Reliable witnesses. Are there any?

[xoggoth]

More rioting in the US over a cop shooting a black teenager and probably another in the pipeline. Reading this about all the different stories of what happened one wonders how they can find out the truth about anything:

Michael Brown shootings: This is what prosecutors think happened in Ferguson - Americas - World - The Independent

Possible some are racially biased and inventing things but more likely witnesses are plain unreliable. Went to an identification parade myself after an armed robbery in South London in the late 70s. He was a little bloke, about 5' 6", and, apart from the fact that he looked familiar, he made it quite obvious it was him by glaring angrily. But I had told the police he was about 5' 10" so had to say I wasn't sure. When you are peering over a car at a bloke waving a gun, it's not easy to be accurate.

Makes you wonder how they caught anyone before CCTV and DNA testing.

[BrilloPad]

Makes you wonder how they caught anyone before CCTV and DNA testing.

They were fitted up. Life was so much easier then.

Interesting how when anyone is under stress their memory totally goes.

I often think that police should be fitted with CCTV. Except that they would turn them off at the critical moments.

[mudskipper]

They were fitted up. Life was so much easier then.

Interesting how when anyone is under stress their memory totally goes.

I often think that police should be fitted with CCTV. Except that they would turn them off at the critical moments.

They're talking about doing that.

[SueEllen]

I often think that police should be fitted with CCTV. Except that they would turn them off at the critical moments.

A bit of a law change leading to a few lost jobs and a conviction would stop that.

[mudskipper]

Can't believe that with all those witnesses, no-one filmed it on their mobile phone.

[xoggoth]

I often think that police should be fitted with CCTV. Except that they would turn them off at the critical moments

Great idea for a story. Police fitted with, not just cameras, but also Google Goggle type intelligent devices to enable them to exchange real time info over the net, pictures of suspects etc. Cop shoots dead a load of armed terrorists in a shopping Mall. Removes his goggles to see lots of dead shoppers and thinks "Damn it, I forgot to switch off my World of Warcraft game after my tea break"

[SueEllen]

Makes you wonder how they caught anyone before CCTV and DNA testing.

Hmmm linky

[darmstadt]

They're talking about doing that.

As indeed they are: CCTV Britain: Police to be fitted with body-worn cameras - Home Affairs

[xoggoth]

Linky

Why death penalties are a bad idea. Not bothered about real cold blooded killers being got rid of but too many innocents might be executed. Plus, if there was a death penalty, would juries be less willing to convict? Might make us less safe, not more.