Matt Corwin Update 10/30/07

[WolfMansDad]

Last week's hearing (on 10/24) resulted in another postponement. The next hearing is scheduled for November 13th.

These are pre-prelim. conferences, for those of you who know how the process works. Matt's attorneys meet with the prosecution - in this case the DAs office - to work out which charges will go forward and which will be dropped. Both sides want to close the case without going to trial, since trials eat up huge amounts of both time and money. However, both sides also want to win, so negotiations happen. If both sides can't come to an agreement by the end of a given conference, then the case gets postponed, and they agree to meet again a few weeks hence.

Now, I'm about to bust a gut to tell you what I think this all means, but it's best if I just keep my mouth shut and let TMLLP do their job. In any event, speculating on an open forum with the case still open is a bad idea. The very best thing we can do now is keep sending money so that Matt can see this fight through to the end.

On a different note, Heidi, the person at Trutanich-Michel who has been handling Matt's funds, has experienced a tragedy in her family. If we could send sympathy cards or flowers, that would probably mean a lot to her. She's been very good to us through this whole business.

Checks for Matt's defense fund should be made payable to Trutanich-Michel Trust Fund, with "Matthew Corwin Legal Defense Fund" listed on the subject line. Mail them to

Trutanich-Michel LLP
180 E. Ocean Blvd., Ste 200
Long Beach, CA 90802

Cards for Heidi can be sent to the same address.

If you have questions, you can contact the firm at

Tel (562) 216-4444
Fax (562) 216-4445

https://www.tmllp.com

You can also make contributions through paypal. PM user 69Mach1 for details on that.

WMD

[Clodbuster]

The process sounds rather open ended. Is there a limit to how many conference rounds there? You can be negotiating for years and never reach a consensus.

Clod

Last week's hearing (on 10/24) resulted in another postponement. The next hearing is scheduled for November 13th.

If both sides can't come to an agreement by the end of a given conference, then the case gets postponed, and they agree to meet again a few weeks hence.

WMD

[jmlivingston]

Thanks for the update on Matt!

John

[rkt88edmo]

Hey Matt, keep your chin up out there.

[pnkssbtz]

More evidence to justify my complete lack of faith in our judicial system.

Where pompous posturing and *** covering mean more than the freedom of innocent people being wrongfully accused.

[WolfMansDad]

It's far too early in the process to lose faith. The system works, and usually works quite well. It just takes a long time to sort things out.

[MrLogan]

Hang in there, Matt. I know it sucks, but we're all rooting for you and are backing you.

[Crazed_SS]

It's far too early in the process to lose faith. The system works, and usually works quite well. It just takes a long time to sort things out.

I dunno.. this seems ridiculous to me. Either the guns are illegal or they arent. If the DA believes they arent illegal, drop the charges, even the DA believes they are illegal, then get on with it. I cant imagine that in all these months one simple question couldnt be answered.

I read a quote the other day and it reminded me of this case.. Something like, "It's not the justice system, it's just a system". Wish I could remember where it came from.

[AJAX22]

Hang Tough Matt, I don't envy you your having to go through this, but it means alot that you're standing up to them.

[pnkssbtz]

It's far too early in the process to lose faith. The system works, and usually works quite well. It just takes a long time to sort things out.

And a LOT of money...


But the system in fact does NOT work. If it did there would be no charges to contest since they would not be brought. The weapons are not AW's. The DA is trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. Because the round hole is what they want.

"A long time" and "Lots of money" used in conjuction with "The system works" is an oxymoron.

[MrLogan]

The firearms were most definitely LEGAL in every way.

[troyPhD]

.... and I thought the Mike Nifong debacle would serve as a lesson to DAs across the nation.

[duenor]

Trutanich-Michel Trust Fund

DOH! I've been telling everyone in the Entreprise Arms fundraiser to make checks/MO out to "Matthew Corwin Defense Fund". I don't forsee the banks having a problem with this as they have cashed checked made out to mickey mouse in my account before, but will TM accept these?

And as for the justice system - bah. I once had to sue a lady for damages after I was injured as a passenger in a collision. It took well over three years, numberless visits to numberless doctors, and three lawyers to conclude. In the end, I gave up on ever getting actually completely well, and just lied and told the doctors that I was fine now because bills had gone over 13K and if I lost there would be no way for me to pay it back.

What was my share of the settlement after all this anguish and suspense? $1,900. I would have gladly paid that much many times during those three years to simply end it.

I do not envy Corwin's position. However, we as gun owners must do everything we can to support him - winning this case will set a precedent for DAs in the future, that the law abiding OLL is not to be called into question.

Kev

[Shotgun Man]

I dunno.. this seems ridiculous to me. Either the guns are illegal or they arent. If the DA believes they arent illegal, drop the charges, even the DA believes they are illegal, then get on with it. I cant imagine that in all these months one simple question couldnt be answered.

I read a quote the other day and it reminded me of this case.. Something like, "It's not the justice system, it's just a system". Wish I could remember where it came from.

I have to agree with this poster's statement.

The guns are either on the list or they have the qualifying characteristic to be deemed illegal, or they're not. This is a purely technical, legal issue that would be routinely sorted out at a preliminary hearing.

The DA throws up their witnesses to testify about the make and model of the firearms and their characteristics and concludes that they're illegal. A monkey could do it.

The judge holds the defendant to answer or doesn't. It doesn't seem too complicated.

A first-year public defender doing a little research could handle the case readily.

Of course, the lawyers are no doubt privvy to more info that they can't share, so it's not fruitful to second-guess them.

[SteveH]

Only half this case is about firearms. Hopefully the defense is trying for a complete dismissal.