Fish Fear Me

Deliberations

Both sides gave closing arguments in the Mohamed Noor trial yesterday and the case went to the jury. Deliberations continue this morning. 

The defense claimed a "perfect storm" of circumstances that led to the split-second decision to shoot Justine Damond. Prosecutors attacked Noor's and the MPD's credibility and asserted that Noor's reaction to the situation was reckless and unreasonable. I think both sides made good points over the course of the trial.

Reading the judge's instructions to the jury, at first blush it appears that the prosecution made a strong case on each of the elements of all three charges. However, those instructions also include a section on "AUTHORIZED USE 0F DEADLY FORCE BY PEACE OFFICERS." I think the key element there will be this:

To determine if the actions of the peace officer were reasonable, you must look at those facts known to the officer at the precise moment he acted with force. Giving due regard for the pressures faced by peace officers, you must decide whether the officer’s actions were objectively reasonable in the light of the totality of the facts and circumstances confronting the officer, without regard to the officer’s own state of mind, intention or motivation.

And the key factor there, in my opinion, is whether the jury believes the defense claim that Damond startled the officers with a noise and suddenly appeared at the driver's window, or believes the prosecutor's claim that police made that up after the fact. Noor's fate will probably hinge on that.

Update: I no sooner post this and it is announced that the jury has already reached a verdict. We will hear it at 4:30 Central.

Happy Spring!(North Shore Edition)

Things That Make You Go Hmmm(cont)

ABC News is reporting that Pope Francis is donating $500,000 to assist 75, 000 immigrants waiting in Mexico to come into the United States:

The money is specifically meant to aid the 75,000 migrants who arrived in Mexico in 2018 as part of six caravans, according to a press release from Peter's Pence.

Donation per person: $6.66

 

Troll Level: Grandmaster

Two Harbors

The Edwin H. Gott arriving at Two Harbors this morning to load iron pellets:

(duluthharborcam.com)

At 1004' it's among the largest boats plying the Great Lakes and has the most powerful engine room at 19,500hp. Edwin H. Gott was the Chairman and CEO of US Steel in the 1960s.

Blast From The Past

My buddy Mark sent me an old photo the other day from a trip some of us took to Isle Royale in the early to mid-1990s:

Early October and the resorts had shut down.

(L to R): My friends Ray, Mark, Dan, and yours truly.

 

Stolen From Twitter

It's Official

Ice Out!

That's about 10 days later than average I think. The rest of the state still has a ways to go:

The DNR is warning that some lakes in the far north may not be ice-free by the opener, May 11. Even some that are may be closed to protect what will probably be a late walleye spawn.

I'm sure it is all due to global warming.

This Calls For...

Apparently the San Jose city council is now the go-to place for really futile and stupid gestures:

Then we have Pete Buttigieg ginning up a spat with Mike Pence. It seems some people want to fight culture battles they won 5 years ago, probably thinking it's a great issue for 2020. I think that's unwise, but people will do what they will do.

Could Be Worse

So far not as much snow as predicted, but it's wet and heavy glop. A good old fashioned "heart attack" snow. This afternoon we've been treated with a couple of rounds of thunder sleet:

And no, that's not a black and white photo. This too shall pass.