The brief filed by Maye’s new legal team, which includes examinations and investigations done by defense-hired experts from outside of Mississippi, casts substantial doubt on Maye’s conviction. Still, it appears Maye’s best hope for relief lies in the federal courts. De Gruy, who has experience with the Mississippi Supreme Court, is pessimistic about Maye’s chances there.
The tragedy of Ron Jones’ death will only be compounded if the state of Mississippi executes Cory Maye. But an appropriate response to this case would go beyond exonerating Maye to recognize that the raid on his house wasn’t an anomaly. From the role of informants to the rise of paramilitary tactics to the lack of judicial and prosecutorial oversight, drug policing has spiraled out of control. It’s absurd that conventional wisdom says it’s not only appropriate but necessary to conduct midnight raids on drug suspects with no history of violent behavior. Unless that attitude changes, there will be more tragedies like this one.
As Maye put it in a letter to one of his Internet supporters, “We as citizens sit back and say, ‘Well, this could never happen to me.’.…But it’s happened before…and if we don’t take a stand, it’s gonna continue to happen to others.”
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|10.10.09 @ 2:53AM|#
excellent article, both compelling and documented, you're a credit to the field of writing.
Ratko|12.9.09 @ 5:08PM|#
You said it, Steve, spot on.
Radley's articles almost always inspire thought, and can be credited for changing some of my long held opinions and beliefs.
One such opinion was that of our justice system, it's not perfect, but despite the fact my core system of values dictates that should one man suffer unequal treatment the system is not just, I was willing to accept it as is. It's not acceptable, with so much power in the hands of so few, and little oversight by the rarest creature of all, the authentic watchdog, there is little incentive to make it acceptable.
Back home in Phoenix, I knew a Cory who is Black. He too shot and killed a cop in a botched bust involving illicit drugs.
Both Corys faced similar charges, but the one I knew had a prior record and was found not guilty. It was an undercover narcotics officer his case, he was apparently making the bust without first announcing he was a law officer he attempted to draw his firearm, an action that resulted in his death.
Phoenix Cory was unaware he was dealing with a police officer, so assumed he was being shot. His reaction was to counter draw his pistol in an attempt to fire first, he was successful.
The mistakes made by the state didn't end there, they continued, one was withholding the name and identity of the man he had killed as a police officer until just prior to his trial.
Ultimately his action in the shooting was deemed justifiable. Sometimes, as in this case the system works.
Other times, as in the case of the other Cory, it's nothing more than a human being's fate being decided by the spin of a rigged wheel of misfortune.
The 21st century and this is the best we can manage? "..a boot stamping on a human face.." How much longer until the face won't have to be our very own before we can realize the serious consequences of allowing such an action. We better wake up soon, once we pass the point of no return, our power to influence these matters has ended - forever.
Pingback| 11.17.09 @ 3:11PM
Twitter Trackbacks for The Case of Cory Maye - Reason Magazine [reason.com] on Topsy links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
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|11.21.09 @ 1:32AM|#
This is absurd, self defense is a god given right, this cop crossed the line, and got what he had coming. I've got nothing against cops per-say, but when they use Nazi tactics, and lose, justice turns pervert. It's not even justice anymore, our system is so corrupt, and one sided, you are NOT presumed innocent,until you can prove it beyond doubt, any doubt. The second one sets foot in a courtroom, they're guilty, and the court is prejudice.
|11.21.09 @ 1:37AM|#
This is absurd, self defense is a god given right, this cop crossed the line, and got what he had coming. I've got nothing against cops per-say, but when they use Nazi tactics, and loose, justice turns pervert. It's not even justice anymore, our system is so corrupt, and one sided, you are NOT presumed innocent,until you can prove it beyond doubt, any doubt. The second one sets foot in a courtroom, they're guilty, and the court is prejudice.
|11.21.09 @ 4:17AM|#
A really simple solution to the problem of "he said, he said", would be to mandate by law recording devices be present during these raids. A man's life hinges upon whether the police shouted "Police!" before he started shooting at them. How simple it would have been to have a video, or even audio recording of the raid.
The standard of proof would be statutorily pegged, that if the police did not make the recording, in violation of law, then the presumption of credibility will lie with the defendant.
|11.21.09 @ 10:43PM|#
Want to make a CHANGE in Mississippi? Take 3 minutes and sign my petition! You'll be glad you did!
http://www.gopetition.com/online/25939.html
Pingback| 12.18.09 @ 2:08PM
TheDrug War - Political Fever - The Political Debate Forums links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
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Cory Maye - On Death Row After Defending His Daughter In Half-Assed Drug Raid - Gree links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
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Meet Cory Mayes. Someone kicked in his back door, barged into his child’s bedroom, an links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
|1.12.10 @ 10:31AM|#
Is anyone actually surprisd by this? I mean really?
Kelp
www.web-privacy.se.tc
|1.12.10 @ 1:21PM|#
anyone who lives in that county knows who the informant was and that individual was a racist himself. If you seen him he would be yelling "WHITE POWER!" To me it sounds like bad info from a bad informant...plain and simple!
Mark|1.12.10 @ 5:41PM|#
Burn in Hell Cory Maye, you deserve it.
|7.1.11 @ 6:26PM|#
you red neck hillbilly come up north and talk that smack i will show you just what it is like to feel the fires of hell,God remembers all..and he is coming home so put that in ur pipe and smoke it u blue eyed devil
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BWM|12.2.10 @ 9:06PM|#
I like the article. It amazes me that conservatives and even alot of liberals have so much faith in police. The police are like the military; an essential part of the government, but exceedingly dangerous, and a tool to be kept under a careful eye at all times. When civilian deaths are shrugged off and police deaths mean war, the state has completely subverted it's role. They serve US, after all.
|12.6.10 @ 4:33PM|#
The Drug Police are running wild in this country & must be stopped. Thank the Lord & thank the judge-why is he unnamed?
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Nothing against the article, but I disagree with a couple of points to some extenct. I’m probably a minority though, lol. Thanks for sharing.
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|7.1.11 @ 4:53PM|#
It's so sad in the day & age that's things like this still happen.
Thank you for bringing this to light Mr. Balko. I am sorry Mr. Maye last ten years of his life; Mississippi is such a sorry state. Thank God I don't live there.
|7.1.11 @ 6:22PM|#
@ mark if anyone is going to burn in hell it will be you for saying that God remembers all come up
north and talk that trash,see God took care of him no matter what you say cause he is coming home so put that in ur pipe and smoke it you red neck hillbilly
Gabe|7.4.11 @ 8:04AM|#
Fantastic work and article. You are the man.
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M|7.7.11 @ 4:26AM|#
Jesus Christ, Reason magazine, can't you
a) have a decent spam filter
and
b) have a "this is spam" button by each comment?
قبلة الوداع|8.17.11 @ 10:22PM|#
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