Suspect Arrested In Savage Murder of Chicago Cop And Friend

Chicago--It was a reprehensible crime committed against off duty Bomb & Arson detective Robert Soto and his friend Kathryn Romberg, a supervisor for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. They were sitting in Soto’s SUV when they were selected by a thug for a robbery, double murder.

The crime happened outside Romberg’s apartment building located in the 3000 block of West Franklin Blvd.

Soto was able to use his cell phone to call for help and alert police to the crime and offenders before he died from his wounds.

Ex-convict, Jason Austin, 26, of the 500 block of North Le Claire has been charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery, Police Supt. Jody Weis announced at a news conference on Monday. Austin has five prior convictions, including drug possession and battery.

Here is a video report from CLTV:

Obama’s Plans For The Defense Of America As President…

With that Little Russian pig,Vladimir Putin terrorizing and murdering our allies in Georgia, here’s Barack Obama’s own words. Is this empty suit ready for Prime Time?

Goldfinger Murder Suspect To Be Arraigned In Federal Court On Monday

Los Angeles—James Fayed is suspected of having his own wife, Pamela Fayed murdered during an acrimonious divorce. Pamela Fayed was assisting the FBI who was investigating Fayed’s gold trading, Ponzi scheme businesses. That was until she was horrifically stabbed and slashed to death in a Century City parking structure.

Monday, Aug 18, Fayed is expected to enter a formal plea to the Indictment charging him with operating without a required license. This is also the time that a trial judge will be assigned and a schedule of discovery matters will start. A pre-trial court date will be given and an actual trial date will be projected.

Soon we can expect to see a flurry of defense motions designed to get the indictment tossed.

Since Fayed is in custody, I doubt that he will waive time under speedy trial rules and force the government to try him expeditiously. It’s too early to tell exactly what defenses may be raised. However, I have my own expectations.

I would not be surprised to see the defense claim that Fayed relied on his murdered wife to obtain the necessary licensing from the State of California and that he reasonably believed she got the license. Of course I suspect that will be followed with a claim that his wife did not get the license and then falsely informed the FBI that James Fayed had no intention of getting the license.

As for the LAPD murder investigation, it is still stalled because they have been unable to locate and interview Anthony Fayed, the older brother of James Fayed who is being sought on unrelated felony warrants.

Update 8/18: U.S. Magistrate Charles Eick ordered James Michael Fayed, 45, back to court on Sept. 15 for a status conference.

Updated! Click here for the very latest information on this investigation

Here are some more documents I have obtained from the District Court. Included is a Notice of appearance by another attorney for Fayed, Mark Hathaway.

Fayed documents1 aug 16 - Upload a Document to Scribd

Read this document on Scribd: Fayed documents1 aug 16

The KTLA-TV News War On Aging Continues

Los Angeles—Every TV or print news organization in America is fighting for survival as the readers and audience has evaporated. The only viewers or readers left are those older folks who have steadfastly shunned computers and the Internet.

What’s interesting here is the once desired demographics of people between 18 and 35 have fled from TV news for good. These are the people that spend money to buy the products advertisers want to sell.

Today the demographics watching have shifted to the oldsters. Today’s advertisers have shifted too, selling prescription drugs, reverse mortgages, denture adhesives and of course Viagra.

Many older TV news viewers feel threatened as they watch the older trusted reporters and anchors disappearing from their positions. The push is on to hire youth in a desperate attempt to save money and lure younger viewers back to television. Along with the shift to youth they are short-staffing newsrooms everywhere. Soon they will lose the only viewers they had.

The quality of local and national news delivery has been dropping like a rock. The journeymen have been replaced by green news apprentices barely over their interning days. The blind are leading the blind and it’s a formula for suicide.

I can’t imagine a new positive direction for poorly paid and inexperienced reporters and producers try to fill the shoes of those they replaced

KTLA-TV is at the battlefront of the war on aging as new ownership and management has handed out pink slips to anyone deemed too mature. Last month they axed reporters Willa Sandmeyer, Walter Richards, Bill Smith and Janet Choi, along with news manager Gerry Ruben, long-time Executive Producer Joe Russin, Executive Editor of Planning, John Hensley, Morning News Executive Producer.

Today I learned Marta Waller’s contract won’t be renewed when it expires in October. Waller has given 24 great years to KTLA’s viewers. Waller is an attractive woman with a great broadcast voice and needed credibility. Waller has been an anchor, medical reporters and covered important criminal trials. Just what was Waller’s crime? Waller aged into the station’s current viewer demographics.

I guess KTLA’s new owner has no fear of age discrimination lawsuits. I suspect they’re about to suffer an avalanche of litigation as they have eliminated every producer or reporter they could over 45 years of age. Whatever KTLA will save on salaries will defiantly be paid out in legal fees defending against age bias claims.

National Geographic Profiles Chicago Mob-Buster Bob Cooley

Chicago, IL.--Bob Cooley was the Chicago cop, turned crooked lawyer who later turned into a very effective government mob-buster.

Cooley was never caught dirty by authorities in his own corruption activities. Instead Cooley simply walked into the Justice Department, confessed his crimes and offered to reel in some very ruthless mob figures.

Cooley took down Chicago’s First Ward Regular Democratic Organization, corrupt judges, lawyers and the prolific mob hit man, Harry Aleman whose murder case he fixed himself as the defense lawyer for a mere $10,000.00.

Cook County Circuit Court Judge Frank Wilson soon learned that his paid fix of the Aleman murder case was blown wide open. Judge Wilson shot himself in the head during a visit to Sun City Arizona.

Soon crooked Chicago political types rode the express train to federal prison cells. Cooley was disbarred over his admitted involvement and has since written about his experiences. Cooley’s book, “When Corruption was King” has been optioned for a feature film.

Cooley recently confided in me that he’s not done yet. We may see a second book and more shoes thundering on the floor.

On Sunday night you can watch a National Geographic TV special on Bob Cooley’s exploits. Unlike the overbilled Hollywood version of Elliot Ness, Bob Cooley is the real deal.

Watch the special this Sunday, August 17, 2008.

Watch the Video Preview right here.

Why I Never Mourned The Demise of Court TV

Court TV showed promise to open the veils of seeming secrecy of America’s courtrooms. Trials are public but seating is limited and the logistics of sitting in courtrooms is difficult or impossible for working Americans.

Court TV was there to save the day, at least in the several states that allow for broadcasting of their proceedings. Most states and the federal courts have declined the idea of TV coverage.

Court TV began with the gavel to gavel concept but that was not working because viewers became bored with most testimony. Court TV countered by turning the proceedings into pundit fueled gossip-fests. The liberal use of outspoken harpies to slant the video they did elect to show the public got out-of-control. Trials became sporting events even beyond Jerry Springer proportions.

No better example of televised legal horror existed than the Scott Peterson Murder Trial. I’m convinced he was convicted not by a fair trial but by Court TV, aided by a very TV camera- happy defense lawyer, Mark Geragos.

Peterson was convicted and sentenced to death without any proof whatsoever of the cause of Laci Peterson and her unborn child’s death. The Court TV harpies poisoned any chance of Peterson getting a fair trial.

Did Scott Peterson kill his wife? If we can’t say how Laci Peterson died, how can we possibly call it murder? It could have been murder. Scott Peterson was proven to be a cad, cheat, liar and heel, but not a murderer.

Now we have a new Internet broadcaster, he's former lawyer, Michael Bryant with his Legal Edge team who wants to broadcast the trials and give the gossip mongers a forum to exchange misinformation and worse.

I don’t have enough information about Legal Edge’s plans other than their announcement of covering the O.J. Simpson Robbery/Kidnapping trial in Las Vegas. Perhaps Bryant can arrange to broadcast the trial to the Casino sports-books where people can place bets of court rulings and then the final verdict?

Can’t we just get some dignified gavel to gavel coverage without creating new celebrity personalities along the way? Can we just see trials rather than getting an unwanted trip to the circus?

First Known Justifiable Shooting In Chicago Post SCOTUS’ Heller Case.

Chicago, IL—Four were wounded in the Hellfire unleashed in a Chicago jewelry store on the city’s South side. Three men entered, displayed handguns and announced the robbery.

The store owner, Sergio Vazquez drew his own handgun and fought for his life. When the shootout was over, two robbers were hit by gunfire along with a store employee and a man sitting in a vehicle outside the store. One of the robbers is said to be in critical condition at this time.

Police were interviewing witnesses and participants as well as reviewing surveillance video. Questions remaining is whether police will charge the store’s owner with Chicago’s unconstitutional law that bans handguns? Will the City of Chicago dare violate the Civil Rights of Sergio Vazqez to own a handgun?

More here.

The Latest Legal Outrage In L.A.

They just don’t get it in Los Angeles. Giving aid and comfort to illegal aliens is a crime and now they are forcing private businesses to facilitate the transgressions by the border jumpers.

The home improvement stores attract a labor pool of illegal Hispanic laborers who work in the sprawling cash underground. The invaders congregate in the parking lots, hawking for potential employers who will pay them for all manner of construction jobs. The illegal labor force has become a major nuisance to local residents who find the trespassers defecating in their yards and leaving mountains of trash.

Rather than having the police enforce trespassing laws the L.A. City Council today have made it law that the large home improvement stores must build shelters with free drinking water and bathroom facilities for this unlawful activity.

Theft Is Not Always Bad.

I think this a great story that brought a little adventure and intrigue into this lady’s life. The victim got her stolen property back with a splendid photo diary.

Mayhem Retold In A San Diego Courtroom Of Shelly Mailil's Horror Fest

VISTA, Calif. –-Shelley Malil, 43, was ordered by a San Diego judge held on a $10 million bail in connection with the maniacal stabbing and slashing attack of his estranged girlfriend, Kendra Beebe, 35 in San Marcos last weekend.

Malil was identified by Bebee and some neighbors who intervened possibly saving her life. Beebe is reportedly in critical condition with both lungs punctured, disfiguring facial slashes among the over 20 knife wounds she received.

So far, Malil is facing life in prison.

I can’t even imagine Malil’s criminal defense strategy here. Insanity no longer works in our courts and diminished capacity won’t buy much either. I don’t see prosecutors offering anything in the way of a plea deal in a case of this kind.

The promising acting career and good life of a young man seems tragically over. The life of a pretty and young mother of two children has also been forever changed.

My question here is how could this mad act been prevented? What warning signs were missed? What can we learn from this human disaster?

The man who can answer this best is Shelly Malil, and so far, he’s not talking.

Note:
Most of the San Diego news outlets falsely reported that Malil entered a Not Guilty plea to the charges. This was an initial appearance for bail and neither the time nor places to enter any plea since the charges have yet to be formalized.

One report offered that the defendant showed no remorse at the court appearance. Since Malil was not given any opportunity to speak I’m wondering how any reporter could draw that conclusion?

The news business has systematically dumped their older, more experienced and expensive news men and women for kids that work for a lot less money. You get what you pay for...

J-Fed Earned Some Serious Credibility With Chicago Cops.

Chicago, IL—It was October 8th 2005 when Chicago police officer Michael Mette of the Fillmore District was attacked by a Dubuque college student, 20-year-old Jake Gothard while attending a birthday celebration at his brother’s home. Before it was over this week, officer Mette was arrested, prosecuted, convicted and now faces a mandatory five-year Iowa prison term.

Iowa justice is beyond strange because at a Dubuque County Court bench trial the judge, Judge Monica Ackley found that Chicago Police Officer Mette "was not the initial aggressor of this incident," Jake Gothard was. Astonishingly, Judge Ackley ruled that Mette was guilty, because even after Gothard struck him three times, Mette should have just ignored it and retreated.

Officer Mette's infamous felony crime was to punch the 6 foot, 2 inch tall Gothard once in self-defense knocking him out. Gothard has demonstrated his inability to hold his liquor landing on local court dockets on a regular basis. Mette has been serving hard time in an Iowa prison while he appeals that dubious conviction to the Iowa Supreme Court.

Cook County State's Attorney Richard Devine, Chicago Police Superintend Jody Weis and other officials have stood up for Mette by requesting a Pardon from Iowa Governor Culver.

Let’s hope the Iowa Supreme Court sees the error of Judge Ackley’s verdict and findings. If the Iowa Supreme Court does the right thing or a Pardon is granted I hope to see Mike Mette back in his Chicago police uniform soon.

As for J-Fed He still has to mend some fences in order to lead the department, but this is a big step in the right direction.

Spector Retrial And Those Past Bad Acts As “Evidence”

Los Angeles, CA—Legendary records producer, Phil Spector faces a fall re-trial for an allegation of Murder in connection with the death of the troubled and drug-addicted Lana Clarkson. The first trial ended in a hung jury.

California has a law that acts as a trial crutch for prosecutors who can’t win a case on real evidence. Section 1101(b) allows the use alleged prior bad acts even in the absence of a civil or criminal court finding of guilty or awarding of civil damages.

The idea behind 1101(b) is to prejudice juries with unrelated and unproven allegations so that scorn and emotion will convict when real evidence is insufficient.

Spector has had run-ins with old girlfriends who claim today Spector threatened them with guns. Most of the accusers continued to sleep with and or work for Spector after those claimed assaults.

This evidence cuts both ways for Spector. Not one of these accusers have ever suffered injuries or death. This is solid evidence that Spector would not have harmed Lana Clarkson. There was absolutely no evidence of discord between Clarkson and Spector. Evidence of Clarkson’s false eyelashes placed neatly on a sink along with DNA evidence shows that they had consensual sexual activity.

The gun that ended Clarkson’s life was found at her feet. Clarkson was well under the influence of abused drugs and alcohol. Reasonable doubt is overwhelming here since Spector had no blood spray on either sleeve of his white dinner jacket.

Some armchair investigators and gossipmongers suggest that Spector’s fingerprints were wiped off the gun. The truth is that it’s a very rare day when usable are lifted from handguns, especially small handguns like the old model Colt Cobra .38 Special. It’s not as screenwriters have led us to believe in thousands of TV shows and films. When a gun is discharged the recoil causes smearing of any possible latent images.

I see the retrial of Phil Spector as nothing more than a huge waste of time and money.