• Man acts as own attorney, tells judge, "You trippin'. I going to trial."
    45 replies, posted
[quote]FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - "A man who represents himself in court has a fool for a client." It's an axiom known by every lawyer -- and every judge -- in every courthouse in the land. But try telling that to Kurt James. The 23-year old was dead set on defending himself, despite facing two felonies -- both punishable by life in prison. “I ain’t going to prison, “ snapped James, as he sat in Courtroom 6780 in the Broward County Courthouse. “You trippin’. I going to trial.” No one is required to have an attorney. By law, you have the right to represent yourself...as long as you're deemed competent to do so. In this case, the court found that James was competent. Still, Judge Jeffrey Levenson tried to dissuade James from acting as his own lawyer, as he’s required by law, explaining the potential consequences. “Who do you think has the better chance to help you?,” asked the judge. “You, who’s never been to law school, who’s never had any experience as a lawyer, or perhaps someone from the Public Defenders Office with years of experience?” But, in the end, his advice went unheeded - and the trial began. “Mr. James was involved in that armed carjacking. He was involved in that armed robbery. There’s no doubt he was involved in that.” That emphatic charge by Assistant State Attorney, Scott Strauss, as he spoke to the jury. Clearly, this was a unique position for the prosecutor. “You don’t want to come off overzealous or I guess bullying in front of the jury.” James was charged with one count of armed carjacking, one count of robbery with a firearm, both felonies, punishable by life in prison. He was also facing a couple of misdemeanors. According to the arrest form, James and two others allegedly held up a man at gunpoint as he was leaving International Brokers Realty off U.S. One and Pembroke Road October 18, 2010. The victim testified that they got away with an $1,800 watch, his cell phone and a handful of other items. The record shows the trio tried to steal the man’s Mercedes but were unable to figure out how to get it in gear, and left in their own vehicle. They were caught minutes later after an intense pursuit through several cities. For the most part, James did alright. But, it was obvious he was often frustrated, confused - and at times, angry particularly when he couldn’t speak the legal language. “That’s just how I talk, man,” he told Strauss. “You don’t understand the street talk, how we talk.” But, James made what some legal observers consider his worst decision when he called himself to the stand to explain why he originally confessed. It took jurors a little more than two hours to reach a verdict. Guilty: Armed Carjacking. Guilty: Robbery with a firearm. One problem. Jurors crossed out the word firearm on the form, which is not permitted by law. The judge was going to send the panel back to reconsider its verdict, but decided to let things stand in anticipation the case will eventually end up being appealed, anyway.[/quote] [Video in link] [url]http://www.local10.com/news/Man-decides-to-act-as-own-attorney/-/1717324/15965702/-/4spv4/-/index.html[/url]
It's a masterful defence. You just don't get it yet.
smooth moves with the street talk mister double felony
Might as well as call him Phoenix Wright.
Obviously he is trying to engaged the judge in a rap battle.
"James was charged with one count of armed carjacking, one count of robbery with a firearm, both felonies, punishable by life in prison." Holy fucking shit?! Really? That is fucked up.
[QUOTE=BigBoom;37086965]Obviously he is trying to engaged the judge in a rap battle.[/QUOTE] because he's black good joke dude
[QUOTE=dgg;37086985]"James was charged with one count of armed carjacking, one count of robbery with a firearm, both felonies, punishable by life in prison." Holy fucking shit?! Really? That is fucked up.[/QUOTE] That's probably the maximum sentence [editline]4th August 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=BigBoom;37086965]Obviously he is trying to engaged the judge in a rap battle.[/QUOTE] You is trying to posted in this thread I take back this moment of me mocking you if you're first language is not english
[QUOTE=Lambeth;37086997]That's probably the maximum sentence [editline]4th August 2012[/editline] You is trying to posted in this thread[/QUOTE] I'm guessing so, can't get more maxed than that. :v:
snip
he should have used the chewbacca defense
[QUOTE=Kalibos;37087037]he should have used the chewbacca defense[/QUOTE] shhh, soon.
[QUOTE=Lambeth;37086997]I take back this moment of me mocking you if you're first language is not english[/QUOTE] Can't think of any other reason why someone would represent themselves with the opening sentence of 'YOU TRIPPIN'". Other then been stupid but that would be rude.
[QUOTE=Priori;37087017]I'm guessing so, can't get more maxed than that. :v:[/QUOTE] Death penalty.
He was probably about as well off defending himself. There is a reason why people call the free lawyers "public pretenders". I've had them straight up lie to me before.
[QUOTE=Dori;37086996]because he's black good joke dude[/QUOTE] typical sanius post
[QUOTE=dgg;37086985]"James was charged with one count of armed carjacking, one count of robbery with a firearm, both felonies, punishable by life in prison." Holy fucking shit?! Really? That is fucked up.[/QUOTE] Armed robberies have a tendency of turning ugly very quickly. I think the maximum sentence of life imprisonment is suitable for armed robbery, because fuck people who do that. Honestly, being robbed is one thing, but being robbed with a gun pointed at you, knowing all it takes is one squeeze of the trigger to leave you dead, is another thing. But like someone has already said, life is the maximum sentence, so he'll probably get something less.
[QUOTE=Dori;37086996]because he's black good joke dude[/QUOTE] No, because to the common person rap is associated with crime and "hood" culture.
[QUOTE=Strider*;37087354]No, because to the common person rap is associated with crime and "hood" culture.[/QUOTE] have you ever interacted with a black person? this is the whitest thing I've read in a while [editline]1[/editline] I hate it when black people come up to me and start rapping
[QUOTE=Strider*;37087354]No, because to the common person rap is associated with crime and "hood" culture.[/QUOTE] Well yeah I suppose if you live in an American middle class white suburb, but for everyone else, you know normal people, it's just rap and hip hop.
[QUOTE=Dori;37086996]because he's black good joke dude[/QUOTE] Do you seriously just scour the news section looking to post shit like this? Oh wait, what am I saying it's sanius. Of course you fucking are.
[QUOTE=JaegerMonster;37087400]Do you seriously just scour the news section looking to post shit like this? Oh wait, what am I saying it's sanius. Of course you fucking are.[/QUOTE] thanks for the update dude u sure did school him :)
[QUOTE=loopoo;37087333]Armed robberies have a tendency of turning ugly very quickly. I think the maximum sentence of life imprisonment is suitable for armed robbery, because fuck people who do that. Honestly, being robbed is one thing, but being robbed with a gun pointed at you, knowing all it takes is one squeeze of the trigger to leave you dead, is another thing. But like someone has already said, life is the maximum sentence, so he'll probably get something less.[/QUOTE] So how do you rob a bank without guns? Do you walk up the counter and scream at the top of your lungs telling them that it is a robbery and that you expect them to give you cash? Same goes for carjacking as well, you don't get people to get out of their cars without a weapon (whilst you kill faster with a gun a baseball bat is just as dangerous so I don't think that should make a difference either). Possibly getting life sentence for robbing a bank is ridiculous no matter how you look at it.
[QUOTE=JaegerMonster;37087400]Do you seriously just scour the news section looking to post shit like this? Oh wait, what am I saying it's sanius. Of course you fucking are.[/QUOTE] please stay on topic mr. monster!
[QUOTE=dgg;37087531]So how do you rob a bank without guns? Do you walk up the counter and scream at the top of your lungs telling them that it is a robbery and that you expect them to give you cash? Possibly getting life sentence for robbing a bank is ridiculous no matter how you look at it.[/QUOTE] I can rob someone without a gun, or without intimations of having a gun or any weapon really. Probably not a bank, but if I were big and burly I could probably shake people out of wallets and shit. "Robbery" doesn't necessarily mean that it's a bank.
[QUOTE=dgg;37087531]So how do you rob a bank without guns?[/QUOTE] There was some old movie where two guys did it using a pen/marker. Can't find it on Youtube :v: Judging by what he did it looks like he played too much GTA.
[QUOTE=DJswitch;37086951]Might as well as call him Phoenix Wright.[/QUOTE] So why him?
[QUOTE=dgg;37087531]So how do you rob a bank without guns?[/QUOTE] road flares
[QUOTE=dgg;37087531]So how do you rob a bank without guns?[/QUOTE] Well if it was a small bank and a slow day, maybe the robber can bash the clerk and steal the loot.
If even a third of the people accused and arrested in the United States defended themselves/used a public defender and demanded a jury trial, we could break the US justice system just enough to fix it in part. The system would fall apart almost immediately. There isn't anywhere near enough funds in anyone's justice coffers to pay for that many trials. Seeing as we place more people in prison than virtually any nation on the planet capable of tracking such statistics, we really need to break the system.
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