New Michael Brown Witnesses Speak Out: He Had His Hands Up

[Cali_Democrat]

Source: Mediaite/CNN

CNN spoke with two new witnesses to Michael Brown‘s shooting; two unnamed contractors, both of whom were recorded on video taken right after the shooting, shouting about how Brown had his hands up.

One of the contractors recounted how he heard a shot, then another 30 seconds later, and then witnessed Brown staggering as he put his hands up. But instead of telling him to get on the ground, he says, Officer Darren Wilson just shot him.

The other contractor said he saw Brown running from the police car, Wilson chasing him, and firing at Brown while his back was turned.

This account fits with an account told by another witness who spoke out weeks ago about the shooting.

Read more: http://www.mediaite.com/tv/new-michael-brown-witnesses-speak-out-he-had-his-hands-up/

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Video @ link

[Stuart G]

1. Good...If there is an indictment, then there are more than one or two witnesses.

More witnesses, the better chance (although that may be small, I don't know) of indictment and conviction...With the victims hands up in the video, there is at least on the surface, proof he had his hands up. because....we can clearly see his hands are up....

[Cali_Democrat]

2. Basically all the witnesses have similar stories

Also, the audio tape confirms that 10-12 shots and the pause in between.

By my count there are 5-6 witnesses with similar stories.

No witness corroborates the cop's story. Also, the eye injury turned out to be bullshit and the cops haven't released a police report or the dispatch call.

But remember that a number of the witnesses are black and blacks are viewed as lesser by a number of people. When it comes to testifying in open court, our racist society will view their testimony as less credible than the testimony of white people. Remember Rachel Jenteal?

It wasn't that long ago when blacks weren't even allowed to testify against whites.

[Stuart G]

4. I agree with you and that is very true and sad..but

the question is this, "Is there enough evidence for a grand jury to indict on some charge?" If so, then we will hear the arguments that the cop cannot get a fair trial, and that will go on.. and..Who will bring that grand jury to even hear arguments for an indictment..After all there has to be some prosecutor who is willing to do that. Is that even possible????

[rock]

8. I believe the answer is yes, easily enough for a trial

But the real question is will enough evidence be presented. It's the DA's prerogative

[strawberries]

3. more witnesses less of a chance

Here is an interesting read about witnesses and their memories.

Memory is affected by retelling, and we rarely tell a story in a neutral fashion. By tailoring our stories to our listeners, our bias distorts the very formation of memory—even without the introduction of misinformation by a third party. The protections of the judicial system against prosecutors and police "assisting" a witness’ memory may not sufficiently ensure the accuracy of those memories. Even though prosecutors refrain from "refreshing" witness A’s memory by showing her witness B’s testimony, the mere act of telling prosecutors what happened may bias and distort the witness’s memory. Eyewitness testimony, then, is innately suspect.


http://agora.stanford.edu/sjls/Issue%20One/fisher&tversky.htm

[LanternWaste]

6. Unless of course, numerous witnesses independently validates the testimony of the others.

more witnesses less of a chance..."

Unless of course, numerous witnesses independently validates the testimony of the others.

[exboyfil]

7. I have seen a picture that states

that several witnesses are seen together immediately after the shooting and prior to being interviewed. A defense attorney is going to claim they concocted a story during that time. If these new witnesses are not in that group, and they gave their witness statements soon after the shooting then they may be key in proving that Brown had his hands up.

[rock]

9. Of course, that is complete speculation.

For what it's worth.

[Sheldon Cooper]

10. You've "seen a picture"?

Good - because they'll need to produce one that proves your allegation before anyone would believe that big steaming pile.

[notadmblnd]

11. These new witnesses are not a part of "that" group

they were there working. I don't know if it was construction or something like gas company or electric company. In the picture I saw of the witnesses that was posted here sometime last week, as far as I could tell, they are white.

[Moostache]

5. The outrage that no police report has been filed is an affront to justice.

I am disgusted by so much of what has happened in Ferguson in the last month. The killing first and foremost, the brazen and obvious attempts at character assassination of the victim by the morons running the Ferguson Police Department, the military invasion of the city to quell the protests, the violence in the streets - the images haunt and enrage me still.

Images like the one of the little boy crying in fear with his mother; or the picture of two little girls about age 5 or 6, one white and one black with a sign that asked "why can't my friend feel as safe as I can?"; or the image of the man walking up the street with his hands raised, and facing 8 heavily armed police with automatic weapons, gas masks and military uniforms in broad daylight on a city street; or the tear gas and smoke and flash-bangs on my TV screen and in my home region just a few miles from where I live and work every day; especially the image of the jackass cop in full battle regalia atop an armored tank with a sniper rifle trained on unarmed civilians...

The longer this drags on, the deeper the resentment burrows, the harder the hearts of the afflicted and the justice-denied grow...if there is no action towards resolving this; or if there is instead a farcical grand jury verdict or an acquittal without an impartial, fair and OPEN trial...then the city of St. Louis will burn to the ground in the aftermath.

The nation was once horrified as we watched New Orleans drown following Hurricane Katrina...the damage potential that is smoldering in St. Louis right now could make that seem like a small scale issue by comparison. There is a category 5 hurricane worth of pent up rage and anger and hurt because of the racial history in St. Louis and the myriad of racial profiling and repression by the regions police on minorities - its NOT just Ferguson that has a problem here...there are many Fergusons in the region and there are worse cops than Murderer Wilson still on the streets right now. The storm is out there, its strength is undeniable and its course is clear. Are we going to figuratively shore up the levies this time? Or are we instead just waiting to watch another United States city destroyed?

Michael Brown's murder demands justice be done. The actions of the Ferguson Police, the St. Louis County Police and the District Attorney are stoking a fire they cannot control unless they immediately reform and do the right thing here NOW! If they do not, or if they continue to go down the path they have been on for an entire month now, then the blood of the future dead should be forever on their hands.

[NOLALady]

13. "are we instead just waiting to watch another United States city destroyed? "

I fear that Ferguson will not be the only community destroyed. I remember the domino effect in the sixties that affected this country from coast to coast.

If justice is not served, we should all be very afraid of the Cat 5 heading our way.

[jtuck004]

17. LOL. You are kidding, right? That is why we have police with tanks and grenade launchers, the

whole "afraid of the hordes" thing.

Shouldn't scare anyone a bit. Let 'em come. This is EXACTLY what they are prepared for.

Want to know what SHOULD scare them? If people (black and others) pick up a page from history and decide to start making their own towns and economy, just like black folk did in Tulsa many years ago, or like Mondragon did in Spain in the 50's. Then develop their own economics and tell all these people to fuck off, find another country to trade with that treats them better

They do that, and they will disorganize the existing power structure and have a real chance at seizing power.

Otherwise it will just be a money-making opportunity for the truly wealthy. Because the greatest profits are to be had when there is blood running in the streets, as Rockefeller is reported to have said..

[gordianot]

15. I find the lack of any kind of a report from Wilson fascinating. You make good points!

He was not isolated from the scene following the shooting which is usual police procedure for a variety of reasons including the officers safety and even allowed to walk around the body. As a measure of public safety the officer is removed since their state of mind is not predictable often as standard police procedure.

Question 1: Is there a written Police report and if so what date was it submitted?
Question 2: Is officer Wilson invoking his 5th amendment rights with no report thereby not incriminating himself?
Question 3: Why did the Prosecuting Attorney offer to Officer Wilson the opportunity to testify at the first meeting of the Grand Jury?
Question 4: Why were Officer Wilson's donations pages closed on September 2?

Given the volatility of the consequences of a trial will Officer Wilson be allowed to plea bargain and avoid this matter ever coming to trial?

[Trillo]

14. I keep wondering about the academic connection of external wars

versus this internal war that has been so under the media radar for so long.

Many times on DU some folks have expressed bewilderment that citizens are not more engaged, not more active. Would being surrounded since childhood by sanctioned killers generally above the law cause that psychology?

[Trillo]

18. Decided to answer the question myself.

2. Dr. Bernhardt's clinical eye directs itself to the traumatic impact of totalitarian society itself on the developing personality. In the GDR, two omnipresent institutions---the police state, with its traumatic and omnipresent tentacles, and early childhood education with its focus on shame and conformity---affect personality. As a result, traits of fear and doubt and of distrust and betrayal penetrate across generations.

Just a snippet, out of context.

[kardonb]

16. witness

why in hell did these "witnesses " wait for weeks to come forward with their "eyewitness" accounts ? Plenty of time to cook up a story and photoshop videos , thats why .

[Judi Lynn]

19. Didn't you read the first sentence of the article? Let me repeat it to refresh your "memory":

CNN spoke with two new witnesses to Michael Brown‘s shooting; two unnamed contractors, both of whom were recorded on video taken right after the shooting, shouting about how Brown had his hands up.

How can that be hard to understand?

[Glitterati]

20. Oh, it's understandable all right

But the person you're speaking to has to WANT to understand.

I really don't think that's the case.