Archives

Amanda Knox Verdict Reversed

By Art Harris, The Bald Truth, (c) www.artharris.com, all rights reserved

Amanda Knox was acquitted today of a murder in Italy that gripped Americans, putting Italian justice on trial as its court of appeals threw out her earlier conviction, ruling contaminated DNA evidence had wrongly put her behind bars for four years.

As the judge in Perugia, Italy announced she was free, she seemed to slump in shock, as the appeals court dismissed a 26 year prison sentence that went along with the conviction for the murder of her British roommate Meredith Kercher.

Knox insisted she was innocent, said Italian police had twisted her statements during 50 hours of grueling and virtually framed her and her boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, for slashing the throat of a fellow student who had treated her kindly. Read the rest of this entry »

Marine Sgt. Dakota Meyer with President Obama

By Art Harris, The Bald Truth, (c) www.artharris.com, all rights reserved

When you hear what Marine Sgt. Dakota Meyer did on the battlefield in remote Eastern Afghanistan, it sounds like some Hollywood war movie gone wild, written by a screenwriter who had to be smoking something. But it’s not.

Two years ago, then Cpl. Meyer, later promoted, was 21 when he ignored orders to play it safe and set out in the dark in a soon to be bullet-riddled Humvee to rescue fellow Marines and Afghan fighters pinned down or wounded by withering Taliban fire that decimated his unit.

Standing by Meyer Thursday, President Obama read the hero’s tale, which just sounded so Super Heroic, some may have wondered, could one Marine do all THAT? To hear him tell it, a young corporal heard Marines radio for help after they were ambushed a mile away, ignored officers’ orders to stay put, that it was too dangerous, and raced into the “kill zone” to haul out the wounded, the bleeding and dying. Not once, not twice…but 5 TIMES. In all Meyer rescued 23 Afghans and 13 Americans. Read the rest of this entry »

By Art Harris, The Bald Truth, (c) www.artharris.com, all rights reserved

As a cub reporter, I covered the King’s funeral after he died of a drug overdose on Aug. 16, 1977, and tromped through Memphis woods to dodge security and get a closer look, then returned for the first anniversary of Elvis Presley’s birthday, Jan. 8…

Both dates are sacred pop culture days to remember, to mourn and celebrate for millions of fans who consider Memphis Mecca and virtually deify Elvis, a lightning rod for that Nascar demo of voters no Presidential candidate can do without.

But Michele Bachmann (R-Mn.) may have to after blowing a shameless, no brainer attempt to align the heart of her candidacy with America’s bedrock voters, Elvis fans, calling for an all-out, Hound Dog, Blue Suede appreciation of the King on his Birthday… Read the rest of this entry »

By Art Harris, The Bald Truth, (c) artharris.com, all rights reserved

It took O. J. Simpson’s Los Angeles jury four hours to reach a verdict in the 1995 double murder case against the football star-turned actor—Not Guilty.

It took the Casey Anthony jury twice as long –10 hours – to find her NOT guilty of murder one…and all counts related to killing her two year old daughter, another celebrity trial where a speedy verdict spelled acquital for murder.

In both cases, a jury backed who they saw as the underdog. In Simpson’s case, lawyer Johnny Cochran’s played on the strained feelings between the African American community and the LAPD, OJ as underdog…In Casey Anthony’s case, Jose Baez portrayed her as a molestation victim, proved her parents liars and pokeD holes in prosecution experts to create reasonable doubt…A defendant ganged up on in a country that embraces underdogs and redeemed sinners.

Anthony was found guilty on the lesser charge of lying to a law enforcement officer, and could be released as early as Thursday and given credit for time served, her lawyer, Cheney Mason said, for a charge that carries a likely prison term shorter than time she’s already spent in the Orange County Florida jail.

“Her lies worked,” said one TV pundit, as shockwaves spread from the courtroom to the Orlando streets. Crowds waving anti-Casey signs and demanding “Justice for Caylee” were transformed into a sort of Zombie-shuffle, a scene earily reminiscent of the quiet shock, then public outcry in white America after Simpson acquital split the nation along racial lines. Read the rest of this entry »