POLITICS - WOO HOO! Attack of Common Sense!

[Old Ironsights]

Iowa court reverses Chicago cop's conviction
October 1, 2008 at 8:47 AM | Comments (0)

The Iowa Court of Appeals this morning overturned the assault conviction of former Chicago police officer Michael Mette and ordered him acquitted.

Mette was a four-year veteran of the police department when he was found guilty in 2007 of assault causing serious injury in connection with a fight two years earlier in Dubuque. Jacob Gothard, a member of the Dubuque College golf team, was left with brain hemorrhages and aa broken nose, cheekbone and jaw. Mette has served 11 months of a 5-year sentence.

It was not immediately clear when he would be released. The appeals court sent the case back to a lower court to enter an acquittal verdict.

In essence, the appeals court accepted Mette's argument that he was acting in self defense and had no opportunity to avoid the fight. It said the lower court had erred in finding that Mette had an opportunity to retreat.

"After being pushed and knocked backward two or three times, there was nothing in the record to indicate Michael could have avoided Gothard's next blow, without his defensive punch," the court said in its opinion.

The court noted that Gossard was drunk, with a blood alcohol level of .27.

"While it may be possible to speculate on Michael's ability to retreat, the record is utterly void of any testimony to support that assumption."

Mayor Richard Daley last month sent a letter to Iowa's governor urging a pardon for Mette, whom the mayor said "did little or nothing to provoke the fight" and acted in self-defense.

Tribune columnist John Kass had called for Mette's release in his columns, arguing that the man Mette struck was drunk and provoked the altercation.

--Chicago Tribune

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2008 ... e-hed.html

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There are many, many (Outfit Connected) Chicago Enforcers that I think deserve imprisonment for assault. Mette is/was never one of them. It took them long enough, but Good for Iowa.

[L8agin]

Ya well we did wrong before right here in Iowa-now a liberal meca and Obama suporting State And are responsible via the caucas for his first boost
L8

[FWiedner]

I get all teary-eyed when a cop is treated like one of the "little" people.

I hope he enjoyed his little trip through the "justice" system.

[Paladin]

I get all teary-eyed when a cop is treated like one of the "little" people.

I hope he enjoyed his little trip through the "justice" system.

Having seen what it is like in countries without law enforcement, what would you suggest they be replaced with, Your Self?

[Old Ironsights]

I get all teary-eyed when a cop is treated like one of the "little" people.

I hope he enjoyed his little trip through the "justice" system.

Thing is, this Good Cop got screwed for the crimes of the Chicago Enforcer types.

THere are lots of Chicago Enforcers who desreve to be treated to some Jail Time. Given the upcomming Federal Intitements, many (hopefully) will.

But Mette wasn't one of them. He wasn't treated like one of the "little people" he an innocent forced to pay for the abuses of the guilty.

[Ysabel Kid]

Maybe it is different elsewhere, but my bet is that 99% of the LEO's out there are honorable men and women doing an incredibly difficult and absolutely necessary high-risk job for little appreciation and even less monetary compensation. 1% of them - maybe - give the rest a bad name, and no one dislikes that 1% more than the other 99%.

I'm glad a good cop got released. Hopefully it comes very soon.

[Duff L Bagg]

I get all teary-eyed when a cop is treated like one of the "little" people.

I hope he enjoyed his little trip through the "justice" system.

After reading the venom in many of your posts, I would hate to see the world through your eyes. I do hope that you can find some peace.

[Old Ironsights]

Maybe it is different elsewhere, but my bet is that 99% of the LEO's out there are honorable men and women doing an incredibly difficult and absolutely necessary high-risk job for little appreciation and even less monetary compensation.

Next time you are visiting the Daley Empire (however briefly) do a little asking about... There IS a problem here... but then, it IS a town run of, by & for The Outfit...

1% of them - maybe - give the rest a bad name, and no one dislikes that 1% more than the other 99%.

Here you might hit double digits... but you are essentially correct.

[AJMD429]

Maybe it is different elsewhere, but my bet is that 99% of the LEO's out there are honorable men and women doing an incredibly difficult and absolutely necessary high-risk job for little appreciation and even less monetary compensation. 1% of them - maybe - give the rest a bad name, and no one dislikes that 1% more than the other 99%.

I'm glad a good cop got released. Hopefully it comes very soon.

It's kind of like that for politicians - except it is 99% of them that give the rest a bad name...

[donw]

i feel sorry for ANYONE who is unjustly convicted...

cops have a hard job...i don't deny that...it's also a thankless job...i'm also glad there are those who are willing to do it...i don't feel sorrow or grief when they get beat up or when they complain about it, though...(i feel sorrow and grief for them as a PERSON, not in the occupational hazards they voluntarily undertook)they did after all, volunteer, they did in fact put on the uniform/badge and accept the pay...it's their job...that's what they're paid for.

BTW... i have two VERY close relatives in law enforcment and i also am a veteran of the war in 'nam as a "uniformed volunteer"...i knew and accepted the risk...i, of course, complained, but that did not affect the conditions or the outcome.