Maybe the DA will get religion and will go after the deputy that caused this. Otherwise the states attorney or the county excutive may have to appoint a special prosecuter to sort out this miscarrage of justice.
Dinius Trial - verdict is IN
- Thread starter RichH
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As I see this, Dinius got screwed big time. He did nothing wrong and had to spend a considerable amount of $ to prove he was innocent, which is supposed to be presumed from the beginning. Sure, he was found blameless, but like it took a jury to determine that? Hello out there. This case is an outrage and only got as far as it did because the guilty party was a cop,and his buddies,abusing the system.
Just remember! It is not over 'til it's over.
That bastad may have seen a lot better days. If engough sailors contribute to his new case they can make his life miserable for many years to come.
That bastad may have seen a lot better days. If engough sailors contribute to his new case they can make his life miserable for many years to come.
Dinius must have astronomical legal bills. He may win some of that back in a suit, and he may not. In any case, he's definitely hurting right now. My yacht club - the Alameda Yacht Club - held a benefit dinner for him and raised around $350. If any of you on this list are in a yacht club, why don't you look into doing the same. Also, you can find on the Lattitude 38 link a place where individuals can make donations. I've sent some money on my own. Let's all put our money where our mouths are!
It is scarey how a corrupt DA can persecute an innocent man!!! If boatus had not been involved he would most probably been convicted. You have to have deep pockets to buy justice in the good ole USA. Heck with deep pockets you can buy injustice ...Look at the OJ simpson case. It is good to be rich in a corrupt country.
Ross, I'm not a lawyer, but there is governmental immunity that may apply here making any suit against the county difficult, unless they agree to be sued. Even then, juries are rightfully loath to award damages against a public employee in the course of their employment (unless, of course, it's Los Angeles....)
The deputy involved in the wreck was off duty and may be sued as a private citizen. If Dinius' attorney can demonstrate a conspiracy to conceal a crime Then there is grounds for a law suit. Maryland has a sovereign immunity law but suit is brought against the police regularly for abuse of power.
Between the forthcoming civil trial for damages and the inevitable "book deal", this guy has a good chance of quickly becoming richer than all of us combined
latest news is here-----
http://www.latitude38.com/lectronic/lectronicday.lasso?date=2009-08-21&dayid=315
http://www.latitude38.com/lectronic/lectronicday.lasso?date=2009-08-21&dayid=315
There is a very strong case that a cover up happened. It looks to be difficult if not impossibe the prove. No one has any proof the Perdock was drinking though. What is glaring is the fact that no one can say that he was operating at a safe speed. A jury of his peers found Dinus to be innocent of crimes. Perdock should have the same opportunity to be put on trial and judged to see if he indeed did anything illegal.
Higgs...
As I remember reading it in Boat/US's newsletter, Dinius was a guest aboard the sailboat in question and took the helm (a tiller) at the owner's request for the brief few minutes preceeding the accident. The DA went after him as the sailboat's boat driver when it was found that he had been drinking. The owner/captain had not been drinking and was the "captain in command", but not on the tiller at the time of impact.
The ramifications of such a shoddy prosecution should be a warning to us all who have guests aboard imbibing, but not doing so ourselves.
As I remember reading it in Boat/US's newsletter, Dinius was a guest aboard the sailboat in question and took the helm (a tiller) at the owner's request for the brief few minutes preceeding the accident. The DA went after him as the sailboat's boat driver when it was found that he had been drinking. The owner/captain had not been drinking and was the "captain in command", but not on the tiller at the time of impact.
The ramifications of such a shoddy prosecution should be a warning to us all who have guests aboard imbibing, but not doing so ourselves.
This story caught my attention.
In the 60's we had a place in Clearlake Highlands and often water-skied up the lake to Nice 15 miles away at night after a long day skiing and drinking. I think there was an island or point that you had to look out for. It was awful dark with few lights to mark the shore. I'm still amazed we never had an incident. There is no excuse for this type of behavior at any age.
Alcohol levels seem to be the focus in this case, why has there not been much discussion regarding right of way rules? Is this because the accident occurred on an inland lake?
In the 60's we had a place in Clearlake Highlands and often water-skied up the lake to Nice 15 miles away at night after a long day skiing and drinking. I think there was an island or point that you had to look out for. It was awful dark with few lights to mark the shore. I'm still amazed we never had an incident. There is no excuse for this type of behavior at any age.
Alcohol levels seem to be the focus in this case, why has there not been much discussion regarding right of way rules? Is this because the accident occurred on an inland lake?
The ramifications of such a shoddy prosecution should be a warning to us all who have really crooked DAs and testosterone-laden deputy sheriffs.
off the topic
while I agree with the general point made above, I think the comment on OJ is off this topic, which the administrator has stretched the rules (correctly, in my opinion) by allowing to continue. The OJ case has nothing to do with sailing, but since this comment was made, I have to ask: None of us here was in that court room, to my knowledge so how can we be so sure the jury was wrong? The only physical evidence against him was a bloody glove allegedly "found" by a committed racist who'd made hostile comments about black men and white women being together. What makes us so sure the verdict was unjust?
Re: off the topic
If we lose our trust in the jury then we lose everything. Reasonable doubt goes a long way to keeping the innocent out of prison. Yes ,sometimes the guilty go free but usually their behavior lands them in trouble again.
If we lose our trust in the jury then we lose everything. Reasonable doubt goes a long way to keeping the innocent out of prison. Yes ,sometimes the guilty go free but usually their behavior lands them in trouble again.
George- it's quite simple-
Alcohol levels seem to be the focus in this case, why has there not been much discussion regarding right of way rules? Is this because the accident occurred on an inland lake?
The DA ignored the actual accident in filing charges, and charged Dinius with Boating under the influence, the only charge he had a prayer of getting a conviction on.... the judge actually refused to let the defense admit boating rules and colregs, as it had nothing to do with BUI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You can bet your last dollar that those rules will be guiding the civil jury when the civil trial comes to pass!!!!
cup
Alcohol levels seem to be the focus in this case, why has there not been much discussion regarding right of way rules? Is this because the accident occurred on an inland lake?
The DA ignored the actual accident in filing charges, and charged Dinius with Boating under the influence, the only charge he had a prayer of getting a conviction on.... the judge actually refused to let the defense admit boating rules and colregs, as it had nothing to do with BUI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You can bet your last dollar that those rules will be guiding the civil jury when the civil trial comes to pass!!!!
cup
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