reversed...

And if that happens...wonder what Curley and Schultz must be thinking.

Separately..as I watch what is happening with Dr. Nassar and MSU...and how the narrative AND the school has handled the fall out...it again reminds me of how unbelievably INCOMPETENT some of the jackasses ( Frazier , Peetz , Erickson , Surma etc) were at the very beginning of this mess.

They are all criminals in my book...

Watch...MSU will come out of this somewhat unscathed...comparative wise...

 

[marshall23]

Well the media kept snooping and got one juror to run her mouth about Dr. Spanier........perhaps they should have quit while they were ahead. Clearly, Hurricane Ditka had little except name calling and desk pounding and had to settle for a misdemeanor.....one that very well was the most expensive in world history. That conviction is toast on appeal anyway. Now we have another and opposite opinion.....put that in your pipe and smoke it!

 

[wensilver]

BREAKING: PA ATTORNEY GENERAL JOSH SHAPIRO ON BRINGING THIS CRAPOLA CASE TO TRIAL: "WE MADE A MISTAKE"

View embedded media

 

[Zenophile]

BREAKING: PA ATTORNEY GENERAL JOSH SHAPIRO ON BRINGING THIS CRAPOLA CASE TO TRIAL: "WE MADE A MISTAKE"

Got a link*?

*just kidding

 

[wensilver]

OH FOR F*CKS SAKE -

PennLive writes this in the first paragraph:
"The foreman of the Dauphin County jury that convicted former Penn State President Graham Spanier said Thursday that he regrets the decision, and would like to have a do-over."

THERE ARE NO DO-OVERS. JEEZUS PEOPLE - KEN FRAZIER TOLD US THAT!

 

[Obliviax]

OH FOR F*CKS SAKE -

PennLive writes this in the first paragraph:
"The foreman of the Dauphin County jury that convicted former Penn State President Graham Spanier said Thursday that he regrets the decision, and would like to have a do-over."

THERE ARE NO DO-OVERS. JEEZUS PEOPLE - KEN FRAZIER TOLD US THAT!

People get totally intimidated in court. People state that "you are innocent until proven guilty", but it works the opposite. If you disagree with that a cop testifies, good luck to you. With zero evidence, you are sunk. People have not woken up to realize that prosectors are out of control in this country. Logic no longer is used, its about winning cases no matter the justice.

Some people wanted to find Spanier Guilty no matter what. Others wanted to acquit. They compromised with a misdemeanor. Freeh and the prosecution teamed took the narrative to call that a win.

 

[wensilver]

Freeh and the prosecution teamed took the narrative to call that a win.

There is no reason Josh Shapiro should be doing any victory laps.

Especially when they had Jack Raykovitz testify like he did. It was a corruptly engineered case to begin with, and these public officials insisted on stepping on the accelerator instead of pumping the brakes.

 

[marshall23]

People get totally intimidated in court. People state that "you are innocent until proven guilty", but it works the opposite. If you disagree with that a cop testifies, good luck to you. With zero evidence, you are sunk. People have not woken up to realize that prosectors are out of control in this country. Logic no longer is used, its about winning cases no matter the justice.

Some people wanted to find Spanier Guilty no matter what. Others wanted to acquit. They compromised with a misdemeanor. Freeh and the prosecution teamed took the narrative to call that a win.

For reference look at the prosecutor in the Duke case, Nafong and The DA in Baltimore (Mosby) is in jeopardy for using Fina like tactics. The first duty of the prosecutor is to seek truth. They are arrogant, opportunistic, and in many cases amoral.

 

[marshall23]

There is no reason Josh Shapiro should be doing any victory laps.

Especially when they had Jack Raykovitz testify like he did. It was a corruptly engineered case to begin with, and these public officials insisted on stepping on the accelerator instead of pumping the brakes.

Josh Shapiro played the game and got elected. He will be a good soldier in service of the Commonwealth Syndicate. His comment about no one being above the law in Pa. is an insult to our intelligence. The lesson of Kathleen Kane will not be lost on future AGs either. Play ball or we will ruin you.

 

[Lion Lineage]

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/Spanier-verdict-foreman-jury-mistake-Sandusky.html

Must've wanted their weekend free.

For those that don't want to click:

Jury foreman calls guilty verdict against Spanier a 'mistake'
Updated: March 30, 2017 — 4:05 PM EDT

by Angela Couloumbis & Karen Langley - Staff Writers
HARRISBURG -- The foreman of the jury that convicted former Pennsylvania State University President Graham B. Spanier of child endangerment said Thursday that he believes the verdict was a "mistake," and he regrets not changing his vote and forcing a mistrial.


Richard Black, a 78-year-old retired truck driver from Dauphin County, said he’s made peace with the jury's decision last week. But Black said if he saw Spanier today, he’d say “I’m sorry.”

His comments, in an interview in the state Capitol, is likely to deepen the divide over the split verdict and what it means to Penn State faithful.


After a day of deliberations, the Dauphin County panel of seven women and five men convicted Spanier, 68, of misdemeanor child endangerment for not taking steps to alert child-welfare authorities in 2001 after learning Jerry Sandusky had been caught showering with a boy after hours in a campus locker-room shower.

The jury acquitted Spanier of the more serious felony conspiracy and endangerment charges, and downgraded what had been a felony endangerment charge to a misdemeanor.

 

[wensilver]

 

[green2623]

Play ball or we will ruin you.
Are you quoting Corbett? And who'd he say it to?

 

[Keyser Soze 16801]

Spanier's legal team screwed the pooch. They had a female-majority jury on a case where child abuse was the central issue. They needed to "run up the score" against the prosecution in order to win over some of the mothers instead of playing "prevent defense" by not calling any witnesses. Trying to just get over the bar for acquittal was so friggin' stupid. Assume the jury is full of idiots and act accordingly.

 

[BobPSU92]

If I am understanding this correctly, we have more evidence that this was a cover up to protect Joe and football.

 

[canuckhal]

 

[21Guns]

Sigh.......this was the older gentleman on the lower far left. Perhaps, with benefit of hindsight.......

I was watching him doze off while Ditka was jangling her charm bracelet and striding about - getting all huffy, flipping her hair and Z-snapping in the courtroom.

This my friends, I suspect is why going before a jury is a crap shoot.

You are correct about a whole lot of things, and this is one of them also.

 

[OldTiredLion]

Just got a notice this week for jury duty in a couple months. I don't know how my conscience can possibly allow me to serve since, over the past six years, this entire saga has turned any faith I once had in the Commonwealth's judicial system into skepticism and mistrust. How am I to believe that any case these prosecutors present to a jury isn't corrupted by their political leanings, police coercion's or prosecutable misconduct? WTF!

 

[JoeDidntKnow]

Sigh.......this was the older gentleman on the lower far left. Perhaps, with benefit of hindsight.......

I was watching him doze off while Ditka was jangling her charm bracelet and striding about - getting all huffy, flipping her hair and Z-snapping in the courtroom.

This my friends, I suspect is why going before a jury is a crap shoot.

Fat ass Ditka makes me ill with her antics

 

[JoeDidntKnow]

We should pitch in and get Mr. Black season tickets for 2017-18.

 

[kgilbert78]

Just got a notice this week for jury duty in a couple months. I don't know how my conscience can possibly allow me to serve since, over the past six years, this entire saga has turned any faith I once had in the Commonwealth's judicial system into skepticism and mistrust. How am I to believe that any case these prosecutors present to a jury isn't corrupted by their political leanings, police coercion's or prosecutable misconduct? WTF!

Say that, and I'll bet you won't have to serve..... Sadly.

 

[PSU_1991]

Wasn't it part of the judge's instructions to the jury that they can't hold it against the defendant for not testifying? Didn't the foreman admit he did just that?

 

[SmithtonLion]

For reference look at the prosecutor in the Duke case, Nafong and The DA in Baltimore (Mosby) is in jeopardy for using Fina like tactics. The first duty of the prosecutor is to seek truth. They are arrogant, opportunistic, and in many cases amoral.

Nifong and Mosby were completely different, especially Nifong. Nifong manufactured evidence against the defendants that he KNEW were innocent. He should be in jail for life.

In this case, while I don't agree with this whole "mandatory reporter" obligation, there's plenty of reason for people of good faith to believe that there was enough evidence to convict.

It is easy for people to read the words, paraphrasing, "If he doesn't stop, we are vulnerable for not having reported this", and believe that this constitutes willing violation of the law.

It is also just as easy to make the argument that others are just as guilty, and/or that they knew they might be vulnerable, but STILL were making the right decision. It is just as easy to believe that they made the wrong decision, but did so out of human failing and without the benefit of hindsight and are certainly not criminals.

Let's not conflate criminal behavior on the part of two prosecutors with what may be completely reasonable prosecutorial judgment. For those who think that there's a puppet master pulling the strings from behind the curtain, isn't it the case that the puppet masters have changed completely?

 

[BobPSU92]

 

[marshall23]

Nifong and Mosby were completely different, especially Nifong. Nifong manufactured evidence against the defendants that he KNEW were innocent. He should be in jail for life.

In this case, while I don't agree with this whole "mandatory reporter" obligation, there's plenty of reason for people of good faith to believe that there was enough evidence to convict.

It is easy for people to read the words, paraphrasing, "If he doesn't stop, we are vulnerable for not having reported this", and believe that this constitutes willing violation of the law.

It is also just as easy to make the argument that others are just as guilty, and/or that they knew they might be vulnerable, but STILL were making the right decision. It is just as easy to believe that they made the wrong decision, but did so out of human failing and without the benefit of hindsight and are certainly not criminals.

Let's not conflate criminal behavior on the part of two prosecutors with what may be completely reasonable prosecutorial judgment. For those who think that there's a puppet master pulling the strings from behind the curtain, isn't it the case that the puppet masters have changed completely?

In my opinion the puppet master isn't an elected official.

 

[dshumbero]

Wasn't it part of the judge's instructions to the jury that they can't hold it against the defendant for not testifying? Didn't the foreman admit he did just that?

From his statements it appears some jurors including Mr. Black did just that. It could be useful down the road.

 

[wensilver]

Wasn't it part of the judge's instructions to the jury that they can't hold it against the defendant for not testifying? Didn't the foreman admit he did just that?

Yes. Boccabella was very clear in his instructions to the jury. He said that the defendant was innocent as he sits there in that chair. He does not have to take the stand. The entire burden is on the state to PROVE their case. The jury is to consider ONLY the evidence and the facts presented in court. They were not to factor in whether they liked the lawyers or not, their feelings on the defendant, any outside influences, media reports or anything else they knew about the case going in.

Just the facts and the evidence presented IN that courtroom DURING the trial and IF the state had met their burden.

Then he read down all the charges, and the elements of each charge that needed to be considered. IMO the state never proved their case.