![bremser:
Oscar Grant’s photograph of Johannes Mehserle
Oscar Grant’s photograph of transit police officer Johannes Mehserle is rare: a portrait of the photographer’s killer. Unlike the recent photograph that a politician captured in the Philippines, Grant’s photograph, taken moments before Mehserle shot him in the back, was intentional.
Much of the media attention given to the Oscar Grant case focused on a handful of videos made by other passengers on the BART train, some of which show Grant being shot. While being detained by BART police, Grant called his ex-girlfriend Sophina Mesa twice from the platform. During this time he also took the photo of Mehserle and sent it to Mesa. Grant’s photograph of Mehserle did not get as much coverage as the videos, as it wasn’t released until the trial began.
Grant’s photograph raises an important issue that faces every American: the right to photograph, videotape and document while being detained or arrested by the police. Many of us assume we have this right, but with existing wiretapping laws, you can still be arrested and your camera confiscated. Radley Balko’s Reason.com article “The War on Cameras” is essential reading on this subject.
Demian Bulwa is a reporter and editor for the San Francisco Chronicle, who has covered the Oscar Grant case since the shooting, through the entire Mehserle trial. I asked him a few questions over the phone about this photograph.
How did the prosecution and defense use this photograph as evidence in the trial?
Both sides used flat screen TVs, multimedia, everything was timed and choreographed. It seemed they felt they might lose credibility if they weren’t sharp with multimedia. At times the arguments felt like PowerPoint presentations. There were photos, quotes, videos, video of the Taser training.
It was used by prosecution to show two things: 1. that he [Mehserle] knew his Taser from his gun, that he had actually taken out his Taser twice, that he knew full well between the two weapons. 2. That Oscar was being abused and was concerned about it.
It was one of many pieces of evidence. It’s part of the puzzle, and hard to tell which ones stuck with the jury.
What facts were presented about the photograph, when it was taken? Did he take it while face down, turning around?
Grant was sitting on the ground. The guys were sitting on the edge of the platform for a while. He wouldn’t have had the opportunity in the last moments, the officers were on top of him, with his arms behind him.
Was there any suggestion by either side that taking this photograph provoked Mehserle, or was some form of resisting arrest?
I don’t recall.
Based on the evidence in the trial, and your own speculation, why do you think Oscar Grant took this photograph?
Most likely he was documenting unfair treatment. He said something to his girlfriend [during the phone call], like “I’m getting beat up here.” It was a way of documenting that, and putting Mehserle on notice. If you take a picture of someone you are saying: I’m watching your behavior. You’re accountable. You are expressing your concern and putting them on notice.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lfrudjPZwy1qzfjaho1_400.jpg)
Oscar Grant’s photograph of Johannes Mehserle
Oscar Grant’s photograph of transit police officer Johannes Mehserle is rare: a portrait of the photographer’s killer. Unlike the recent photograph that a politician captured in the Philippines, Grant’s photograph, taken moments before Mehserle shot him in the back, was intentional.
Much of the media attention given to the Oscar Grant case focused on a handful of videos made by other passengers on the BART train, some of which show Grant being shot. While being detained by BART police, Grant called his ex-girlfriend Sophina Mesa twice from the platform. During this time he also took the photo of Mehserle and sent it to Mesa. Grant’s photograph of Mehserle did not get as much coverage as the videos, as it wasn’t released until the trial began.
Grant’s photograph raises an important issue that faces every American: the right to photograph, videotape and document while being detained or arrested by the police. Many of us assume we have this right, but with existing wiretapping laws, you can still be arrested and your camera confiscated. Radley Balko’s Reason.com article “The War on Cameras” is essential reading on this subject.
Demian Bulwa is a reporter and editor for the San Francisco Chronicle, who has covered the Oscar Grant case since the shooting, through the entire Mehserle trial. I asked him a few questions over the phone about this photograph.
How did the prosecution and defense use this photograph as evidence in the trial?
Both sides used flat screen TVs, multimedia, everything was timed and choreographed. It seemed they felt they might lose credibility if they weren’t sharp with multimedia. At times the arguments felt like PowerPoint presentations. There were photos, quotes, videos, video of the Taser training.
It was used by prosecution to show two things: 1. that he [Mehserle] knew his Taser from his gun, that he had actually taken out his Taser twice, that he knew full well between the two weapons. 2. That Oscar was being abused and was concerned about it.
It was one of many pieces of evidence. It’s part of the puzzle, and hard to tell which ones stuck with the jury.
What facts were presented about the photograph, when it was taken? Did he take it while face down, turning around?
Grant was sitting on the ground. The guys were sitting on the edge of the platform for a while. He wouldn’t have had the opportunity in the last moments, the officers were on top of him, with his arms behind him.
Was there any suggestion by either side that taking this photograph provoked Mehserle, or was some form of resisting arrest?
I don’t recall.
Based on the evidence in the trial, and your own speculation, why do you think Oscar Grant took this photograph?
Most likely he was documenting unfair treatment. He said something to his girlfriend [during the phone call], like “I’m getting beat up here.” It was a way of documenting that, and putting Mehserle on notice. If you take a picture of someone you are saying: I’m watching your behavior. You’re accountable. You are expressing your concern and putting them on notice.
Chilling photo captures Philippines politician’s killer moments before he is shot dead
A politician in the Philippines who was shot dead while taking a photograph of his family on New Year’s Day captured his killer on camera just seconds before the assassin fired the fatal shots.
Reynaldo Dagsa, a 35-year-old district councilor in the metro area of Manila, was taking a photograph of his wife, daughter and mother-in-law outside of his home at the exact moment his killer stepped from behind a nearby car and took aim.
In the photograph, the man is shown standing behind Dagsa’s smiling daughter, wearing a black baseball cap backward — and a cold gaze – as he points his pistol directly at the camera.
The barrel of the pistol is illuminated by the camera’s flash.
Just seconds later, Dagsa was shot in the right forearm and the chest. He was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
After discovering the terrifying coincidence, Dagsa’s family gave the camera to police, who used the photo to find the gunman and his lookout, who was also caught in the photograph.
From NY Daily News, photo ©Dagsa Family (via ohheygreat)
You kill people in your spare time?
Oh, that’s cool. I collect money from different countries. We all have our hobbies.
And tortures.
Dexter fandom keeps eliding those two horrors. Dexter isn’t like Son of Sam. He doesn’t just execute, he causes pain to achieve a psychological effect. It’s a distinction that shouldn’t be lost on people who live in America.
WHY ARE YOU SUCH A BUZZKILL TONIGHT GENERIC1
You’re NOT LISTENING. I’m ALSO A BUZZTORTURE.
Is this the man who killed Neda Agha Soltan, the young woman felled by a Basiji’s bullet during opposition protests last month? According to Iranian.com, the doctor who was with Neda that day, Arash Heraji, confirms that the man shown in this identification card, Abbas Kargar Javid, is indeed Neda’s killer. You might recall that shortly after Neda was shot down in cold blood, a group of witnesses - including Hezaji - captured the alleged gunman and took his ID card before letting him go.
(via Gawker)
whoa.
Oh come on. Real IDs don’t just have scribbles on them.
Fake? Oh. Expert on Iranian documentation, are we?
BART ‘Nigger’ bombshell waiting to go off
From today’s SFGate:
One of the videos made by riders at the Fruitvale Station in Oakland early New Year’s Day caught Officer Tony Pirone standing over the prone Grant and yelling, “Bitch-ass nigger.”
Pirone and his attorney say he was parroting an epithet that Grant first hurled at him - though Grant’s voice is not audible on the tape.
The sound-enhanced tape shows Pirone delivering a shoulder chop to Grant and bringing him to the ground. Pirone can be heard saying twice, “Bitch-ass nigger, right?”
That was before they killed the kid.
