Saturday, April 3, 2010

Results of JJ poll

The D.A. made some pretty serious allegations against JPD last week in the Irby case (See coverage on right side of the page.). Since the D.A. did make those charges and McMillin was the Chief at the time and the Irbys were his largest campaign donors, JJ asked if you thought McMillin tried to sabotage the investigation. Nearly 500 people voted in this poll. 49% thought Mac tried to sabotage the investigation. 37% don't think he did and 12% don't know.


Yes
220 (44%)
No
144 (29%)
Don't know
60 (12%)
Mac tried but failed
27 (5%)
Smith is looking for an excuse
41 (8%)

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

When does the Grand Jury convene?

Provided individuals are indicted, I bet 20/20 or Dateline will be returning.

Truly pathetic the way this investigation was handled. How many law enforcement agencies do not release BAC results? Especially in a high profile case where 2 doctors were killed.

Anonymous said...

Not to mention the Clarion Ledger's reporting on this case. First the arcane and inaccurate puff piece, then then the "seeking closure" article.

Be on the look out for future CL articles that involve homicide pleas where a double depraved heart murder/homicide defendant is seeking closure...

This says A LOT of this "publication".

Beyond insulting to the the family and friends of the 2 doctors.

http://nmisscommentor.com/2010/03/27/pondering-that-buried-lede-in-the-clarion-ledger-karen-irby-guilty-plea-story/

Kingfish said...

Here ya go:

Irby eyes closure in fatal '09 Jackson crash

Attorney says client 'fragile, emotional'

Kathleen Baydala • kbaydala@clarionledger.com • March 27, 2010

The families of two doctors killed last year in a fiery car crash in Jackson are expected to attend the May sentencing of the woman who caused the wreck.


Hinds County Circuit Judge Tomie Green is scheduled to sentence Karen Irby, the 39-year-old wife of prominent Jackson businessman Stuart Irby, on May 11.

Karen Irby pleaded guilty Friday to two counts of culpable negligence manslaughter and faces a maximum 40 years in prison.

Irby was speeding through northeast Jackson on Feb. 11, 2009, when her Mercedes-Benz collided with a pickup driven by Dr. Mark Pogue on Old Canton Road. Pogue and his fiancee, Dr. Lisa Dedousis, died on the scene.

The Irbys were returning home from the Jackson Country Club, where they had dinner.

Families of the victims were not in court Friday but were informed of the plea deal beforehand, according to attorneys on both sides.

"Recently, Karen met privately with both the Dedousis and Pogue families and explained to them what happened in that horrible accident and answered their questions," said Joe Holloman, Irby's attorney. "She hopes (Friday's) proceedings will help bring further closure."

Dedousis' brother, Dr. John Dedousis, would not comment when reached Friday at his New Jersey office. He referred questions to attorney John Booth Farese, who did not return calls.

Attempts to reach Pogue's family were unsuccessful.

Matt Steffey, a Mississippi College School of Law professor who followed the case closely, said he believes it is unlikely Irby will receive the maximum penalty.

"With manslaughter convictions in vehicular homicide cases, the median number is closer to 10 years than it is to the max," he said.

Irby admitted in court that she had two glasses of wine and was driving in excess of the posted speed limit when she maneuvered her car into oncoming traffic "and as a result two people died." She did not give a statement to the swarm of reporters outside the courtroom and was rushed out by a deputy.

Irby's indictment said she was operating a vehicle at night at an excessive rate of speed, indiscriminately passing other motorists. Initially, it was reported she was traveling in excess of 100 mph.

Holloman described his client as "fragile and emotional" after the plea.

The Hinds County District Attorney's office said blood tests administered at the hospital 52 minutes after the crash showed Irby's alcohol level to be between .13 and .14 percent. The legal limit is .08 percent.

Irby had been charged with two counts of depraved-heart murder and one count of aggravated assault.

Jury selection had been set to begin next week. If her case had gone to trial and she was convicted, she faced life in prison.

The district attorney's office agreed to lessen the murder charges to culpable negligence manslaughter and to drop the aggravated assault charge because of the unavailability of Stuart Irby to testify. He was not present at her plea hearing.

Kingfish said...

Stuart Irby's attorneys have said he does not remember the wreck because of the injuries he sustained. They also said he would not testify against his wife, citing spousal immunity.

District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith said he agreed to the deal, partly because the crash investigation by the Jackson Police Department was incomplete.

"The investigators went out five days after the accident. We were surprised that the calculations (of how fast the car was traveling) and the photographs were not there" in the report, Smith said. "We asked for a second investigation."

JPD investigators, during the second investigation, changed their estimate of how fast Karen Irby was driving from 110 mph to a minimum of 70 miles per hour. The posted speed limit on Old Canton Road is 40 mph.

JPD investigators went back to the scene five days after the accident occurred to generate a computer model of what happened.

Assistant Police Chief Lee Vance said Friday the officer who initially performed the investigation is no longer investigating traffic fatalities.

"We felt like we had done a thorough investigation the first time, ... but the district attorney's office pointed out some flaws in our initial investigation," Vance said.

Vance said the initial investigation had to be redone and the speed calculation appeared to be wrong.

The district attorney did not make a sentencing recommendation Friday. Holloman said he is preparing to provide letters and testimony in hopes of swaying the judge toward leniency.

Chancery Court records show a divorce petition for Stuart and Karen Irby filed in 2008, but it was never acted upon and presumably has been dismissed. The couple has one child.

Stuart Irby is the grandson of the late Stuart C. Irby, founder of Irby Lighting.

Anonymous said...

KF, let's just see if the DA will follow through with those allegations. With what evidence the DA has, I don't believe it would be a stretch to get the Feds involved. This investigation & reconstruction is sickening, but we all saw it coming. Truly, could it have been any other way? If you think this is sabotage, you should see the investigation from the Brandon wreck which involved the police officer & the 19yr old, back in 2008. Ironic that an officer, with a "minor" as a front seat passenger, can hit & kill someone while driving excessive speeds then claim he's on a burglary call. Lips were as tight as butt cheeks in this case, even the media would not report THAT info when they had it in their hands. One thing is apparent, the police have the upper hand being as they are first on the scene & call the shots. Would they "cover" for one of their own or for one of their largest campaign donor's? Of course they would!



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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

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Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

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