Sault Ste. Marie, Mi...Most people are naive when it comes to racism. But to think that an all white jury would agree with the defenses argument, that the six white defendants were in essence drummed out of their jobs and, in the final assessment out of their community, by continual email and media attacks during a political campaign and that their long time political buddy and crony, director Bouchour, would be exonerated for his role in trying to help them escape with a big payday...is almost beyond comprehension.
However, we saw what happened in the O.J. Simpson trial and it should never be forgotten as a good example of the role that racism and money can play in a high profile trial.
Consider this: the defense said the defendants were called white pigs and white man while in the performance of their duties and told to go and leave Indian land, etc., etc., etc...putting them under great stress and unable to properly perform their duties.
Also consider this: the defense had one trial underway but with three separate attorneys representing separate clients and they spent a great deal more time presenting their case because of sheer numbers whereas the tribe had only one trial underway but only with two attorneys representing one client and time alotted for only one of them to present its case...as was demonstrated in the closing argument, the defenses had three times and much time before the jurors as the tribe.
This resulted in a jury that was swamped with huge piles of exhibits and three times as much presentation from the defendants side of the case than what was being presented from the plaintiffs side. This was particularly apparent on the last day of the trial. The tribe's attorney spent one hour presenting his closing arguments whereas the defenses three attorneys spent in the neighborhood of three hours or more, with each one of them focusing on a different aspect of their closing arguments.
The tribal citizens have been shortchanged again.
Thank you, Charles Forgrave
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