Baltimore Bus Beating Update: “No Snitches” Street Policy Slowing Prosecution
There is an underlying message of intimidation in America’s inner cities that center’s around a “Stop Snitching” or “No Snitches” prison mentality. T-Shirts and signs sell like ice cubes in hell, and witnesses are often afraid to come forward for fear of retribution.
It is affecting testimony is the beating case of Sarah Kreager. Go here for more info.
WBAL TV 11 News reporter Kate Amara asked the attorneys that if their clients were on the bus but not involved, then why not identify who was responsible? The attorneys hinted at witness intimidation.
“There’s an undercurrent in Baltimore city where it may not be beneficial to come forward initially and disclose that type of information,” Herbert said.
BALTIMORE – Lawyers for two of the suspects in the reported beating of a woman on an MTA bus said their clients are victims of a rush to judgment.
Sarah Kreager suffered broken facial bones and other injuries after she was punched, kicked and dragged off a bus Dec. 4.
Attorney Jay Ortis represents a 14-year-old boy charged in the attack on Kreager, and Quinton Herbert represents a 15-year-old boy.
Both said Tuesday that their clients have been unfairly vilified by the media and elected officials.
“No one has come to him and said to him, ‘Did you see anything? If you didn’t do it, can you tell us who did?’ But that wasn’t an option,” Herbert said.
All nine of the students charged in the attack are black. Kreager and her companion, who also reported that he was beaten, are white.
According to a Maryland Transportation Administration police report, the couple identified all nine suspects.
WBAL TV 11 News reporter Kate Amara asked the attorneys that if their clients were on the bus but not involved, then why not identify who was responsible? The attorneys hinted at witness intimidation.
“There’s an undercurrent in Baltimore city where it may not be beneficial to come forward initially and disclose that type of information,” Herbert said.
The lawyers also questioned the alleged victims’ credibility, given a police record including drug and domestic violence charges. An 11 News record search confirmed that information. Amara also found out Kreager is in witness protection.
They lawyers also took aim at the police, saying the evidence against the two boys was flimsy. But sources told Amara that there’s a mailing of more than 100 pages of state’s evidence, including extensive physical evidence and eyewitness statements.
Margaret Burns of the city state’s attorney’s office said that they are responding to the case as required by law, and the MTA said it is still investigating the case.
The teens have been suspended from school, Amara reported. They’re being home schooled until they face a juvenile judge Jan. 4.
(WBAL)
Be respectful of others and their opinions. Inflammatory remarks and inane leftist drivel will be deleted. It ain’t about free speech, remember you’re in a private domain. My website, my prerogative.
If you can't handle using your real email address, don't bother posting a comment.
Time to invest in a Roscoe when ridin the bus in Baltimore. When Roscoe speaks everybody listens.
December 20th, 2007 at 4:38 pmSomehow I find it hard to blame the bf for not wanting to get physical with these guys. These guys look newly released from the pen. The only thing stopping them comes in .45 or 9mm.
December 20th, 2007 at 10:44 pmStay the fuck out of Maryland. That is a state in serious decline due to Socialist anti-capitalist dominated legislature and government. I live in Delaware and I avoid Maryland as much as possible. Remember Micheal Steele?
December 21st, 2007 at 2:11 amA 5 megaton aerial burst over Baltimore, not a bad thing.
December 21st, 2007 at 4:15 amI don’t care what excuses those children give; there is no excuse for beating someone up that badly. And if they didn’t do it, they need to start spilling some names ’cause they all went to the same school so they basically know each other. I don’t care about “witness intimidation”, if I’m getting falsely accused of a crime, I’m going to tell who did it so I don’t go to jail for 18 years. Basically, if they don’t say who else did it, then they did it. I hate living in Baltimore…
December 31st, 2007 at 6:43 am