- Atty. David Collins had already warned us that the State Attorney’s
Office would try to eliminate all blacks from the jury pool
– he said he would try to get some blacks jurors.
- Mike's family felt confident that once the facts were known,
Mike would be released.
- Family naively believed that Atty. David Collins was working
for Mike's interest, but that was quickly proven wrong.
- Judge insisted that two jury pools be selected, so Mike and
his family sat through the jury selection of another defendant
whose charges were similar but unrelated to Michael’s.
- After lunch and late in the afternoon, Atty Collins took almost
3 hours to pick a jury of leftovers, rejects and the like from
this tainted jury pool, even though we were assured a fresh
jury pool.
- Even though there were blacks in the pool, they were all excluded
for some reason.
- The SAO managed to get an all white jury that consisted of
rejects, leftovers and the like from previous juries. - The
Judge wanted to pick two juries in one day – rush to trial.
- Atty. D.C. appeared to be intimidated by the Judge and would
defer to whatever the Judge said.
- The aggressive attorney appeared timid, ineffective, and seemed
virtually uninformed about the case.
- Atty. D.C. did not bring up the drug issue at all –
The SAO used it in their questioning.
- D.C. did not impeach L.B.’s statements much to our surprise
as she had numerous inconsistencies and fabrications in her
testimony.
- Did not question about the incoming telephone calls to my
daughter’s cell phone.
- Did not impeach Inv. T. M. about his damaging statements,
especially after his personnel file indicates that he has been
cited for unprofessional conduct numerous times., including
lying.
- Did not question as to why there were no bruises, tears or
physical evidence other than L.B.’s DNA (saliva) on a
penal swab.
- Did not allow Mike to help him with the questioning of the
witnesses–
- Refused to allow Michael to testify after he begged to.
- State Atty. Neil Wade portrayed Lindsey as an innocent young
naïve girl from a small town – no mention of her
8 illegal drugs and promiscuous behavior.
- After trial, Atty. Collins said that Judge Hankinson had already
made up his mind and there was nothing we could do.
- A Bailiff commented that “Mike should be home for dinner
tonight” after the issue of the drugs and prior sex came
to light in court.
- Prosecution and Judge tried to protect Lindsey at all costs.
- Judge would reframe questions from the jurors to assist the
prosecution.
- Judge assisted Prosecution as much as possible at every turn.
- Judge basically silenced Atty. Collins as he frustratingly
“threw in the towel".
- Mike’s life was not worth the effort if it meant losing
the friendship and camaraderie of the judiciary.
- After trial, Atty. Collins said that the Judge had already
made up his mind and there was nothing that he or anyone else
could do.
- Atty. Collins stated that he would leave the courtroom immediately
after the verdict – we thought it strange but apparently
he knew the verdict.
- After the verdict was read, Mike broke down sobbing uncontrollably
saying, “I didn’t do it – I didn’t do
it.”
- Atty. D.C. left Mike crying at the table and abruptly exited
the courtroom not speaking to Mike or family members.
- The family, friends, church members and FAMU criminal justice
majors were stunned by the guilty verdict.
- Family members did not respond out of sheer shock and disbelief.
- Another black male whose life has been taken away –
too familiar a scene
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