Philly DA Speaks on Mike Brown, Eric Garner Grand Jury Decisions By Mitch Blacher and NBC10.com Staff Monday, Dec 15, 2014
The recent grand jury decisions not to indict the officers involved in the deaths of Mike Brown and Eric Garner have led to questions regarding how Philadelphia would handle a similar situation. NBC10 investigative reporter Mitch Blacher discusses the issue with District Attorney Seth Williams. (Published Sunday, Dec 14, 2014)
From Philadelphia to Berkeley, California, protests continue to rage in response to the decisions of two grand juries not to indict the police officers involved in the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown.
The decisions, one in Staten Island, New York and the other in Ferguson, Missouri have raised serious questions about how grand juries work and are used by prosecutors.
In his first in-depth interview on the subject, Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams said Philadelphians should trust the city’s grand jury process.
"When I came into office there were so many cases where victims and witnesses were terrified, where they were threatened to not testify," Williams said.
In Pennsylvania, like in Missouri and New York, grand juries can charge defendants with crimes based on evidence presented secretly. Williams said confidentiality is vital to the grand jury process. Specifically in Philadelphia, he said, it allows witnesses to be protected.
"A grand jury is part of the investigation process,” Williams said. “It’s not the trial. A trial is open to the public."
Williams has used grand juries to indict members of the Catholic Church, police officers and state representatives.
"The times I have chosen to use a grand jury are times the victims or witnesses have told us they are being intimidated,” he said. READ STORY
The recent grand jury decisions not to indict the officers involved in the deaths of Mike Brown and Eric Garner have led to questions regarding how Philadelphia would handle a similar situation. NBC10 investigative reporter Mitch Blacher discusses the issue with District Attorney Seth Williams. (Published Sunday, Dec 14, 2014)
From Philadelphia to Berkeley, California, protests continue to rage in response to the decisions of two grand juries not to indict the police officers involved in the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown.
The decisions, one in Staten Island, New York and the other in Ferguson, Missouri have raised serious questions about how grand juries work and are used by prosecutors.
In his first in-depth interview on the subject, Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams said Philadelphians should trust the city’s grand jury process.
"When I came into office there were so many cases where victims and witnesses were terrified, where they were threatened to not testify," Williams said.
In Pennsylvania, like in Missouri and New York, grand juries can charge defendants with crimes based on evidence presented secretly. Williams said confidentiality is vital to the grand jury process. Specifically in Philadelphia, he said, it allows witnesses to be protected.
"A grand jury is part of the investigation process,” Williams said. “It’s not the trial. A trial is open to the public."
Williams has used grand juries to indict members of the Catholic Church, police officers and state representatives.
"The times I have chosen to use a grand jury are times the victims or witnesses have told us they are being intimidated,” he said. READ STORY
No comments:
Post a Comment