Jim Bell Trial: Fourth Day (fwd)

[Ken Brown]

auto211076 at hushmail.com wrote:
> 
> Fourth Day:  Jim Bell Trial
> 

[...]

> London asked Gordon if he carried a gun.  Gordon replied that he did.  London:
>  "Why are you afraid of this guy?  You're carrying a gun and he isn't."
>  "He's strongly advocated the assassination of IRS agents."  Gordon also
> cited Bell's chemistry background, the fact that he went to MIT

Having been to MIT is evidence that someone is a threat? Knowing about
science is reason to suspect someone of crime?  All over the world geeks
& nerds and stereotyped sad men in short-sleeved shirts with pens in
their top pockets are trembling with glee. Hey, we're *dangerous* !
Someone takes us seriously! Federal agents are scared of us!  All those
long evenings of staying up late playing D&D and listening to "Bat out
of Hell" and watching Arnie videos and finally someone realises that we
are seriously scary! 

Hey, I was at the Durham University Botany department in the mid-1970s.
*And* I'm doing a course in microbiology right now.  Look on my lab
reports ye mighty, and despair!  Oh, and Mr. Agent, you wouldn't believe
what I know about degenerating gradient gel electrophoresis that you
don't. I've got an Eppendorf and I know how to use it!

[...]
 
> Leen told Tanner that all of Bell's discovery notes were at Seatac; that
> Seatac would not release the notes without a court order, and that the counsellor
> who would release the notes doesn't work on the weekend.  Leen asked for
> an opportunity to recover the notes.  Tanner refused.

Is this normal in US courts? Is it as biased and unfair as it sounds on
the face of it?

[...]

Ken Brown