Just in: JENA 6 conviction thrown out

[Bluebear]

(CNN) -- A Louisiana appeals court Friday vacated the conviction of a teenager accused in a December 2006 fight at a high school in Jena, La., the attorney for the teenager told CNN.

Bob Noel said the 3rd District Court of Appeals in Lake Charles threw out convictions for second degree battery against Mychael Bell, saying the charges should have been brought in juvenile court.

Bell, who is now 17, was 16 at the time of the fight. Earlier this month, a district court judge vacated a conviction for conspiracy to commit second degree battery, saying that charge should have been brought in juvenile court. He left standing the second degree battery conviction, however.

Noel said the future of the case against Bell is up to the district attorney, who must decide whether to refile the charges in juvenile court. He said Bell's defense team would be filing a motion to get him out of prison, where he has been since his arrest in December. (Posted 5:20 p.m.)

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/09/14/friday/index.html

[Totally Committed]

1. A W E S O M E ! ! !

WOO-HOO!!!!!! :applause:

TC

[againes654]

2. For all 6????

Either way, this is awesome news!!!! K&R

[Bluebear]

9. Mychael Bell, updated OP

[againes654]

3. Off to the greatest

where this should be

[AlCzervik]

4. K&R for you.

[EFerrari]

5. Is there a link? Sorry to ask but burning rubber

and pissing off Al Gore today.

Thanks, Something.

[Bluebear]

6. CNN just on the airwaves

[EFerrari]

12. Good!

:woohoo:

[lligrd]

7. Should Not Have Been Tried As An Adult - Bravo

I don't understand ever trying a juvenile as an adult.

[demobabe]

15. Me too!

Juveniles should never be tried as adults. It's absolutely insane that we do. Kids do dumb things. If they're going to get into trouble, why on earth would it cross their mind to do a lesser crime so they don't end up in adult court? When kids commit crimes, it's a clear cry for attention or help, or to deal with a parental problem or situation causing the kid to act out. It's just that simple.

[BronxBoy]

17. Actually....

If you really dig into the account of the case, at least 5 of them shouldn't have been tried at all.

[Hand]

8. From CNN Wire...

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/09/14/friday/index.html

Louisiana judge tosses convictions against teen tried as adult

(CNN) -- A Louisiana appeals court Friday vacated the conviction of a teenager accused in a December 2006 fight at a high school in Jena, La., the attorney for the teenager told CNN.

Bob Noel said the 3rd District Court of Appeals in Lake Charles threw out convictions for second degree battery against Mychael Bell, saying the charges should have been brought in juvenile court.

Bell, who is now 17, was 16 at the time of the fight. Earlier this month, a district court judge vacated a conviction for conspiracy to commit second degree battery, saying that charge should have been brought in juvenile court. He left standing the second degree battery conviction, however.

Noel said the future of the case against Bell is up to the district attorney, who must decide whether to refile the charges in juvenile court. He said Bell's defense team would be filing a motion to get him out of prison, where he has been since his arrest in December. (Posted 5:20 p.m.)

[Bluebear]

10. Thanks Hand, updated OP thanks to you.

[Hand]

11. You're welcome!

Curious that this was listed on CNN World/Europe...

[goclark]

13. Oh Happy Day!!!!!

This is great news.

I thought I was back in the 60's and with GW at the helm, all that is possible.

Let's keep on working on this one.

[EFerrari]

14. Kick.

[flashl]

16. Great work

K&R

[sonias]

18. Great news!!

Here is the diary on DailyKos about it:

Justice in Jena - Mychal Bell's Conviction Overturned
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/9/14/184114/822


Sonia

[gateley]

19. K&R nt

[midlife_mo_Jo]

20. Absolutely T-e-r-r-i-f-i-c!!

This is great news.