25 giug 1977 anni - Judge Dodson refuses to accept plea bargain

Descrizione:

Judge Floyd C. Dodson of Superior Court said that he would not agree to the plea bargaining, which had been accepted by the prosecution, because it would “demean the judiciary.” He ordered that the bargain not be made public.

Plea bargaining in the Indians’ case began after the prosecution's key witness, Marvin Redshirt, 34, testified while drunk two weeks ago. Medical tests showed the alcohol level in Mr. Redshirt's blood on June 14 was .305, well
above the 100 level that defines a person as legally drunk in California.

Judge Dodson, ruling that Mr. Redshirt's testimony had not confused the jury, refused to strike it or to dismiss the case.

The testing followed a bizarre day and a half of testimony In which Mr. Redshirt stared into space. shouted at the defense in his native Indian tongue, and admitted he had lied to the authorities “at least a thousand times” about
his part in the murder.

Mr. Weinglass accused Judge Dodson Tuesday of refusing the plea bargain because ending the trial would terminate his income from the case that is the last of his career. Judge Dodson denied the accusation, saying his rejection was based on a condition of the bargain. The condition, Mr. Weinglass said later, was that Mr. Skyhorse and Mr. Mohawk be freed immediately.

Judge Dodson retired a few days before losing his reelection bid in Santa Barbara County last November. His retirement enabled hint to hear specially assigned cases.

In May, (as a result of Skyhorse/Mohawk and a number of other cases at that time) the State Supreme Court ruled that such assignments would be discontinued.

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