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December 18, 2002
Baltimore jury speaks out in favor of gun violence

Posted by By Alex Dominguez on Monday December 16, @10:42PM

from the Oprah Justice dept.
BALTIMORE (JNS) _ Jurors spoke out Monday in favor of the gun violence that has wracked this city, acquitting a man for shooting a priest he claimed had once abused him.

``God is good, all the time,’’ the crowd outside chanted after the 11-woman, one man jury acquitted Dontee Stokes of all but the least serious charges, almost assuring he won't see jail time.

``This was not about vengeance,’’ Stokes told the cheering crowd before asking when the Rev. Maurice Blackwell would be tried. Stokes admitted during the trial that he drove up to Blackwell's home and shot the former priest.

Jurors also asked Judge John Prevas whether they could impose a more lenient sentence on Stokes for the three charges of which he was convicted, counts that carry a maximum three-year sentence.

Republican activists said they were pleased with the verdict, which will help them fight efforts to provide more aid to the city.

``They want more money for their schools? And this is the kind of morals they’re being taught at home. Look at this jury, the fabric of the community, people who are supposed to be instilling their values in their children,’’ said the GOP official.

Advocates of vigilante justice also said the state and city could save money by cutting spending on t he court system and allowing residents to exact their own justice.

``We're hoping to use this as a test case for a national program,'' said Johnny Ringo, a spokesman for the Bronson-Goetz Foundation.

Stokes rejected questions that some might see the verdict as a justification of violence. Stokes also said he would pray for Blackwell, whom he said he shot three times, twice in the left hip and once in the left hand. The former priest now walks with the aid of a cane.

``We just want Mr. Stokes to be able to get on with his life,’’ said defense attorney Warren Brown, who said he would seek probation for his client.

Posted by Alex at December 18, 2002 01:06 AM
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