Open Thread for Melton Trial Here

Jackson Free Press

Monday, April 23, 2007

Meantime, read the JFP's Melton blog/archive here. And read the Sept. 1, 2006, story by Adam Lynch that revealed the Ridgeway Street demolition and led to the trial this week. See photos of the Ridgeway destruction here.

Previous Comments

ID: 127271
Comment: Are they expecting a large protest crowd outside! I agree with other posters... This is probably rigged!
Author: Birdseye
Date: 2007-04-23T09:13:57-06:00

ID: 127272
Comment: why are you guys saying its rigged? What evidence do you have to suggest any such thing?
Author: Kingfish
Date: 2007-04-23T09:27:27-06:00

ID: 127273
Comment: Lets wait and see the outcome. If Melton is not convicted of all counts, then we can be reasonably sure there were questionable events that took place. Lets give the Judge and Jury a chance to prove themselves.
Author: kdbstlrfan1
Date: 2007-04-23T09:31:38-06:00

ID: 127274
Comment: I am really hoping for justice to be served, and quickly. Enough is enough. Melton broke the law, and he needs to pay for it, pure and simple. Maybe he'll learn once and for all that you don't fight fire with fire; you fight it with water. That goes for the enablers, too.
Author: LatashaWillis
Date: 2007-04-23T09:34:48-06:00

ID: 127275
Comment: not necessarily. DA could also blunder her way into an acquittal for example. Or a witness can change stories on the stand and blow up your case. Just saying that if he is not convicted it does not mean the case is rigged.
Author: Kingfish
Date: 2007-04-23T09:36:40-06:00

ID: 127276
Comment: Also, doesn't everyone just love how the Ledger is trying to milk a story they wouldn't report in the first place?!? (Until after we did.) Their paltry little timeline yesterday had some very apparent gaps in it between the demolition night and Sept. 2, when they say Melton denied doing it or some such. Chortle.
Author: DonnaLadd
Date: 2007-04-23T09:42:51-06:00

ID: 127277
Comment: no ongoing blog here like the CL has? What gives? Please don't make me go there for updates. ;-)
Author: Kingfish
Date: 2007-04-23T10:21:28-06:00

ID: 127278
Comment: What are you talking about, King? That's not an "ongoing blog." They're just updated the same file with trivia. That's not "blogging." ;-) I hear they have three reporters down there looking for trivia. My managing editor is down there as Adam is here finishing stories for this week. Matt is out of play because he ripped part of his leg off in a sports accident this weekend. And I'm posting updates from here. Meantime, you found out first here that the jury is being sequestered. ;-) Per usual on the Melton story, I expect my ragtag group of reporters to continue giving Jackson the real news on this story. We don't plan to stop now. Good to see the Ledger trying to play the game, though. It's about time.
Author: DonnaLadd
Date: 2007-04-23T10:47:46-06:00

ID: 127279
Comment: Also, no comments on their "blog," yet. ;-) (You know that their actual blogs use Blogger, right? The college student's favorite blogging software.)
Author: DonnaLadd
Date: 2007-04-23T10:50:43-06:00

ID: 127280
Comment: Matt is out of play because he ripped part of his leg off in a sports accident this weekend. Goodness! How's he doing? Maybe you should ban all of your reporters from motorcycles and sports. :-P
Author: LatashaWillis
Date: 2007-04-23T10:57:36-06:00

ID: 127281
Comment: He's doing OK. His leg is a mess, though. Apparently, it was a basketball injury, believe it or not. And he's set to go to D.C. for a fellowship interview tomorrow. Say a little prayer for him, all, to help get on his feet by then.
Author: DonnaLadd
Date: 2007-04-23T10:59:46-06:00

ID: 127282
Comment: ladd, I had not seen the up close pictures at the Ridgeway House. This is sad. Why would you tear up a toilet? Why crack the glass on the TV? Why tear up the man's stove? This was an act of meaness and a total disrespect for Welch and the property owner.
Author: justjess
Date: 2007-04-23T11:01:15-06:00

ID: 127283
Comment: I always keep my crack in the toliet and behind the glass of the TV. It's the two places I spend the most time! LOL! Let's not even get into how much crack I've got to keep in my computer! ;-) The icebox - nothing but CRACK! Come to think of it, last time I was washing clothes, I opened the dryer, and my wife had filled it up with crack! It's everywhere! Justjess, Melton was sending a message to someone. And, that message wasn't to stop selling drugs regardless of what he wants us to think!
Author: pikersam
Date: 2007-04-23T11:09:12-06:00

ID: 127284
Comment: pikersam, I am still CRACKING UP (LOL)!!!!!!! ...and i think the message was: The witch with a (B) better have my money.
Author: justjess
Date: 2007-04-23T11:25:58-06:00

ID: 127285
Comment: I love Blogger, and am too old to be a college student. It's free and easy to use. :)
Author: Lady Havoc
Date: 2007-04-23T12:00:20-06:00

ID: 127286
Comment: Lady, the point is that Blogger is for *INDIVIDUALS* to use for personal blogs, not for major media outlets. If they actually had any really traffic to their blogs, it couldn't handle it.
Author: DonnaLadd
Date: 2007-04-23T12:29:20-06:00

ID: 127287
Comment: Hey, lets not talk about how much crack you have in your toilet. TMI! LOL
Author: kdbstlrfan1
Date: 2007-04-23T12:43:34-06:00

ID: 127288
Comment: Not that I put much stock into it since it is unscientific, but the C-L's online poll asks if Frank ran for mayor, would you vote for him. Out of 915 votes, a razor-thin 50.6% say no. Maybe the sheeple are waking up and smelling the coffee.
Author: golden eagle '97
Date: 2007-04-23T12:59:35-06:00

ID: 127289
Comment: I love blogger. Especially since they updated it.
Author: Ole Miss Alum
Date: 2007-04-23T14:23:24-06:00

ID: 127290
Comment: ...and also L.W. you don't start fires that you can't control.. Sometimes the fires we set can burn and destroy us. It's another example of the "Hunter being captured by the game."
Author: justjess
Date: 2007-04-23T15:05:01-06:00

ID: 127291
Comment: Justjess, you must be a Jumanji fan. :-)
Author: LatashaWillis
Date: 2007-04-23T15:29:46-06:00

ID: 127292
Comment: No, L.W., I am not a Jumanji fan; however, I must admit that this has been a real jungle and my only hope now is: When the WAR is over, the RATS didn't win. LOL!
Author: justjess
Date: 2007-04-23T15:54:04-06:00

ID: 127293
Comment: Yeah, or the police-car-driving monkeys. :-P
Author: LatashaWillis
Date: 2007-04-23T16:20:04-06:00

ID: 127294
Comment: I have this sinking feeling that there is going to be a mistrial and no re-trial. Don't know why, that's just what my gut is saying. I say that he's not going to plead, but, if it comes to a verdict, it won't be innocent. Those are my predictions. LawClerk has spoken. :D
Author: LawClerk
Date: 2007-04-23T16:40:02-06:00

ID: 127295
Comment: LawClerk, if this whole thing ends in a mistrial, there's going to be a nasty funk in the air that will linger for years to come. The worst case scenario is if Melton gets out of this, does something like this a few more times, and someone dies because of it, maybe even him. I think he could spend more time behind bars to save him from himself.
Author: LatashaWillis
Date: 2007-04-23T16:51:13-06:00

ID: 127296
Comment: Apparently, the JFP blogs figured prominently in the defense's side of voir dire today. Brian will have more on that up later tonight. ;-)
Author: DonnaLadd
Date: 2007-04-23T17:43:07-06:00

ID: 127297
Comment: Apparently, the JFP blogs figured prominently in the defense's side of voir dire today. ladd As cool as that is, I actually see it as a bit paranoid on behalf of the defense. I hope the DA's team snickered when they asked that! I know if I am just reading a story I'm interested in, but not 'really' interested in - I just read the story, skim the first few comments, and move on. For the Defense to worry that some of the 12 out of the few hundred thousand jurors that could be called from Hinds Co. would end being rabid 'blog-readers' tells me they are scared of the truth! The Clarion Ledger just made available posting on some of their stories just after the article. TV has the video news reports. Paranoid - they are! However, the JFP makes posting after a story a valuable asset to the news as we want it in this computer age. So, this may be a precursor to a common concern among attorneys in future cases as many other media outlets across the country make the jump to Internet, user-active news.
Author: pikersam
Date: 2007-04-23T18:40:24-06:00

ID: 127298
Comment: WOW, so much for not pounding on the history of the house!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can you say, have a good day Mayor Melton?
Author: kdbstlrfan1
Date: 2007-04-24T08:24:26-06:00

ID: 127299
Comment: Is anyone watching the streaming of the trial. I wish I had counted "evil intent" like I counted Gonzales' "I can't recalls."
Author: MS39047
Date: 2007-04-24T08:35:15-06:00

ID: 127300
Comment: Has anyone heard of a search warrant issued for this house. That was a great question. I also have never heard of a raid being run by kids and the police destroying personal belongings. HMMMMMMMM!!
Author: kdbstlrfan1
Date: 2007-04-24T09:06:25-06:00

ID: 127301
Comment: good questions about drug dogs and search warrants. If none existed, I'm sure the prosecution will point that out. Prosecution should've asked him how much beer he had drank since he admitted to drinking beer.
Author: Kingfish
Date: 2007-04-24T09:10:29-06:00

ID: 127302
Comment: you are right by the way kdbst........they usually give them ATF badges first.
Author: Kingfish
Date: 2007-04-24T09:19:18-06:00

ID: 127303
Comment: Can someone elaborate on why the video has to stop when the Jury is out of the room. they are sequestered. What does it matter if I or you see what happens?
Author: kdbstlrfan1
Date: 2007-04-24T13:34:34-06:00

ID: 127304
Comment: I spent many years in the military. To my recolection, GENERAL ORDERS are NOT discretionary. They are "Standing orders" to be followed by all personnel! JPD is a joke!!!!!!!!!!!
Author: kdbstlrfan1
Date: 2007-04-24T13:37:15-06:00

ID: 127305
Comment: Tyrone Lewis didn't sound like the replacement for Malcolm McMillan in the trial today. He definitely does not do well under pressure. His memory is pretty short, also. He appeared guarded and controlled. He has signs everywhere but his presence in today's hearing did not represent a person who is ready to take the torch.
Author: justjess
Date: 2007-04-24T15:03:53-06:00

ID: 127306
Comment: Yeah, justjess, I made a joke that McMillin would try to use Lewis' video in his campaign ads.
Author: DonnaLadd
Date: 2007-04-24T15:05:55-06:00

ID: 127307
Comment: For a minute there I thought the judge would throw it all out. He had the opportunity and has shown that hew at least will give the jury a chance. Good for him.
Author: kdbstlrfan1
Date: 2007-04-24T15:39:40-06:00

ID: 127308
Comment: Speaking of Lewis, someone stuck one of his flyers in my door yesterday, which I threw out. Someone stuck one of his signs in the yard across the street, and I have a feeling that the person didn't ask first. I already had to pull up a sign that someone stuck in our yard last week. Leaving flyers is okay (just not in the mailbox), but sticking signs in someone's yard without permission is not cool. I have canvassed before, and I know that you should always ask the homeowner first. An intersection is one thing, but in front of a house? That's a no-no.
Author: LatashaWillis
Date: 2007-04-24T18:36:40-06:00

ID: 127309
Comment: I'm not supporting any Frank-associated candidate for any office in Hinds County.
Author: golden eagle '97
Date: 2007-04-24T18:50:21-06:00

ID: 127310
Comment: Golden Eagle, how about drawing a flowchart for us? That will save us some time. :-P
Author: LatashaWillis
Date: 2007-04-24T18:53:34-06:00

ID: 127311
Comment: Golden Eagle, how about drawing a flowchart for us? That will save us some time. :-P I'm not graphically-inclined. Anyhow, Faye and Malcolm will get my vote. I'm not sure about supervisor. I'm not aware if Doug Anderson has any opposition. I may sit that one out. But who knows, I may've moved to Michigan by then, thus sparing me the agony. Before this gets way off topic, back to our regularly-scheduled Frank discussion.
Author: golden eagle '97
Date: 2007-04-24T18:59:18-06:00

ID: 127312
Comment: Did anyone else find it interesting that Melton is often refered to as "carrying a walking tall stick" and the movie Welch and his friend were watching when all this happened was Walking Tall? Doesn't mean anything, but I got a little chuckle out of it yesterday.
Author: kdbstlrfan1
Date: 2007-04-25T05:39:48-06:00

ID: 127313
Comment: I did notice that, kdbs. However, rest assured that if this ever became a movie, The Rock will NOT be playing Melton. :-)
Author: LatashaWillis
Date: 2007-04-25T08:30:32-06:00

ID: 127314
Comment: I love the fact that the prosecution witnesses were dressed in street clothes and the defense witness is in a suit. The only time he wears a suit is when he is in court!
Author: kdbstlrfan1
Date: 2007-04-25T08:47:50-06:00

ID: 127315
Comment: Damn, someone must have told on wapt. They had their audio stream running til just a second ago.
Author: kdbstlrfan1
Date: 2007-04-25T08:51:44-06:00

ID: 127316
Comment: Yeah, I'm sure he went out and bought that suit with his CI money.
Author: pikersam
Date: 2007-04-25T09:00:48-06:00

ID: 127317
Comment: No, look at it. It isn't tailored. That is a loaner from the Dank's suit pantry!
Author: kdbstlrfan1
Date: 2007-04-25T09:12:59-06:00

ID: 127318
Comment: Before WAPT's audio was cut off, the CI said that 1305 was the biggest drug house in Jackson. I find it hard to believe that a person who can not even pay his own rent (his mom pays it because he is mentally disabled) could run the biggest drug house in Jackson. I guess the defense thinks the jury is totally incompetent. But then again, maybe they are.
Author: kdbstlrfan1
Date: 2007-04-25T09:17:12-06:00

ID: 127319
Comment: why are they breaking now? i missed what they said...
Author: Belhaver
Date: 2007-04-25T09:27:36-06:00

ID: 127320
Comment: kdbs, I have faith in the jury at the moment. That could change depending on the verdict.
Author: LatashaWillis
Date: 2007-04-25T09:30:18-06:00

ID: 127321
Comment: LW. I don't mean to say I don't have faith in the jury. That will be decided based on the outcome of the trial. I am simply saying, I have talked to enough people and realize that there is no "type" of person who supports or does not support Melton. I know professionals and minimum wage workers who support him and some who don't. It goes across all socioeconomic lines. Just an observation.
Author: kdbstlrfan1
Date: 2007-04-25T09:35:54-06:00

ID: 127322
Comment: Belhaver, I believe they are giving the prosecution time to talk to the witnesses that the defense has called. Apparently, they did not tell the prosecution these witnesses names and therefore the prosecution wants time to depose them. Someone correct me if I am wrong please.
Author: kdbstlrfan1
Date: 2007-04-25T09:37:35-06:00

ID: 127323
Comment: I understand, k. The level of uncertainty here is enough to get anyone's drawers in a bunch. :-P
Author: LatashaWillis
Date: 2007-04-25T09:39:57-06:00

ID: 127324
Comment: Did anyone see WLBT's online poll? The question reads, "Do you agree or disagree with the prosecution's claim that Jackson Mayor Frank Melton damaged the house with malice or evil intent?" I thought that the defense brought up evil intent, not the prosecution. Can someone who watched the video confirm this for me?
Author: LatashaWillis
Date: 2007-04-25T21:16:10-06:00

ID: 127325
Comment: LW, wapt poll this morning says that 60% of people that responded would aquit Melton if they were on the jury. That shows the mwntality of thos who voted. I hope the real thing is different.
Author: kdbstlrfan1
Date: 2007-04-26T05:58:10-06:00

ID: 127326
Comment: L.W., agreed, WLBT's online poll is worded to confuse. So is the phrase 'evil intent'. As best I can tell this is one of the definitions of 'malice'. But, what I don't comprehend is why is 'malice' even the measure. Destroying other people's property without due process is wrong, no matter what may be in your mind or heart. Feelings are not on trial here. Motive is not on trial here. Just actions and their legality. FM and the two law enforcement officers should be held to an even higher standard than the rest of us because they are more than just citizens; they are under oath to uphold the law; they are sworn to protect life and property; they take and oath to uphold the laws of this State and this Country. These are solemn vows not trivial rules to be disregarded at one's discretion.
Author: ChrisCavanaugh
Date: 2007-04-26T07:04:39-06:00

ID: 127327
Comment: Just actions and their legality. FM and the two law enforcement officers should be held to an even higher standard than the rest of us because they are more than just citizens; they are under oath to uphold the law; they are sworn to protect life and property; they take and oath to uphold the laws of this State and this Country. Exactly! They should be held to a higher standard because they are supposed to know better - do better as representatives of the people. One thing is clear, we have some people working for the City, including Stokes and a 27 year records keeper, that do not know how to do their job or the policy and procedures involving what they do! Pretty sad!
Author: pikersam
Date: 2007-04-26T07:57:36-06:00

ID: 127328
Comment: OK, based on the defenses argument, and I just want to get this straight (not because I am thinking of doing anything like this, hahahaha), I could go to someones house, tear it down, and as long as there was no "evil intent", I would be exhonerated. If the judge allows the defense to argue that in closing arguments, he might as well just start handing out sledge hammers and "walking tall" sticks.
Author: kdbstlrfan1
Date: 2007-04-26T08:12:42-06:00

ID: 127329
Comment: Did anyone see the City Council meeting last night. Frank Bluntson is such an embarrassment to this community. He admonished McLemore, Chrisler, Barret - Simone, and Allen for going out "In from of City Hall before the cameras and asking for the mayor's resignation." He went on to say that the mayor was "IN JAIL WHEN YOU ALL DID THAT and that's a shame!" He then told that group of four that neither could be mayor because Channel 16 did a poll and "Ben AllEN, you only got 3% of the vote." He boasted that "THE MAYOR GOT 70% of the vote and he was IN JAIL!" Everytime I see that man (BLUNTSON), I think about the terrible violations he and others did to the young troubled youth at the Youth Detention Center. They took emotional and sexual advantage of those kids. I wish that just one of them could have a voice when he is talking all of that crap. I know I'm getting off subject; however, SORE has positioned herself to suck this City dry. I can't believe that a lawyer who can not answer the simple questions presented from the Council could even began to know the ins-and outs of bond law. Just thinking!
Author: justjess
Date: 2007-04-26T09:06:46-06:00

Ellington

Open Thread for Melton Trial Here

Have at it.

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