Witnesses are not entitled to representation!

According to the asssistant district attorney in Houston:


Witness Reluctantly Testifies Before Grand Jury

HOUSTON -- A witness to a deadly police shooting reluctantly testified before a grand jury on Wednesday, KPRC Local 2 reported.

Yolanda Perry said she witnessed Houston Police Officer L.P. Smith shoot and kill Robert McIntosh, 23, after a traffic stop on Monday.

"He flipped him over on his back with the handcuffs and he shot -- pow.," Perry said on Monday. "After he shot the one time, (he shot) two additional times."

Houston police have said McIntosh was not handcuffed at the time of the shooting. Officials said McIntosh used the officer's Taser gun to injure the officer. Police said the officer shot McIntosh because he was in fear of his life.

Perry asked for legal assistance when giving a statement to investigators on Tuesday. Assistant District Attorney Edward Porter said witnesses were not entitled to representation.

"She is a witness in a case," Porter said. "Witnesses don't have rights to legal assistance."

http://www.click2houston.com/news/10714817/detail.html

If you are accused of a crime you are of course entitled to representation and if you can't afford one, one will be provided for you. A witness can't get public representation but they definitely can get private.

I think intimidation was the case in this situation.

however, anyone dealing with the police or the legal system has a right to refuse to make any statement until such time as they have consulted with legal counsel.

and THEN put him in handcuffs?

WTF?

:eyes: