tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19330072.post6144649365046712430..comments2023-11-05T02:09:28.593-08:00Comments on The Wattree Chronicle: A Little Tough Love for the PeopleEric L. Wattreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12274557716416369719noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19330072.post-82383307655623717332010-06-29T13:54:28.259-07:002010-06-29T13:54:28.259-07:00Anonymous, or should I call you Attorney Anonymous...Anonymous, or should I call you Attorney Anonymous? Well, it doesn't matter? Well, it doesn't matter, allow me to address your concerns.<br /><br />1). You indicate that the altercation between Mr. Grant and the other passenger was not minor, but fists were thrown.<br /><br />In response, I'd like to ask you on question. Since the other passenger was also involved in the altercation, whatever its character, I think it is reasonable to ask is the other passenger dead, or was he even arrested? If not, why is Mr. Grant?<br /><br />2). You maintain that Mehserle did not hurl the racial epithet.<br /><br />Isn't that under litigation at this point? But even if it is determined that he didn't, what is your point, that Mehserle is only guilty of killing Mr. Grant?<br /><br />3). You said, Grant's hands weren't behind him until a split second before the shot was fired (this has been verified with the videos). <br /><br />Isn't a having his hands behind his back "a split second before the shot was fired" behind his back, nevertheless? <br /><br />4) Nobody was "thrown face first into a wall". Even the individuals who were detained did not describe such a thing in any of their testimony or their law suit against BART.<br /><br />Ok, torso-first. There were others who said face-first. If their faces didn't actually make contact with the surface that they were thrown against, it certainly wasn't because the BART police was trying to protect them from unnecessary injuries. <br /><br />5). You said,Mehserle didn't "flee" to Nevada. <br /><br />I'd say leaving for Nevada in a big hurry is fleeing.<br /><br />6) Rest assured that Tony Pirone and his partner Marisol Domenici have both been fired from BART Police for their actions on the platform that night, and for perjury.<br /><br />Thank God for small favors. If the exact same scenario had taken place in reverse, Mr. Grant and ALL of his associates would be tried for murder, and probably executed as accessories to murder.<br /><br />In short, you're nitpicking.Eric L. Wattreehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12274557716416369719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19330072.post-83572294136331788822010-06-29T12:47:30.589-07:002010-06-29T12:47:30.589-07:00Eric, there's no need to respond to your piece...Eric, there's no need to respond to your piece, you're right on it and I thank you for utilizing your pen and space to bring attention to this tragedy. However, I will respond to the "Anonymous" comment that was posted. I've read and re-read each of those 6 "irrelevant" points, and I fail to find the ONE which justifies the fatal bullet placed in Oscar Grant's back! Perhaps I overlooked it...let me read through those again.A. Macknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19330072.post-88066601602933792152010-06-29T10:12:13.681-07:002010-06-29T10:12:13.681-07:00There are some points in your article that are inc...There are some points in your article that are incorrect about the Grant case. Misrepresentation of the facts does a disservice to everyone involved, and to the community. <br /><br />1) Grant was involved in a fight that was called in by BART passengers as more than a "minor shoving match". The witnesses described it as punches being thrown, and a fight that involved up to 10 people. <br /><br />2) Mehserle did not say a racial epithet. That was a different officer on the platform, Tony Pirone (who has since been fired from the department, and who was also the first officer on scene who removed Grant and his friends from the train). <br /><br />3) Grant's hands weren't behind him until a split second before the shot was fired (this has been verified with the videos). Grant's right arm was under his torso prior to that, and witnesses have described Mehserle as unsuccessfully tugging on Grant's right arm, trying to pull it out from under him.<br /><br />4) Nobody was "thrown face first into a wall". Even the individuals who were detained did not describe such a thing in any of their testimony or their law suit against BART.<br /><br />5) Mehserle didn't "flee" to Nevada. He went there to escape death threats/attempts. His attorney, the police and the DA knew where he was, and Mehserle turned himself in (without any resistance or problem) within an hour of the warrant being issued for his arrest. If he were really fleeing, he wouldn't have immediately turned himself in.<br /><br />6) Rest assured that Tony Pirone and his partner Marisol Domenici have both been fired from BART Police for their actions on the platform that night, and for perjury. <br /><br />Think what you will about the case, but I'd urge you to at least check the facts carefully before coming to any conclusions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com