Divided by a Common Language - Getting emotional

 

Being unemployed, I sit around at home a lot with the news channels on.

I was shocked by King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg’s press conference detailing the charges against a Mr Monfort, who had killed a Police Officer in Seattle, Washington.  Although he started well, praising the Police Officers for their bravery and the public for help in finding the alleged killer, I think he used too much emotive language describing the charges.

Please don’t think that I am in any way siding with Mr Monfort, or that I don’t think that the murder of Officer Brenton was a tragic event.  

I just think that the Prosecutor has an ethical responsibility to leave emotive language out of a press statement, especially one before a trial.  I simply cannot see how a jury can be selected that isn’t prejudiced after this press conference.

I have copied, for contrast, the transcript of a Scotland Yard press conference held after a terrorist bomb attack in London.

I have underlined what I consider to be overemotional language in both press statements.

EXTRACTS FROM SATTERBERG’S PRESS CONFERENCE

Today we have charged Christopher Monfort with 5 separate criminal charges:

• 1 count of aggravated first degree murder for the murder of Officer Brenton
• 1 count of attempted first degree murder for his attack on Officer Sweeney
• 1 count of arson in the first degree and attempted first degree murder for his attack and his booby trap that he laid at the Charles Street facility, and
• 1 count of attempted first degree murder for trying to kill Sgt Nelson on the day of his arrest.

If convicted of aggravated first degree murder – the murder of Office Brenton – the defendant faces one of two possible penalties:

• Life in prison, without possibility of release, or
• The death penalty.

...

Today our public peace officers can take a deep breath and relax – just a bit – before they put on their uniforms and go about serving the citizens of this community.

Today the friends and family of Officer Brenton can properly mourn their loss, knowing that other Officers are not at risk from a known assassin. 

...

In the end, dedicated Police Investigators, working as a team with the citizens they serve, were able to put an end to the defendant’s war on law enforcement.

...

Our charges today allege that Christopher Monfort is responsible for planning and executing a one man war against the Seattle Police Dept.  The evidence that we will ultimately present at trial will show that Monfort is responsible for a series of attacks aimed at the Seattle Police Dept, resulting in the murder of a dedicated Police Officer, and the attempted murder of other officers.

First we allege that, in the early morning of October 22^nd, Monfort broke into the City of Seattle Vehicle Maintenance Yard (located on Charles Street, just South of this building) and, inside that lot, Monfort stared a fire in a Seattle Police Mobile Precinct Vehicle – one of those large vehicles that was parked at that scene.

But Monfort’s goal was not simply to cause property damage.  He had placed a number of home made bombs under nearby patrol cars that were fused to explode after the Mobile Precinct Vehicle caught on fire.   The initial fire was deliberately to lure the first responders in to fight that fire within the range of those bombs that were set underneath the gas tanks of nearby patrol cars.  The intent was clearly to kill those officers and first responders.  

We allege that Monfort’s intent to kill at the Charles Street Maintenance Yard is made even more clear by several notes that he left at the scene.  In these notes that Monfort left near the fire – so that investigators would find later – he declared that, quote, “these deaths” were the result of his anger over acts of Police brutality.   And he further warned the Police that they, quote, “better get ready to attend a lot more Police funerals,” unquote.

His anger towards Police was punctuated by a large hunting knife, with an American flag fixed to the handle, which was plunged through the roof of a patrol car.

Second we allege that, just nine days later, Monfort fulfilled his threats to kill with a much simpler and more cold-blooded attack.  At approximately 9:45 on Halloween night, Monfort sat in his 1980 Datsun 210 hatchback, watching and waiting for Officer Timothy Brenton and Trainee Officer Britt Sweeney to finish conducting a routine traffic stop.  He continued to watch and wait as the officers parked their car at 29^th and Yesler.  Unaware that they were being stalked, Officer Brenton went about the business of a diligent field training officer, teaching Officer Sweeney the art of good policing. 

We allege that Monfort then drove his car up to the driver’s side of the marked Seattle Police Officer Patrol Vehicle, and immediately opened fire with a high powered rifle.   From just a few feet away, he shot directly at the Officers, killing Officer Brenton immediately, and wounding Officer Sweeney. 

And with the same cold precision with which he approached his victims, Monfort reversed his car, to turn around in a nearby driveway.   But, before he sped from the scene, we allege that he dropped an American Flag bandana out the window.  The same calling card that he had left at the Charles Street scene.

Finally, as the Memorial Service for Officer Brenton was underway at Key Arena on the afternoon of November 6^th, we allege that Monfort was making plans for yet another showdown with Police.  His Tuckwila apartment was stockpiled with at least three high powered rifles, including the one used to kill Officer Brenton.  Also, he had a pistol grip shotgun and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and numerous explosive devices. 

His arsenal of weapons suggested both that he was ready to continue his attacks, and that he was preparing to make a final armed stand should he be discovered.  As most of their colleagues were honoring Officer Brenton at Key Arena that afternoon, three members of the Seattle Police Dept – two Sergeants and a Detective – were outside of Monfort’s apartment in unmarked Police cars.  They’d received a tip from a concerned citizen who had recognized that Monfort’s 1980 Datsun V210 was now covered by a tarp, and that it resembled the car that Police were looking for in connection with the Halloween murders. 

When Monfort left his second floor unit, the plainclothes Officers identified themselves and asked to speak with him.  Monfort started to run towards his apartment, simultaneously turning and producing a handgun.  He ducked into a stairwell.  As one of the Officers, Detective Sgt Gary Nelson, ran after him, Monfort aimed his gun directly at Sgt Nelson and pulled the trigger. 

The gun did not fire.

It was fully loaded, but Monfort had apparently failed to chamber a round, and this oversight saved the life of the pursuing Police Officer, who was standing only a few feet away. 

Monfort ran further, this time chambering a round into his handgun.  He ran directly to his apartment, where guns, home made bombs, grenades, barricades and booby traps were strategically placed and ready. 

But, just before Monfort could reach his apartment door, Officers caught up to him.  Again he pulled his handgun and turned to fire – but Officers fired first, dropping Monfort just steps from his apartment.

Monfort was hit in the stomach and in the face.  He is currently in a stable condition in the hospital, and is expected to recover to face these charges. 

Investigative Officers later searched the defendant’s apartment.  Not only did they find several guns, including the high powered rifle used to murder Officer Brenton, but they found a number of home made bombs, and bomb making material – an intent to kill. 

Police discovered a bomb with a fuse connected to the kitchen stove, ready to explode at the turn of a dial.  They also found hand grenade-type bombs, built with very short fuses, filled with nails and wire, that could be lit and thrown at Officers. 

They also discovered a wall of automobile tires stacked near the entrance of the apartment.  These were mounted on rims, clearly designed to act as a barricade and as a bunker for an impending standoff. 

The evidence that’s outlined in the Certificate for Determination of Probable Cause that supports these charges today sets forth in even greater detail the fruits of this extraordinary investigation.  These details include a ballistics match between the rifle found at the Monfort apartment and the slugs recovered from the murder scene of Officer Brenton.  The details also describe a DNA profile match.  A match between Monfort’s profile, DNA found off the American flag bandana and the American flag left hanging at the Charles Street bombing. 

SCOTLAND YARD PRESS CONFERENCE

Press conference 25 July, 14:50

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke, Metropolitan Police Service Anti-Terrorist Branch said: 

"A few days ago we made a public appeal. The appeal was for help in identifying the four men we needed to urgently trace in connection with the attempts to set off four bombs on the transport system in London, last Thursday the 21st July. 

We still want to question them about the incidents at the Oval, Shepherd's Bush and Warren Street underground stations, and on a Route 26 bus in Hackney Road, at the junction with Colombia Road. 

I can tell you that since Thursday there have been developments in the investigation. 

I hope that by setting out some of what we have been able to learn over the past few days, the public may be able to contribute even more to the progress of the investigation. 

Three of the men we wish to trace all entered Stockwell underground station just before 12.25pm, last Thursday, 21st July 2005. 

The first man got onto a Northern line northbound train and shortly afterwards attempted to set off a bomb between Stockwell and Oval stations. The train stopped at Oval station and he was then chased from the station by extraordinarily brave members of the public who tried to detain him. He left the Oval station at about 12.35pm and ran along Brixton Road, towards Brixton. He went into Normandy Road, Cowley Road, Gosling Way, where at the junction with Mostyn Gardens, he threw away his top with the New York logo. He then went into Cancell Road, Frederick Crescent and Langton Road. He was last seen at a quarter to one in Tindall Street. 

The second man also went into Stockwell underground station. He was seen walking towards the platforms. We know that at 12.53 he got on a number 26 Bus in the Bank area of the City. He was carrying a grey & black rucksack and sat on a seat towards the back of the bus with the bag next to him. He too tried to set off a bomb. He got off the bus in Hackney Road at about five past one. 

We now believe the man on the bus who attempted to set off the bomb to be: 

Muktar SAID-IBRAHIM, also known as Muktar Mohammed-Said. We believe he was associated with, and has recently visited, 58 Curtis House in Ladderswood Way, London, N11. He is 27 years old and today I am also releasing another photograph of this man. 

As I speak we are currently searching a number of addresses in London including 58 Curtis House. 

A third man entered Stockwell underground station at the same time as the others with a small purple rucksack. He tried to set off a bomb on a northbound Victoria line train between Oxford Circus and Warren Street underground stations. Shortly afterwards, at about 12.40pm he was seen without the rucksack in Warren Street station. He then left the booking hall by vaulting over the ticket barrier and running towards the exit. We believe this man to be Yasin Hassan OMAR. He is 24 years-old. 

A fourth man involved in this series of attacks entered Westbourne Park underground station just after 12.20pm last Thursday. He was wearing a dark blue baseball cap and carrying a small rucksack. He then got on a train travelling towards Shepherds Bush. A short while later he too tried to set off a bomb. He then got off the train, probably by climbing through a window at the end of the carriage. He then made his way along the track for about two to three hundred yards, before climbing down into back gardens and making good his escape. He went along McFarlane Road, past the BBC building in Wood Lane, and was last seen running under the A40. 

Initial forensic examination of the four partially detonated devices has revealed clear similarities with yet another bomb which was found by a member of the public on Saturday 23rd July. This had apparently been abandoned in an open area at Little Wormwood Scrubs, in west London. 

All five of these bombs had been placed inside dark coloured rucksacks or sports bags. All of them were made using the same type of plastic food storage container. These were manufactured in India, and are exported through one company into this country and then sold in approximately 100 outlets across the United Kingdom. The type we are interested in is this six and a quarter litre sized container with a white plastic lid. It has a label describing it as a "Delta 6250 with Lid", and also has another coloured label with the description "Family Containers, Delta, Superior Quality." Please note that we are only interested in the white lid variety. They are also produced in other colours. 

My appeal is to any shop keepers and shop workers who may have sold five or more of these identical food containers in recent months, perhaps to the same customer. Do you remember selling a number of these white topped containers at the same time? Do you remember selling them to men you perhaps recognise from the CCTV images we have released?

I would appeal to anyone who has information about where these men currently are should immediately call 999 for an emergency urgent police response. The public should not approach them. 

Anyone who believes they know the identities of these men, or has any other information about them or their movements should contact the confidential Anti-Terrorist Hotline on XXX XXXXX."