Michigan Uber driver accused of murder interrupts hearing

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

World | Fri May 20, 2016 12:28pm EDT

Michigan Uber driver accused of murder interrupts hearing

KALAMAZOO, MICH. | BY CHEYNA ROTH

A Michigan Uber driver accused of killing six people in a February shooting spree will participate in a hearing on Friday via a video hookup from jail after he was hauled out of court for a verbal outburst while a witness was testifying.

Kalamazoo County District Judge Christopher Haenicke said the hearing would resume at noon EDT (1600 GMT) after Jason Dalton, 45, was removed from the courtroom.

Dalton is charged with shooting eight people and killing six of them within five hours on Feb. 20, in between driving customers for the Uber car service in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The city is located about 150 miles (240 km) north of Detroit.

Dalton was in court on Friday morning for a preliminary hearing where Haenicke was to hear testimony from witnesses and decide whether there is enough evidence to try the defendant on the charges.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-uber-shooting-idUSKCN0YB1WD

[scscholar]

1. So he doesn't have the right to attend his own trial?

What a joke of a banana republic we now live in.

[Egnever]

3. Sure he does

But he doesn't have the right to disrupt the proceedings. Hence the video link.

This guy is clearly disturbed do you think he would be doing himself any favors if he was allowed to rant and rave during his trial?

[scscholar]

9. So you're taking his right to trial without having a trial to take that right?

That's wrong.

[Egnever]

11. No nobody is tasking away his right to trial

Not sure where you are getting that idea.

[11 Bravo]

12. And when he interrupts the trial over whether to take that right, then what?

Another trial?

[LanternWaste]

4. He may attend the trial, hence his original presence.

He may attend the trial, hence his original presence. He may not however, interrupt witnesses on the stand. Doing so often results in the removal from court proceedings until they are able to act in a composed manner.

"What a joke of a banana republic we now live in...."
What a joke of a premise if your evidence is predicated on this instance.

[jberryhill]

7. Do you believe that is new or unusual?

A defendant who persists in being disruptive in court is generally removed from the courtroom because they are actually impairing their own right to trial.

What would you suggest be done when a defendant refuses to participate in the process?

[Egnever]

2. Not sure what Uber has to do with this

Makes it better click bait?

[Eugene]

5. It's what he is known for and what he was doing between shootings. nt

[jehop61]

6. He was driving for Uber

while he was carrying out the shootings, so mentioning it is part of the story

[LanternWaste]

8. I imagine that as both his occupation and partial means of carrying out his agenda

I imagine that as both his occupation and as being partial mechanism of carrying out his agenda, Uber holds some relevance to the story.

[Egnever]

10. Maybe

I don't remember every murder suspect being identified with their employer as a rule but I guess you could make the case you do.

I would also argue that because you work for Uber does not mean everything you do in your car from then on means you are an Uber representative while you drive it.


I am technically an Uber driver though I haven't driven anyone for months if I was to commit a crime would the story read Uber driver commits crime?

Seems like BS to me.

I am not sure what you mean as a partial mechanism of carrying out his agenda could you explain that to me? The story says in between driving for Uber. Not while driving for Uber. Just seems strange to me, should every business be connected to the criminal acts of their employees when not on the job?

[gollygee]

14. He drove people around, shot people, and then continued to drive people around.

It's part of the story.

[gollygee]

13. Kalamazoo is not 150 miles north of Detroit

What?




Also, he interrupted one of the victims, who protected a group of children, and made her break down into tears.