The trial of James Sullivan

[Kane]

For those of you who are familiar with James Sullivan, you're probably aware that his trial has begun. UM profiled Florida millionaire in 2001, because he was wanted for the 1987 murder of his wife Lita. In 2002, he was arrested in Thailand.

Nancy Grace is following the trial on her evening show at CNN Headline News. As you know, she was a prosecutor for a good number of years. She had considered handling the James Sullivan case, but was advised to wait until it progressed to the point where there would be enough evidence to charge Sullivan. Ultimately, her chance to prosecute the case never materialized. (Her show airs weeknights at 8:00 PM Eastern Time, and is repeated at 10:00 PM and 1:00 AM, also Eastern Time.)

[nohwheregirl]

I hope this guy gets exactly what he deserves. I'd love to follow the trial, but I just can't stand Nancy Grace!! I'll have to find an alternative source, I guess...it shouldn't be too difficult

[Kane]

Originally Posted by nohwheregirl

I hope this guy gets exactly what he deserves. I'd love to follow the trial, but I just can't stand Nancy Grace!! I'll have to find an alternative source, I guess...it shouldn't be too difficult

Well, she undoubtedly comes off as tough, so she's kind of the Michael Savage of legal analysis: She pulls no punches.

But I give her credit for displaying photos of wanted fugitives on her show.

[Awsi Dooger]

Originally Posted by nohwheregirl

I hope this guy gets exactly what he deserves. I'd love to follow the trial, but I just can't stand Nancy Grace!! I'll have to find an alternative source, I guess...it shouldn't be too difficult

Excellent handicapping, nohwheregirl. In Nancy Grace's world, the ham sandwich not only can be indicted, it is guilty. She's the same tunnelvision genius who had Richard Ricci, the original supsect in the Elizabeth Smart kidnapping, guilty as charged based on the mileage on his car.

Here's a link regarding Nancy Grace's legal career, including three scoldings from the Georgia Supreme Court: http://www.law.com/article.jsp.htm

"Nancy Grace, the host of a self-titled legal show on CNN Headline News, "played fast and loose" with her ethical duties as a Fulton County, Ga., prosecutor in 1990, a federal appeals panel has declared."

"The three-judge panel on Monday criticized Grace for not following her obligations to disclose to the defendant's lawyer information about other possible suspects. The 11th Circuit also agreed with a magistrate who found it hard to believe that Grace did not knowingly use a detective's false testimony that there were no other suspects."

"This is the third time Grace's conduct as a prosecutor has been criticized by an appellate court.

In 1997, the Georgia Supreme Court skewered Grace for her actions in prosecuting Weldon Wayne Carr for allegedly setting fire to his house and murdering his wife. Carr later was freed when Fulton prosecutors waited too long to bring him up for a retrial. While the court reversed Carr's 1994 conviction for other reasons, the justices said Grace withheld evidence entitled to the defense and made improper opening statements and closing arguments.

"We conclude that the conduct of the prosecuting attorney in this case demonstrated her disregard of the notions of due process and fairness, and was inexcusable," wrote then Chief Justice Robert Benham. Carr v. State, 267 Ga. 701 (1997).

In 1994, the Georgia high court voted 6-1 to reverse a heroin trafficking conviction won by Grace because she "exceeded the wide latitude of closing argument" by referring to drug-related murders and serial rape, which were not at issue. Bell v. State, 263 Ga. 776 (1994)."

[jeeps]

Originally Posted by Awsi Dooger

Excellent handicapping, nohwheregirl. In Nancy Grace's world, the ham sandwich not only can be indicted, it is guilty.

You're the best Awsi...the absolute best!

[Kane]

If he's found guilty, I too hope he gets what he deserves. Nineteen years is a long time, especially when it comes to escaping justice. But I take some comfort in knowing that what you don't pay now you'll pay later.

[Awsi Dooger]

Originally Posted by jeeps

You're the best Awsi...the absolute best!

Many thanks, jeeps!

And after this topic popped up yesterday I thought it was ironic today that Keith Olbermann focused on Nancy Grace during his show on MSNBC. Apparently, Grace has completely altered the facts regarding the murder of her fiance 25 years ago, in an attempt to dramatize the impact it had on her choice of profession. Understand, I'm not trying to diminish a murder in the slightest, nor the impact it undoubtedly had on Nancy Grace's life. My best friend was murdered two years ago this week and it still numbs me. But according to the source Olbermann quoted, virtually everything Nancy Grace has maintained regarding the specifics of the murder is not even close to the truth. I don't have a link, but once a transcript of Olbermann's show is available on the MSNBC website I'll post the related details in this thread.

[Awsi Dooger]

Here's the partial transcript from Wednesday's Countdown with Keith Olbermann on MSNBC, regarding Nancy Grace's account of the murder of her fiance: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11638354/

"But tonight's winner, speaking of photo shops, Nancy Grace of CNN's “Headline News.” For years she's openly spoken of the murder of her fiance’ when she was 19 and how it set her on her career path, whatever her career is actually. She has always said that man was shot five times by a stranger with a long rap sheet for the $35 he had in his wallet. The murderer denied any involvement. She had to live thought a series of painful appeals and thus (defense) lawyers are devils.

"The “New York Observer” reports today that the record show Grace's fiance’ was in fact shot by a former co-worker who had no prior convictions, who confessed the night he was arrested, who didn't get the death penalty because he was mildly ********, and oh by the way the man never appealed his conviction. Padding the story of the murder of your fiance, Nancy Grace. Today's worst person in the world."

[Mr.Clairvoyant]

Yes as a matter of fact Court TV's Dominick Dunne profiled the James Sullivan case a few weeks ago on his show. From what I hear the Jurors are going to deliberate the fate of this coward starting today.. and I hope they give him what is coming to him.. I hope he never sees the light of day again.. 19 years a family has had to suffer, I think it is high time that he does a little suffering himself!

[Kane]

Originally Posted by Awsi Dooger

"The “New York Observer” reports today that the record show Grace's fiance’ was in fact shot by a former co-worker who had no prior convictions, who confessed the night he was arrested, who didn't get the death penalty because he was mildly ********, and oh by the way the man never appealed his conviction. Padding the story of the murder of your fiance, Nancy Grace. Today's worst person in the world."

On his radio talk show, just two nights ago, Michael Savage briefly mentioned her. He dubbed her Nancy Graceless.

[Saitoh8067]

On the subject of Nancy Grace, if you go to the archives of the New Republic Magazine and search for her name there's a fantastic article about her disgracing the legal profession (as if it hadn't been denigrated enough) with the aptly named title "Trial by Fury" -enjoy all.

[Awsi Dooger]

Nancy Grace was at her disgraceful worst Tuesday night, during discussion of the DNA evidence report on the Jeffrey MacDonald case. I don't remember being so enraged at a commentator's performance.

The result is obviously bad for MacDonald from a perception standpoint. A hair of his was supposedly linked via DNA to being on his daughter's body. But a second hair in the finger nails of a daughter did not match MacDonald or anyone else.

Beyond predictable, Nancy Grace unleashed a frantic high decibel mocking assault as if this conclusively solved the case. Her knowledge of probability was incompetent at best. Finding the father's hair on a daughter. Wow. I wonder if he ever came into contact with her that day? I did spring cleaning a couple of weeks ago and I was finding hairs all over the place, including under the keyboard of this laptop.

She used an incomparably scary assessment, but one that fits her ongoing theme. "In our justice system, it's not what is possible, it's what is probable." Oh really? Is that in the judge's instructions, "make sure to convict if you think it's probable." Are we missing a key phrase there? But that's what maddens me beyond belief after years of studying these true crime shows, especially when they're featuring prosecutors with the mindset or capability level of a Nancy Grace. They truly believe that probable is all that should be required, that if 100 similar cases were out there the most likely overall scenario should rule the verdict in each case.

[synthisislab]

That Nancy Grace is like a rabid poodle grandstander. Just what our injustice system needs. I also can't stand that hispanic girl that was a correspondent on the Nancy Grace Show during the Scott Peterson trial that parlayed that gig into her own TV Show where she jumps to conclusions as well. In their world everyone is guilty who is accused of a crime until proven innocent. Even then, it was the defense attorney's fault for getting them off even if they are actually innocent. It's scary to know that there are attorneys and judges out there like that who make up their mind before learning all of the facts of the case. I can't believe there are morons out there who are brainwashed by these 2 and don't see through them.

[Kane]

James Sullivan has been convicted of Lita's murder, and has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/14100028.htm