OH - Three students killed in Chardon High School shooting, 27 Feb 2012

[Velouria]

perhaps he knows something we don't.

i find the prosecutor, so far, to be admirable. it seems many are upset that he spoke of tj as being ''unwell.'' why? perhaps that's just the sad truth?

when the families who actually lost children are able to accept this, why can't we?

the best course of action is not always to throw someone in jail and consider it case closed. the best course of action sometimes takes a lot more work than that.

I'm not aware of any statements to this effect, other than those from Demetrius' mother. Not to be snarky, but do you have link(s) to statements from the parents of any of the other victims?

 

[jjenny]

It is not normal for prosecutor to say the suspect is not "well" and I don't see any reason for a prosecutor to say it, especially so early in the case.
Furthermore the prosecutor claimed the victims were shot at random and now reports say the suspect knew at least some of the victims well and his girlfriend broke up with the suspect and started dating one of the victims. Having no motive and having a motive almost everybody can understand are two different things alltogether.
Prosecutors, IMO, shouldn't run their mouths especially if they don't know all the facts. A prosecutor is not a defense lawyer and shouldn't be making a case for the defense. I personally don't have confidence in this prosecutor after he said these things.

"Typically, it would be a defense lawyer saying those things," said Ian Friedman, a seasoned criminal attorney and past president of the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
http://www.cleveland.com/chardon-shooting/index.ssf/2012/03/legal_case_of_accused_chardon.html

 

[gxm]

It is not normal for prosecutor to say the suspect is not "well" and I don't see any reason for a prosecutor to say it, especially so early in the case.
Furthermore the prosecutor claimed the victims were shot at random and now reports say the suspect knew at least some of the victims well and his girlfriend broke up with the suspect and started dating one of the victims. Having no motive and having a motive almost everybody can understand are two different things alltogether.
Prosecutors, IMO, shouldn't run their mouths especially if they don't know all the facts. A prosecutor is not a defense lawyer and shouldn't be making a case for the defense. I personally don't have confidence in this prosecutor after he said these things.

"Typically, it would be a defense lawyer saying those things," said Ian Friedman, a seasoned criminal attorney and past president of the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
http://www.cleveland.com/chardon-shooting/index.ssf/2012/03/legal_case_of_accused_chardon.html

I agree. I find it quite disconcerting to have the prosecutor treating (and repeating) a killer's lies as fact. Witnesses reported almost immediately after the shooting that TJ had killed his "friends." That the prosecutor states otherwise at a PC is really mind boggling. Was the man in shock or is he just a fool? I have no idea.

 

[gxm]

I'm not aware of any statements to this effect, other than those from Demetrius' mother. Not to be snarky, but do you have link(s) to statements from the parents of any of the other victims?

It seems to me that the immediate families are remaining silent regarding TJ. Although I recall one relative saying something to the effect of "having a bad home life is no excuse for shooting people." That's not a word for word quote, just the impression I was left with. But I haven't been able to round up the source so I'm just going by memory.

IMO, the families' opinions about how this case should be tried will vary greatly. I can't imagine that there will ever be a consensus. There are too many victims and the impact of this crime is too far reaching. IMO, OMO, JMO, etc.

 

[nursebeeme]

I agree. I find it quite disconcerting to have the prosecutor treating (and repeating) a killer's lies as fact. Witnesses reported almost immediately after the shooting that TJ had killed his "friends." That the prosecutor states otherwise at a PC is really mind boggling. Was the man in shock or is he just a fool? I have no idea.

bbm

I am going to go with the former... shock and maybe not a prepared statement.

As for a fool... no I would not even begin to go there.:twocents:

 

[jjenny]

bbm

I am going to go with the former... shock and maybe not a prepared statement.

As for a fool... no I would not even begin to go there.:twocents:

The judge imposed a gag order but allowed prosecutor to make a statement. So I don't understand how it could possibly not have been prepared.
Now, the idea that defense made a mistake by allowing prosecutor to speak-that I find funny. What does defense have to worry about, when prosecutor in his statement seems to have done what defense normally does?
"The defense has already allowed the prosecutor to make his opening statement to the entire jury pool if this is bound over," Margolis said. "The prosecutor now has the last word, with no ability to rebut. . . . That was a huge mistake by the defense."
http://www.cleveland.com/chardon-shooting/index.ssf/2012/03/legal_case_of_accused_chardon.html

 

[annalia]

I truly believe that the prosecutors words are being taken out of context and blown out of proportion. For what reason I don't know.

He first said something about it not being drug related or bullying, that this was an unwell kid. No way was he diagnosing him as being mentally unable to stand trial. If the prosecutor was diagnosing him he wouldn't be pushing to try him as an adult.

I don't see this helping the defense in any way. It doesn't impede the investigation or help the defense. If he had said that he was a sociopath who needs to be locked up and throw away the key, TJ will still have tests to determine his mental status. The defense isn't going to get up and say but the prosecutor said he was unwell so it must be true.

When I was listening to everything he said it seemed clear to me what he meant.

Danny's family said the he didn't know TJ.

I applaud all of the officials for how they handled and continue to handle this tragedy.

JMHO

 

[i.b.nora]

I think TJ is going to need to get a new attorney or have one supplied by the State. His current attorney is an equine attorney. There is no evidence that he has handled any cases that come even close to the nature of this case. Maybe he is a friend of the Lane family, but he would not be doing them any favors by staying with the case, imo.

 

[jjenny]

"In an earlier report, student Nate Mueller said he was at the cafeteria table where the victims were shot, and a bullet grazed his ear. Mueller told Cleveland newspaper The Plain Dealer that Russell King Jr., 17 -- one of those killed -- had recently started dating Lane's ex-girlfriend."

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57389221/tj-lane-knew-some-shooting-victims-well/

 

[Ladylub]

I hope justice is served. If he needs help mentally so be it but that does not take away from the crime he committed. Help him while he is treated but he should not see the world unless its behind a gate or bars. I understand he has a screwed up family. Im watching my cousins children follow their parents path. Oldest expelled from middle school after bring a gun. Thankfully students went to principal, there was a lock down for several hrs and then he was arrested once they identified who had the gun. But his punishment did not fit. He should have had a harder sentence. Couple months in juvie and house arrest he got nothing out of it thought it was a joke especially since he was on house arrest with his dad who was also on house arrest. His middle son was just arrested at his middle school for drugs. Keeping fingers crossed and praying the youngest one comes out okay but honestly doesn't look to promising. But we can always hope that one of those kids listen to the rest of us right? Still if any of them killed another person while their home life sucks and its partly to blame for how they are today I would still want justice served and would hope they get max.

 

[brighidin]

I think TJ is going to need to get a new attorney or have one supplied by the State. His current attorney is an equine attorney. There is no evidence that he has handled any cases that come even close to the nature of this case. Maybe he is a friend of the Lane family, but he would not be doing them any favors by staying with the case, imo.

Thanks for the info. I had no idea there was such a thing as an equine attorney. I assume this will be addressed at the next hearing, or do you think a judge would let the proceedings move along without suggesting TJ Lane have a different type of lawyer?

 

[bellyup]

Danny's family said the he didn't know TJ.
JMHO

Family doesn't always know who you know and who you don't. All the kids are saying that TJ knew all of his victims.

I find it hard to believe in a school of roughly 1,000 students that nearly all the kids didn't know each other to some extent. My daughter's high school has nearly five times that amount and she knows most everyone to some degree or another (and she's NOT a social kid at all )

 

[Isabelle]

I was surprised to hear the prosecutor comment that TJ was 'not well', but in thinking about this, I believe we all know that a person who harms/takes the lives of others is not acting normally. It could be pure evil, but even that is not normal. No matter what his condition is/was, it does not excuse what he did and he must receive the appropriate penalty for his actions.

 

[bellyup]

Thanks for the info. I had no idea there was such a thing as an equine attorney. I assume this will be addressed at the next hearing, or do you think a judge would let the proceedings move along without suggesting TJ Lane have a different type of lawyer?

Robert N Farinacci Business Law, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law
Entertainment / Sports, Equine Law, General Civil

When searching him, he does list criminal law but my guess is that he's never handled anything even close to this magnitude. The judge offered Farinacci back up counsel at the hearing this week.

They WILL NOT let TJ Lane go to trial without very capable representation.

 

[cece5300]

To say someone is "not well" isn't detrimental to the case or anything IMO. I think it's obvious that one who brings a gun to school and shoots people is "not well"; there's no argument. I don't think the prosecutor made a mistake in saying that.

 

[AnaTeresa]

Thanks for the info. I had no idea there was such a thing as an equine attorney. I assume this will be addressed at the next hearing, or do you think a judge would let the proceedings move along without suggesting TJ Lane have a different type of lawyer?

I'm guessing that's a typo and perhaps the OP meant equity?

Nevermind, just googled and saw that he does have some experience in laws governing horses. Who knew it was called "equine law"? You learn something new every day!

If he lists criminal law and constitutional law as some of his practice areas, he may be handling habeus petitions and things like that. Practicing in more than one area of law does not necessarily mean that a person is inexperienced in one of those areas. Still, this seems like a big case, so even if he totally up and up on criminal law, it might be too big a load for a small firm.

Most likely, he was someone referred to the family or that the family knew that they could call up quickly, just so TJ had counsel during the immediate aftermath of the situation. I'm guessing that he will bring on another attorney to assist if the family can afford it, just because this is a big case and he strikes me as a small practice attorney (could be wrong).

 

[snowdaze]

http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/lo...barricade-against-westboro-funeral-protesters

Oh man, this group just never quits!!! What is wrong with them???

This is truly beyond "freedom of speech"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Nore]

http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/lo...barricade-against-westboro-funeral-protesters

Oh man, this group just never quits!!! What is wrong with them???

This is truly beyond "freedom of speech"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

------------------------
snowdaze they are evil!! They need to be taught a lesson by someone. How could anyone do this in the name of GOD! The families will have help, someone will handle it I have no doubt. ..Talk about insanity :banghead:

 

[doubt]

I'm not aware of any statements to this effect, other than those from Demetrius' mother. Not to be snarky, but do you have link(s) to statements from the parents of any of the other victims?

i read this on one of the links provided upthread. if i come across it again i'll post it.

 

[AngelWings444]

I think TJ is going to need to get a new attorney or have one supplied by the State. His current attorney is an equine attorney. There is no evidence that he has handled any cases that come even close to the nature of this case. Maybe he is a friend of the Lane family, but he would not be doing them any favors by staying with the case, imo.

At the first hearing, the judge said he already spoke to TJ's attorney about another attorney "helping" him on this case. It's already on the record and I would imagine this attorney would take the suggestion from the judge to appoint a public defender. Doesn't sound like TJ's attorney is qualified, but it worked in another case. :maddening: