(I chose not to post this until after Thanksgiving was over……)
I mean, if I lie in testimony to a court or in a deposition, am I not committing perjury?
If you read the testimonies in the Mike Brown case, there were quite a few who outright lied….the forensic evidence shows that their testimony was a lie. Some admitted that the “embellished” the parts they witnessed. Others admitted that they weren’t present for much (or any) of the incident.
Now… I have to wonder why no one is (as far as we know) being charged with perjury? Is it just because this is a touchy political and ethnically charged situation?
I mean, some of the testimony accuses Officer Wilson of executing Mr. Brown by shooting him in (depending on the the witness) either in the back as he was running away (with and/or without his hands up) or in the back of the head (one accuser said they witnessed 10 shots!) while he lay on the ground.
I realize that many black people in that neighborhood really hate white people in general (and white COPS specifically)….but this testimony would pout a cop in jail for murder. I realize that the killing of a black 18 year old enrages the black population, and that they would, if they could, lynch the man who did it….for whatever reason. All they see is black and white and cop. They really don’t care why or what the situation that made it happen.
But really, shouldn’t perjury be a crime? Shouldn’t these people be charged with giving a false statement that could, potentially have put Officer Wilson in jail for murder? Shouldn’t they be facing the penalty for perjury? If not, why should anyone ever tell the truth?