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Governor And First Lady Subpoenaed By ATF"s Defense In Murder Trial

InnAtPelicanHeights · 2010-10-26T14:04:41Z

Some of you might have read this and been following the story, a must read is CNN's tory and what CNN is reporting about this upcoming trial, to include the defense subponening the Governor and first lady ----WOW. Either way of the outcome of this trial, expect big time national coverage on this as I have lots of friends in the states part of the police community inquiring on more information on what is going on here in the Virgin Islands. ATF agent faces murder trialSTORY HIGHLIGHTS NEW: ATF deputy director says the agency stands by Clark Clark, a 9-year veteran of the ATF, is charged with second-degree murder His prosecution has prompted ATF to remove all agents from the Virgin Islands Prosecutors say Sukow struck Clark's car with a flashlight; Clark shot him five times RELATED TOPICS U.S. Virgin Islands Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Crime and Law Washington (CNN) -- Is Will Clark a villain or a hero? Was the off-duty federal agent brave and chivalrous, or did he overreact when he intervened in a heated domestic argument and shot a man five times, killing him? A U.S. Virgin Islands jury this week will hear the case for and against Clark, a nine-year veteran of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, now charged with second degree murder. The prosecution of Special Agent William G. Clark for the 2008 shooting death of Marcus Sukow has enraged many federal law enforcement officers, who say Clark was heroically coming to the defense of a battered woman. Federal authorities were so incensed by the Virgin Island's prosecution of Clark -- and so concerned other federal agents could similarly be prosecuted -- that they removed all ATF agents from the Virgin Islands in 2008, a policy that continues today, the agency said. The U.S. Virgin Islands is an unincorporated territory of the United States, and as such has a unique legal relationship with the federal government. While the broad outline of the shooting is undisputed, two government investigations came to starkly different conclusions. A federal government multi-agency investigation of the 2008 incident unanimously concluded the shooting was justified. The ATF even returned Clark's gun and badge and put him back to work. But a Virgin Islands Police Department investigation prompted prosecutors to charge Clark with second degree murder. The incident occurred the morning of Sunday, September 7, 2008, outside a St. Thomas condo, where all of the main participants were neighbors. According to a police affidavit, Clark was leaving his condo when he encountered Sukow and his girlfriend, Marguerite Duncan. They had been drinking and were having a "disagreement." Duncan asked Clark for a ride to the guard gate and got in Clark's sports utility vehicle. Sukow approached Clark, who was sitting in the car with the driver's door open. One witness said he saw Sukow striking the driver's door with his flashlight, and saw Clark draw his weapon and tell Sukow to step back. "Mr. Sukow stood there with his hands at his side when William Clarke [sic] discharged his firearm at him several times," the affidavit reads. Local prosecutors evidently were heavily influenced by two facts: First, the deceased, Marcus Sukow, was armed only with a flashlight; second, Clark shot him five times. "These facts are undisputed and were the findings of the local police investigation," Gov. John de Jongh Jr. wrote in a letter justifying the prosecution. But a defense lawyer says the local police department's affidavit is inaccurate and its investigation grossly incomplete. Attorney Mark Schamel said Sukow weighed 260 pounds, had a history of violent assaults, and was acting violently at the time of the incident. When Clark first encountered the fighting couple, Sukow was naked, intoxicated and shouting threats at his girlfriend and racial slurs at a neighbor who had come out during the commotion. At one point, Sukow went into his condo and returned wearing gym shorts, and then pelted his girlfriend's car with landscaping stones. After Duncan sought refuge in Clark's car, Sukow charged at Clark's open driver door, the flashlight -- a heavy-duty, 18-inch metal one -- raised "like a tomahawk," poised to strike Clark, Schamel said. Clark fired rapidly, as he was trained, Schamel said. Tests later showed that Sukow had a blood-alcohol content of 0.29 percent, and had barbiturates and morphine in his blood, the defense lawyer said. Schamel said the former head trainer for the Virgin Islands Police Department academy will testify as an expert witness that the shooting was justified. Schamel said he also has subpoenaed the Virgin Islands' governor and first lady to testify, because Duncan called them shortly after the shooting. He declined to say what he expected them to say. On Monday, ATF Deputy Director Kenneth Melson reiterated the agency's support for Clark. "Special Agent Clark intervened in a domestic dispute in order to protect a woman that was endange...

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Linda J

(@Linda_J)

Posts: 3919

Famed Member

I think you need to post a source for your information.

Posted : October 31, 2010 9:35 pm

Island Expatriot

(@Island_Expatriot)

Posts: 12

Active Member

I heard it from someone that I trust who was there.

Posted : November 1, 2010 5:15 pm

Linda J

(@Linda_J)

Posts: 3919

Famed Member

Day before an election I think I'd like a little more that that.

Posted : November 1, 2010 6:53 pm

Island Expatriot

(@Island_Expatriot)

Posts: 12

Active Member

With due respect, (and I'm not trying to be ugly) I don't care who you vote for. Its not my intent to sway your vote. Honestly, I don't like either candidate...in fact, I think I like Mapp even less than de Jongh. At least the latter has been more discrete.

Posted : November 1, 2010 7:35 pm

rks

(@rks)

Posts: 396

Reputable Member

Island Expatriot, you must think we're really stupid.

Posted : November 1, 2010 9:07 pm

Island Expatriot

(@Island_Expatriot)

Posts: 12

Active Member

rks: Perhaps if I knew you better I could tell you that you are stupid. I don't know you or how or why you speak on behalf of an unnamed group.

Posted : November 2, 2010 2:50 am

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