Boot Camp Death Trial Starts...all white jury.

[madfloridian]

There was a huge crowd shown on the news who gathered outside the courtroom, with the NAACP concerned that the jury was all white. Frankly it concerns me as well.

We all saw the video tape of the boy being beaten by the guards as the nurse just stood by. What a tragic thing.

There was anger and fear in the crowd outside the courtroom, and not much sign of anything remsembling remorse inside. Those guards may be scared but they did not show it in the courtroom.

Boot Camp Death Trial Starts

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (AP) — Protesters say they doubt an all-white jury will be impartial in the trial of seven juvenile boot camp guards and a nurse charged in the death of 14-year-old inmate. Opening statements were to begin Wednesday, and the Florida State Conference of the NAACP said it would demonstrate outside the courthouse over the jury makeup and the decision to hold the trial in Bay County.

"Collectively, these concerted actions by both the State Attorney and the Defense provide a stage for acquittal," NAACP spokeswoman Beverlye Colson Neal said in a statement.

The guards were videotaped hitting and kicking Martin Lee Anderson, 14, and the encounter received heavy attention in the area. Anderson was black; the guards are white, black and Asian. Anderson died in January 2006 after being taken to a hospital from the now-closed military-style boot camp, which was run by the county sheriff's office.

He had been sent to the camp for a probation violation and became lethargic during a physical fitness test shortly after arriving. An exercise yard videotape shows the seven guards repeatedly hitting the boy with their fists and knees. The camp nurse is accused of watching but doing nothing during most of the 30-minute encounter.

In case you missed the video, here it is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIdYzIaX9hQ

My question: what about the nurse? Will she be tried for just allowing it to happen?

[Ragin1]

1. Nice touch.

I just cried again. Our whole nation is going to turn into this. A police state. Wait till all those kids get out of the military and enter our police depts.

The pillow under the head was such a nice touch I thought.

[Murdock]

2. the nurse..

With all due respect, what was the nurse to do? Who was she supposed to call? The Police? They ARE the Police.

[troubleinwinter]

3. Watch that video.

I well remember this.

The child had collapsed several times while she stood at a distance with hands on hips then walked away. She finally showed up again when there were NINE cops around the prone child and for the first time checked on his well being. When it was too late.

"what was the nurse to do?" She was to tell the cops to give her room to check on the well being of the child early on. The child's wellness over-rides five, seven and nine police on a 14 year old child.

[madfloridian]

7. She watched them beat the kid and just did nothing.

Well, she went and got something, and came back and stood around.

Why the power play on a young kid anyway?

Why did she not have the courage to stand up to the guards and say enough is enough.

[NOLALady]

8. I don't know.

She could have made an attempt to stop them.

[madfloridian]

10. Seeing her stand there was the worst thing.

She's a nurse, for goodness sake. They were beating the kid.

They will probably get off. Sadly.

[Kiouni]

4. I missed this

I haven't been paying much attention to the news lately, busy with work but this is quite shocking.

Not to sound cold, but why didn't they hand-cuff him? They always had someone holding his arms up in the video and his head was slumped down. Kind of like being crucified, oh wait, thats how crucification actually works suffocation! But why didn't they just hand cuff him, instead of having four guys hold his hands?

Makes no sense and to the nurses defense, I work in the health care field and the nurses that work in prisons and doctors for that note too (In my area, maybe there is some wonderful prison doc here) are not the creme of the crop and really should not be trusted with more then a box of Kleenex.

[RebelOne]

5. My daughter-in-law is a prison nurse

and she definitely can be trusted with much more than a box of Kleenex. She is an excellent nurse.

[Marrah_G]

6. I am white and would have no trouble being a juror on this

That video is incredibly disturbing. I do not see how they can have any defense to that.

[NOLALady]

9. There was a video of the Rodney King beating.

All four policemen were acquitted.
Maybe this is why they don't have much faith in the video or the jury.

[Marrah_G]

11. I'm not saying they shouldn't worry

I just don't want people assuming it be an automatic acquittal. I still have some faith in my fellow man (it is flickering lately though)