Jackson Free Press

As attorneys for Mayor Frank Melton prepared to mount their defense today, prosecutors protested to the judge that the defense had not provided adequate discovery on some of its witnesses. Judge Joe Webster ruled that all testimony about drug activity must be limited to 1305 Ridgeway Street. He also ruled that no evidence of drug activity before Melton became mayor on July 1, 2005, would be allowed in the trial.

Previous Comments

ID

127618

Comment

oh snap!

Author

LawClerk

Date

2007-04-25T08:29:59-06:00

ID

127619

Comment

That is still too much leeway. What about all the drugs that have been in and out of Melton's house through his minions?

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-04-25T08:40:00-06:00

ID

127620

Comment

I wouldn't doubt if this guy has worked for Melton or one of Melton's close associates. Russell Carr.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-04-25T08:40:52-06:00

ID

127621

Comment

this guy? who?

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-04-25T08:46:12-06:00

ID

127622

Comment

Sorry, his name is Smith....

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-04-25T08:46:54-06:00

ID

127623

Comment

There is a poll on wjtv that asks if the house was really a drug house, should melton have torn it down? And most people say yes. That just baffles me. Melton needs to be sued civilly hard core, along with the city and the two cops after this trial. I hope Sweet takes them to the cleaners. The nice thing about a civil trial, is that if Melton wins, the other side can appeal, and can take this OUT of Jackson....

Author

LawClerk

Date

2007-04-25T08:47:59-06:00

ID

127624

Comment

Ouch! I wish I could hear what they're asking now. PC is too slow.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-04-25T08:49:21-06:00

ID

127625

Comment

Confidential informant Mr. Smith... ;-)

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-04-25T08:50:39-06:00

ID

127626

Comment

"There is a poll on wjtv that asks if the house was really a drug house, should melton have torn it down? And most people say yes. That just baffles me." You have to keep in mind that their viewing area is from Hattiesburg to the Delta so there are a lot of people replying and as we have seen there a lot of positive comments about him outside of Jackson, specifically because they don't have to deal with it. I'm sure that if it was open to only the people of Jackson, the review would be totally different. I sort of base this on a friend that works there and was telling me about the share your thoughts that they have. 90% of the people who like Melton come from outside of Jackson and 90% of the people who wish Melton would just go away (far, far away) are from Jackson. It boils down to he's ok when he's not your problem.

Author

Puck

Date

2007-04-25T08:55:14-06:00

ID

127627

Comment

LawClerk, I just posted the results of that poll on another thread. I'll put it here, too. WJTV Web Poll: Current survey results for 682 entries Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding If the house on Ridgeway St. was a drug house as Mayor Melton claims, do you think he was justified in trying to tear it down? [color=red]Yes 390 57%[/color] [color=blue]No 292 42%[/color] Note: This poll is not scientific and reflects the opinions of only those Internet users who have chosen to participate. The results cannot be assumed to represent public opinion.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-04-25T08:55:29-06:00

ID

127628

Comment

This guy is a joke! Like the jury should trust a confidential informant for Marcus Wright, who wasn't even on Vice once the mayor came into office. Also, the Ridgeway house is the "biggest drug house" as compared to what Mr. Carr? The testimony is too played-up.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-04-25T08:59:16-06:00

ID

127629

Comment

we haven't gotten around to cross examination

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-04-25T09:03:01-06:00

ID

127630

Comment

Good points, pikersam. That's been a criticism of the mayor all along - that he doesn't look globally at the entire city & show us how to fight crime. Instead he targets very particular people and places, with little factual info backing up his claims. To me this whole trial is sad because in part it reflects that certain areas of Jackson are so poverty and drug filled that folks *are* willing to part with their constitutional rights just to feel like they're getting some attention from the powers that be. THAT is why Melton has popularity in Jackson still.

Author

Izzy

Date

2007-04-25T09:03:37-06:00

ID

127631

Comment

>>>>Current survey results for 682 entries Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding If the house on Ridgeway St. was a drug house as Mayor Melton claims, do you think he was justified in trying to tear it down? Yes 390 57% No 292 42%<<<< LW OK, if this is the case... wouldn't Melton's house qualify as a drug house? And therefore, shouldn't it be torn down as well?

Author

Missy

Date

2007-04-25T09:04:58-06:00

ID

127632

Comment

"When you have the facts, argue the facts. When you have the law, argue the law. When you have neither the facts nor the law, pound on the table." Ahhhh... the pounding hurts my ears!

Author

LawClerk

Date

2007-04-25T09:05:37-06:00

ID

127633

Comment

Why are they on break? What happened when all the feeds dropped out? BTW: they have the worst internet production person EVAR! This is not rocket science, and if the three stations have messed this up because they can't "work together" then phooey on them!

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-04-25T09:06:52-06:00

ID

127634

Comment

OK, if this is the case... wouldn't Melton's house qualify as a drug house? And therefore, shouldn't it be torn down as well? If Melton gets off on this one and someone did take a wrecking ball to 2 Carter's Grove, I don't think the police do could anything about it since a legal precedent was set.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-04-25T09:24:04-06:00

ID

127635

Comment

LOL! I hope the jury sees through the defense, and the manipulation of documents, police, witnesses, etc...

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-04-25T10:41:17-06:00

ID

127636

Comment

i 'm a member of cade chapel, and the entire congregation does not support frank blunson or rev buckley in the defense of frank

Author

sistergirl

Date

2007-04-25T12:07:41-06:00