I've often said a grand jury could indict a ham sandwich if they felt like it. I'll be surprised if it doesn't go to trial at this point. In fact flabengal told me that the powers that be were going to make sure it goes to trial.:shock:
change of venue... too much publicity about this matter in the area... course I'm not sure there's anywhere in the state of LA that hasn't had a deluge of media coverage about the incident. Hell, I was in Seattle when I heard about it..
And a DA with inconclusive evidence, conflicting witness statements, and uncorroborated testimony can take it before a grand jury and get no indictment. I think this DA is jumping through the hoops to avoid the appearance of favoring an LSU player. He's putting it all on the grand jury and they don't want it either. I don't think the DA throws any hardballs to indict Jefferson.
And, there's a saying about Grand Juries: "A (New York) Grand Jury would indict a ham sandwich" Hopefully this GJ will take inconclusive material and put it in the trash. --(Apologies to Shane0911...I just read thru the posts).
Not a lawyer here, but a grand jury is very powerful though they usually don't realize it. They, the grand jury, can ask any question they want, can ask for additional evidence, can summons others, etc., etc., etc. So, you are right, they DA can present what he pleases, but they can ask for more and, the old say, "a D. A. can indict a ham sandwich" may well be true, the grand jury has much, much power. They simply don't always know it.
But one must look at where the grand jury is 'pulled' from.. and those that actually serve without using one excuse or another to get out of their civic duty. (Assuming here that Louisiana uses registered voters as their 'pool' like other states I have lived in)
