Thread: Gag Order Denied In SF Triple-Shooting Case

Gag Order Denied In SF Triple-Shooting Case
CBS 5 CrimeWatch
SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) ― A San Francisco Superior Court judge ruled Wednesday that authorities will not be prevented from publicly discussing a suspected gang-related shooting in the city's Excelsior District last month that left a father and two of his sons dead.

Judge Lucy McCabe denied a motion by attorneys for the murder suspect, 21-year-old Edwin Ramos, who were trying to impose a gag order in the case.

McCabe said there had been an "insufficient showing" that Ramos' right to a fair trial was threatened by police and prosecutors disseminating information about the shootings.

"Much of the information is inherently newsworthy, and the public is entitled to know," McCabe said.

The ruling came two days after the head of San Francisco's homicide unit, Lt. Mike Stasko, discussed the case at a public hearing held by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors Public Safety Committee.

Stasko told members of the committee that the killings were not the result of road rage, as police spokesmen had previously alluded, but were a case of the victims having been mistakenly identified as gang members.

Anthony "Tony" Bologna, 48, and his sons Michael, 20, and Matthew, 16, were found shot to death in their car the afternoon of June 22.

Three days later, police arrested Ramos, of El Sobrante, whom authorities believe to be a member of Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, a street gang with El Salvadoran origins.

Prosecutors have charged Ramos, who is being held on a no-bail status, with three counts of murder and multiple special allegations, including that the crime was committed in furtherance of a criminal street gang. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Ramos' attorney Robert Amparan protested Wednesday that police and prosecutors had been trying to taint a potential jury pool against his client by "disseminating false information" about Ramos, including information about his immigration status and prior juvenile record, as well as photographs of Ramos that appeared in media reports.

Assistant District Attorney George Butterworth responded that authorities "are not providing information on the sly" to try to poison the defense case. Amparan's allegation that police provided photos of Ramos to media is "completely unsupported and erroneous," he said.

Amparan said outside the courtroom that Ramos is not an illegal alien, is not an active gang member, and was not responsible for the killings.

"How is it a benefit to the memory of these three men to try to convict the wrong person?" Amparan asked reporters.

Ramos is scheduled to return to court Aug. 28 for a status hearing.

http://cbs5.com/local/ramos.gag.order.2.783739.html

Why to go

Judge Lucy McCabe denied a motion by attorneys for the murder suspect, 21-year-old Edwin Ramos, who were trying to impose a gag order in the case.

Public opinion is so great

Good let's keep this travesty in the light of the media.

Shine a bright light.

Ephesians 4:32

Originally Posted by GeorgiaPeach

Shine a bright light.

Ephesians 4:32

Amen sister

Ramos' attorney Robert Amparan protested Wednesday that police and prosecutors had been trying to taint a potential jury pool against his client by "disseminating false information" about Ramos, including information about his immigration status and prior juvenile record, as well as photographs of Ramos that appeared in media reports.

I was going to say bring him to Harris County but "we" already let off the ILLEGAL who murdered our Policeman by shooting him in the back until his weapon was empty; all because the felon ILLEGAL did not want to be deported AGAIN! His ILLEGAL EMPLOYER knowingly financed the ILLEGALS return to the United States realizing he had been legally DEPORTED.

A SF judge with some common sense? I thought you could never use San Francisco and common sense in the same sentence.

Gag this Gruesome Newsome is a murderer

Neither Newsome nor Villaraigosa are fit for any elected office in the United States.... I do hope there are enough voters with common sense left in CA and that these two irresponsible officials get unseated as soon as possible.

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