Webster Cook, the kid to made off with a Holy Eucharist from a Catholic Church (see this and links there-outwards) was acquitted after a seven hour trial, according to an email sent by Webster's friend, Ben. Details are expected to emerge later.
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Thank heavens for small mercies, as it were. Acquitted of what? Conduct unbecoming a student? Is he going to have anyone charged with assault?
Yes, details will be nice. As I recall, this was a University hearing, not a government court? And the charges of which he was acquitted are? Are the cannibals up in arms over the verdict? Fill us in when you can.
There's no reason to charge anyone with assault. Apparently someone tried to pry the host out of his hand at some point. Bad form, no doubt! It might even be legally assault. But to actually charge someone over that is would be over the top, in my opinion. The legal system does not have to be dragged into every situation where people get physical, even if in principle it could. I don't trust the legal system that much, and I certainly don't want to have a precedent where the legal system is used as a crude bludgeon to escalate a minor fracas.
Good thing sanity apparent prevailed with Cook as well; although those proceedings should never have been started either.
Justice prevails!
Duae Quartunciae: Assault is defined and codified as something that creates a reasonable fear of physical harm.
Battery is the actual laying on of hands. So this really was an assault and battery.
Duae Quartunciae: Apparently someone tried to pry the host out of his hand at some point... It might even be legally assault.
Under Florida law, it's assault and battery.
According to Webster Cook's incident report,
In the US, large monetary judgments have been awarded for much less. Other than being (having been?) a lifelong Catholic himself, perhaps the best reason for Cook not to file suit is that it might trivialize the thousands of other known cases of much, much worse physical abuse behind those stained-glass windows.
We'll likely be hearing details from Webster or Ben in the form of a guest post on this blog. Stay tuned.
A guest post would be a very cool thing indeed. I've been hoping they'd speak out once the question of "disciplinary" action was settled.
Thanks Tony... but I was not disputing definitions.
I was suggesting that the law is an ass, and that actually laying charges would be over the top. Whether you could prevail in a court of law has nothing to do with it, and indeed I said explicitly that it might legally assault. It might even get lots of money in "damages".
It doesn't matter; I still think that the tendency to try and drag the law into things goes way over the top.
A victory for the Separation of Church and Cracker! I second (third?) the guest post suggestion.
BTW, does anyone know if Webster Cook has a blog?
//BTW, does anyone know if Webster Cook has a blog?//
He should co-author a book with PZ about the whole sham !
I love the term "aquitted",sounds more like a murder trial....
The results of the fair trial are indeed good news.
I think it's fitting to remind ourselves of how people were tried in less enlightened times:
Trial by ordeal
As well as the assault, what about their providing alcohol to minors (for what nefarious purpose?) and what of the uni's misuse of funds?
Any word from the pedophile defense league?