Verdict

I had an interesting day at work today. The jury's verdict in the penalty phase of the "Halloween Murder Trial" came down today. And guess who was in the courtroom to hear the jury's verdict. You can read up on the trial at:
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2006/06/14/18280742.php?show_comments=1#18280890

The murders occurred due to a drug deal gone bad between two rival gangs. The weird part is that the evidence against the defendants was quite convincing, but still the jury took FOUR weeks to come to a verdict in the guilt phase, which of course was guilty. So the defendants faced the death penalty. If took the jury almost three days to decide between death and life w/o parole, which is kind of a long time, since juries usually already know what they want to do, especially since they took FOUR weeks to find them guilty.

Now the bailiffs and the other lawyers at the PD's office have walked by the jury room and heard yelling and screaming through the door (the courthouse is kinda small and sound carries well because of all of the marble walls and floors). This, it seems, was a heated deliberation. By the way, the defendants retained private counsel, so I'm not crossing any ethical line by posting this.

Given all the hype surrounding the case and the age of the victims and the fact that fourteen year-old girls were shot as well (accidently, it seems), the courtroom buzz was that the defendants would receive the death penalty.

As the jury walked in, none of them looked at any of the defendants (which is a very bad sign). The judge received the jury's verdict and took a long time reading it (which is another very bad sign, because the jury has answer more questions in the affirmative in order to impose the death penalty). The judge then handed the verdict to the clerk, who read it. "We the jury...find that the defendant.... should be sentenced to (long pause) Life in Prison without the possibility of parole.

Life without parole for each defendant, on each count.

I looked at one of the defendants, who was smiling. Then the prosecutor, who was not. Then I looked at one of the defendant's mothers, who was crying. And lastly the family of the victims, who were sitting stoically. My heart went out to them all.

Bacchus Hates Me

Okay, that's it, I've had it. I don't know what I did, but I seemed to have upset Bacchus (Dionysus, to all you Romans out there) for he is constantly sending out his minions to attack me. Bacchus is the Greek God of Wine, Parties and Orgies for those of you who do not know. But, before I tell you this story, please keep in mind that all the people involved are fine.

I was at work and because I had to go to the jail later and I was unable to find a parking spot, I parked in the two-hour parking. My trip to the jail was cancelled so I went to move my car to the long-term parking. As I drove down the street to turn around. I get hit my another car. Which pushes me off of the street over a curb and into a pole. Now I'm not going all that fast so my air bags don't go off or anything, but I do have some front-end damage (really on the driver's side front, where she hit me) and on the passenger side front where she knocked me into the pole).

So I get out of my car and as soon as I get out, my airbags go off (the technicians at the Toyota dealership think there was a problem with the sensors). Anyway, I get out and check on this woman, and she's fine as well. I call the cops, she freaks out, because despite the fact that it's only 9:32 am she's already been drinking. Not enough to be impaired, but still, it's kind of reminiscent of my prior drunk-driving accident that almost killed me.

Anyway, the police show up. Take the report, a copy of which I received today, which mentions that she is at fault, the fact that she admitted drinking earlier, and the fact that she didn't have her license (it was suspended) and that she had let her insurance "lapse." In fact, she hadn't had insurance for three years.

I have my car towed to the nearest Toyota dealership with a collision center (in Elk Grove), the technicians at which say that due to the way she hit me the frame is bent (pretty badly), which in combination with the high price of replacement airbags, makes my car a total loss. My insurance company concurs. My insurance company, however, is "looking into" whether they have to pay my claim given the fact that my parent's recently changed insurance companies at the insistence of our insurance broker, but the broker may have neglected to forward the payment on time. In which case the broker would pay.

Our broker, by the way, is my aunt (on my father's side).

So, to recap, I'm fine. She's fine. There's a pole in Woodland, CA that could be better. And my car is toast.

Piece of Meat

So, as some of you know, I am planning to visit Nebraska sometime in July, my plans aren't set yet, but I will likely be there the first weekend.

Anyway, I received a call from James and he has informed me that if I am in Nebraska the third weekend in July, I have to take part in the his fraternity's Bachelors Auction, the proceeds to benefit Children's Hospital and the Make-a-Wish Foundation. This would not be the first time I took part in a Bachelors Auction, last time I went for $1,497, I think I can do better this time.

Gay Marriage

Mr. Bush has decided that everything is going so well in the world he has decided to tackle the most important crisis facing America: two people who wish to be spend the rest of their lives together in wedded bliss, who happen to be of the same sex.

I'm not going to go on a rant because I have important news. Two of my friends who live in Oregon, Harris and Thad have decided to get married (they decided to tie the knot over the weekend). Luckily, they moved to Oregon from Boston just two months ago and have maintained their Massachusetts residence, they haven't set a date yet, but they want to have the wedding on the beach in Nantucket where they shared their first kiss.

It's Raining Men

I had a sudden urge to DDR, so I went online and found the nearest machine. The place doesn't open until 10AM, but I'm leaving now.

I'm going to be sure to dance to "It's Raining Men," in honor of a certain someone. Do you think it works like some kind of Native American rain dance? If I dance to it like ten times in a row, will it really start to rain men?

I Have Returned

I've been working very hard and trying to spend every minute I could with a certain someone before that certain someone left for the summer.

But, like Gen. MacArthur, I have returned.