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Why are District Attorneys so reluctant to charge multiple opposing parties in a single incident? In this case why isn't the pro Palestinian charged with assault or Violation of a Constitutional Right Causing Injury?
It reminds me of another example; the Apple River stabbing, where the teenagers weren't charged with assault which happened prior to the man pulling his knife to stab people. Same problem.
Are DA's reluctant to muddy the waters with conflicting cases like this? Is this a political motivation where they are 'chasing wins'?
Edit: Turns out the DA did charge the other party a day later as per a news article linked in Ben Garrison's post here.
I was once a juror on a murder trial where the guy filmed himself murdering the gal and throwing her in a trash can and they called in a city worker to testify for like 3 or 4 hours about his entire career in waste management and how trash trucks and cans work and the entire city's trash collection schedule, etc because apparently the DA didn't think that watching the video of this guy murdering the gal and throwing her into a trash can would be enough to convince us he did it
So presumably the answer to your question is because the DA considers it essential to have every possible witness testify in excruciating detail and charging a 'necessary' witness with a crime might throw a wrench in that desire
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Massachusetts hates guns, and wants people with guns to leave the state. The DA charged the person who used a gun. The point is that they believe only the person who used the gun committed a serious enough crime to charge.
After all, the other guy was just involved in a fiery but mostly peaceful protest.
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I think it's this: if they charged the pro-Palestinian guy, the pro-Israeli guy's defense would definitely bring it up. And the pro-Israeli guy's crime was greater -- the pro-Palestinian guy committed battery, the pro-Israeli guy usurped the power of the state by defending himself.
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Well, was Scott Hayes actually injured? The pro Palestinian got shot, a much more severe punishment than if he were to be convicted of simple battery.
Let’s change the facts. Let’s say like Han Solo pro Palestinian guy shot first but unlike Solo he missed. Mr Hayes wouldn’t have been injured and Bad Solo would’ve been when Hayes returned fire. That fact though wouldnt queer Hayes self defense.
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Actual injury shouldn't be necessary. You can't tell the police that you didn't need your kids to wear seatbelts on the freeway because they haven't been injured. Tackling someone on a sidewalk could have lead to them cracking their head open.
I do understand the 'fuck around and find out' assumption that justice has been done, but is this actually a consideration from DA's when considering which cases to take?
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