Edition 6-25-04

Sarasota - A judge ruled Wednesday that no photos of a slain 11-year-old girl can be released at this time.

An attorney for the girl’s father said Wednesday that the judge decided that the photos should be kept from public view out of fearing that crime scene and autopsy photographs would be published in tabloids and released on the Internet.

Sarasota attorney Dan Dannheisser asked for the restriction because “inappropriate, disreputable magazines and Internet locations” planned to publish the photos of Carlie Brucia.

Dannheisser represents her father, Joseph, who lives in New York.

After listening to brief arguments, the judge ruled that no photos could be released.

Carlie’s abduction February 1 as she walked home from a friend’s house drew worldwide attention because it was captured on a video surveillance system. It showed images of a man leading her away.

Joseph P. Smith, an unemployed auto mechanic, faces first-degree murder, kidnapping and sexual battery charges in the case. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
FLFLHTC: I have all the respect in the world for my friend Judge Owens and understand that he wishes to spare any more pain and suffering to the family of Carlie, and to not damage the outcome of the trial. However, I sincerely hope that when the trial is over the court will allow the photos to be published. Yes, there will be some sick reprehensible voyeurs that will get some sick thrills over the images, but I feel more importantly the public needs to see the kind of horrors that these (even I have to censor myself at times) are capable of so that even the most liberal scumbags never have mercy for the perpetrators of acts of this nature.

* Hinchey-Bass Buffalo Protection Amendment Fails by Narrow Vote
On June 17, 2004, U.S. Representatives Maurice Hinchey (D) and Charles Bass (R) introduced a bipartisan amendment to the 2005 Department of Interior Appropriations Bill to "prohibit the use of funds to kill bison, or assist in the killing of bison, in the Yellowstone National Park herd." Despite the hard work of buffalo protection advocates and hundreds of concerned citizens, the measure failed to pass by an incredibly close 202-215 margin.

The National Park Service (NPS), whose insignia features a buffalo, has slaughtered 498 buffalo in the past 16 months. The Hinchey-Bass Amendment would have saved millions of tax dollars while forcing the National Park Service to uphold its mandate "to protect the resources unimpaired for present and future generations." .

This was the second straight year that an amendment to prohibit the park from slaughtering buffalo was offered.
Representative Nick Rahall (D) introduced a similar measure in 2003 that failed by a 199-220 margin. The very close votes and the fact that this year's effort garnered more support than last year's show that the buffalo have a significant level of support in Congress and that momentum is building for a Congressional solution to the unjust slaughter of the Yellowstone buffalo.

See how your Representative voted by clicking on the House web site:
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2004/roll261.xml If s/he voted for the Hinchey-Bass amendment, please call and express your gratitude. If s/he voted against, call or write to express your disappointment. You can contact your Representative by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 800-839-5276, and asking to be transferred to his/her office. Or, you can use http://www.house.gov/writerep to look up your Representative and send them an email.

MONTREAL -- Police in Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba who have tried for years to nail Walter Stadnick as one of the country's biggest drug traffickers and top Hells Angels leader, got their wish yesterday.

The secretive Hamilton biker was convicted in Montreal on drug charges, conspiracy to commit murder and gangsterism, and could face up to 20 years in jail.

However, the verdict by Mr. Justice Jerry Zigman of the Quebec Superior Court could create problems for several future murder cases against the Quebec Hells Angels.

Judge Zigman acquitted Mr. Stadnick of 13 counts of first-degree murder and three of attempted murder.

The judge rejected the Crown's argument that crime bosses could be convicted even if there is no direct evidence they ordered a hit, because they implicitly encouraged the killings. "This logic is flawed," Judge Zigman said in his ruling.

In an interview, prosecutor Randall Richmond said the Crown will have to review how the ruling will affect future trials against the Quebec Hells Angels.

Chemical pellets could replace baton rounds in Northern Ireland, report shows

By Chris Herbert

Baton rounds could be replaced by exploding chemical pellets in Northern Ireland.

The Northern Ireland Office revealed that officials are considering replacing the baton round currently in use with either a safer type of the same less-lethal weapon or chemical projectiles.

Government research, which is outlined in the report A research programme into alternative policing approaches towards the management of conflict, said the 'discriminating irritant projectile' releases a localised cloud of sensory irritant chemical that temporarily incapacitates 'a violent individual'.

Irwin Montgomery, chairman of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, said: 'We will not give up the baton round until there is a satisfactory alternative for crowd control.

'This has to be seen as quite distinct from one-to-one subduing of people. It is about keeping people 50ft back, so that our officers do not get lumps of concrete dropped on their feet.'