The tangled web is getting bigger and more sticky by the day…….
Something is really bothering me about the a representative from Miami-Dade School Police Department being in Orlando at the last State V. Zimmerman hearing. It just doesn’t sit right.
First, here is a recap [excerpt] from Orlando Sentinel’s Rene Stutzman: […] Paperwork made public today shows that attorneys for the prosecution and defense were in Miami Thursday and Friday and deposed 12 people, including Trayvon’s step-mother and cousin.
The names of all but one – Trayvon’s cousin – were not in the deposition notice.
It’s not clear who the others are or what they told attorneys.
But in court Tuesday, Assistant State Attorney Bernie de la Rionda referred to the sworn testimony of a Miami-Dade schools official.
[…] Trayvon was a junior at Dr. Michael Krops High School in Miami-Dade and was on suspension at the time because school officials found an empty marijuana baggie in his backpack.
On Oct. 19, over opposition from the state and Trayvon’s family, Circuit Judge Debra S. Nelson ordered the Miami-Dade school system to surrender Trayvon’s school records to defense attorneys.
On Tuesday, the judge signed a new order, requiring the school district to surrender all records and evidence related to a specific school incident in 2011. Her order, however, does not spell out the details of that incident, only its case number.
Trayvon’s family attorney, Benjamin Crump, did not respond to a phone call about the new order. Neither did defense attorney Mark O’Mara.
In the past Crump has called Trayvon’s school records irrelevant to the second-degree murder case. (link)
The court order Judge Nelson approved at the end of the hearing April 30th shows an immediate distribution method.
Perhaps a simple explanation, but the actual attendance of a representative of M-DSPD opens up a line of inquiry. Why were they there?
Think about it.
Obviously they, more than likely, had some prior knowledge to expect a procedural motion to that regard – perhaps from prior contact with Mark O’Mara or the defense team. Fine, that part makes sense – they would know such a motion would be considered.
But that still does not answer why someone representing M-DSPD, in such a capacity they would be afforded presentation of the court order itself, would drive 150 miles to attend a hearing on the order.
There was no reason for them to attend, they could just wait to get it delivered to them along with the person(s) presenting the request, the defense.
So someone, in the M-DSPD system, which includes the School Superintendent, Alberto Carvalho, and School Board, in an official capacity, had to instruct someone to drive to Orlando to represent them. Again, why?
What is their vested interest?
Such a decision would not have been made in the abstract without the prior considerations of “risk management” lending to the decision. But what is the risk, from their perspective?
What are they afraid of ?
The actual officers within the Miami-Dade School Police Department appear professional and diligent. The current leadership, Police Chief Kitchell, appears to covey the same sense of professionalism and approach. So where is the issue?
It appears to be fundamentally at the feet of School Superintendent, Alberto Carvalho, and perhaps the school board. Someone is definitely circling the wagons of protection in the aspect of Carvalho’s office. All signs and indicators point in his general direction.