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KBCraig
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Even lawyers need lawyers

Post by KBCraig »

We've often discussed what to do and not do, say and not say, if ever involved in a shooting. First on the list: consult an attorney.

Here's someone who I will bet was consulting an attorney, even though he's a law firm partner:

http://www.texarkanagazette.com/article ... news01.txt

Wake Village shooting kills 1
Wednesday, November 15, 2006 11:34 AM CST

Sources say disturbance led to death of lawyer’s former wife

By LORI DUNN
Texarkana Gazette

Police in Wake Village, Texas, are investigating a fatal shooting Tuesday night at the home of Texarkana attorney Bruce Condit.

Police had not released any official information as of presstime Tuesday, but sources close to the investigation said the victim was Condit’s former wife.

Her name was not immediately available.

Also, no information was available on whether the shooting was being investigated as a homicide, self-defense or an accident.

Bruce Condit and three other people were detained in handcuffs for questioning and were taken from the scene in police vehicles.

(more at URL above)
kauboy
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Post by kauboy »

Um, if your a lawyer... would it be smart to have another lawyer present for questioning? :???: To help win your case sure, but would you just for questioning?
"People should not be afraid of their Governments.
Governments should be afraid of their people." - V
KBCraig
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Post by KBCraig »

kauboy wrote:Um, if your a lawyer... would it be smart to have another lawyer present for questioning? :???: To help win your case sure, but would you just for questioning?
IANAL, but: absolutely.
Glockamolie
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Post by Glockamolie »

Any other person would want representation when being questioned.

As we know, any person that represents himself has a fool for a client.
- Brandon
phddan
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Post by phddan »

Any other person would want representation when being questioned.

As we know, any person that represents himself has a fool for a client.
Agree on the first point.
Second point is true, unless your given a court appointed lawyer.

Dan
KBCraig
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Post by KBCraig »

Let me just add this: in this case, the lawyer and his adult children were taken away for questioning in handcuffs, in police cars.

I might provide some limited information while standing on my own property, but the minute the bracelets go "click-click-click", I will not be saying anything except through a lawyer.

Lawyers and cops tend to follow this rule for themselves; it's certainly darn good advice for everyone else.

Kevin
KBCraig
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Post by KBCraig »

Update:

http://www.ktbs.com/news/local/4649496.html

Ex-wife of Texarkana attorney killed after she shows up with gun

The ex-wife of a Texarkana attorney was shot and killed Tuesday night after she went into his home armed with a rifle.

Police in the Texarkana suburb of Wake Village said they know who killed 39-year-old Stacey Condit, the ex-wife of attorney Bruce Condit, but have not decided whether the shooting was justified or was a homicide.

They did not release the name of that person pending completion of their investigation.

Condit, his two children and two of their friends were questioned by police and released.

The shooting happened around 8 p.m. at the Westline Road home of Bruce Condit.

Wake Village police investigator Keith Schutte said Condit, his children and two of their friends were all inside the house when Condit's ex-wife arrived. In a call to 911, Condit said his wife had a rifle and had entered the house through a window.

Police provided few details about what happened next but said Stacy Condit wound up being shot with a shotgun.

Neighbor Jon Youngblood was outside his home when he saw Stacey Condit drive up.

"It kind of caught my attention because she pulled in kind of fast, and when she got out she started yelling and screaming," Youngblood said. "I told my wife to go ahead and call the police."

Texarkana, Texas, police said Stacy Condit had gone to her ex-husband's office during the day Tuesday and caused a disturbance.



Based on this latest report, I have to say Mr. Condit and his kids (and their friends) will be no-billed, assuming it even reaches the grand jury.

I pass within a block of this house every day on my way to work. So much for tranquility in the suburbs, eh?

Oh, and bad marks for sloppy writing: police already know it was a homicide. What they don't know is if it was murder, manslaughter, or justifiable homicide. Every death at the hands of another human being is homicide; "homicide" isn't always a crime. I really get tired of reporters who think "homicide" is synonymous with "murder".

Kevin
KBCraig
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Post by KBCraig »

Today's latest: no charges anticipated. The reporter screws up the "homicide" bit, but at least quotes the officer who states it correctly.

Note that the "family spokesman" is Condit's law partner, and attorney.


http://www.texarkanagazette.com/article ... news02.txt

No charges filed in Condit shooting
Thursday, November 16, 2006 10:23 AM CST

Family spokesman says self-defense; police await autopsy for final finding

By LORI DUNN
Texarkana Gazette and By Lynn LaRowe
Texarkana Gazette

Preliminary findings indicate Tuesday’s shooting death of Stacey Condit, a Texarkana attorney’s ex-wife, was self-defense, and no charges have been filed.

“We’re speculating it’s self-defense, but they are still taking statements. We want to wait until the autopsy results are back,� Wake Village Police Chief Tony Estes said late Wednesday.

The body has been sent to Dallas for an autopsy.

Condit, 39, was the ex-wife of attorney Bruce Condit. The shooting happened about 8:15 p.m. Tuesday at Bruce Condit’s Wake Village home. Bruce Condit, his two grown children and two of their friends were at the house at the time of the incident.

They were questioned by police and released. No charges have been filed, said Wake Village Police Detective Keith Schutte.

Schutte said police know who shot Stacey Condit but are not releasing the person’s name pending the completion of the investigation.

Schutte said Stacey Condit went to the home with a rifle, apparently intending to hurt her ex-husband, and entered the house. She was shot with a shotgun that belonged to someone in the house, he said. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Michael Peek, Bruce Condit’s close friend and law partner, said he had spoken to Condit, who told him what happened at the residence Tuesday.

It was self-defense that led Bruce Condit’s 21-year-old son to fatally shoot his former stepmother, Peek said in his capacity as the family’s spokesman on Wednesday. Stacey Condit was not the biological mother of either of Bruce Condit’s children.

“Chris was just protecting himself and his family,� said Peek. “This is a horrifically traumatic event. Mr. Condit and his family are too upset to talk to anybody. They’re still in shock.�

Peek said Bruce Condit was in his garage Tuesday when he saw his ex-wife stop her car in the middle of the street in front of his house.

“She got out of the car and pointed a rifle at him. He ran into the kitchen and locked the door,� said Peek.

Bruce Condit called 911.

“Noise from Stacey trying to break a bedroom window with the barrel of her gun, a .22 pump rifle, was mistaken for gunshots by Bruce and the 911 dispatcher,� Peek said.

Condit took cover in his bedroom and locked it when he saw his ex-wife enter the house via a window in his son’s bedroom and again level a gun at him, Peek said.

He said Condit’s 19-year-old daughter opened her bedroom door but quickly slammed it when she saw her former stepmother was aiming the weapon at her.

Condit’s son, Christopher, had taken refuge in a bathroom when Stacey Condit began trying to enter the home through his bedroom. With him, he took a 12-gauge shotgun he used for hunting, Peek said.

Chris fired the gun through the bathroom door, said Peek.

“The door opened and Stacey faced him with her gun. Chris fired the gun again and it hit her in the stomach,� Peek said. “I believe the investigation will also show she attempted to fire her gun but it malfunctioned.�

Peek said when Stacey Condit attempted to discharge the weapon is unknown.

Stacey Condit had gone to the law office of Condit, Peek and Young, on Plaza Drive, to speak with Bruce Condit around 3 p.m. Tuesday and again at 5 p.m., said Peek.

When his ex-wife refused to leave after the second visit, Bruce Condit tried to get in his truck and leave but was blocked by Stacey Condit’s car.

Peek says Bruce Condit called 911 because Stacey Condit was sitting in the passenger seat of his truck and refused to leave. When she learned police were on their way, she “keyed� Bruce Condit’s truck and left.

“Mr. Condit feels deep sympathy for Stacey’s family,� Peek said.

Schutte said Wake Village Police had responded to the house before during the Condit’s divorce, but only for civil matters.

Law enforcement officials will determine if the shooting was a homicide or a justified homicide.

“All deaths caused by another person are considered homicides. It’s just determining what type it is,� Schutte said Wednesday.

There has not been a homicide in Wake Village since 2003 when Jerod Kelley, 28, allegedly shot and killed Booker Willis, 53, wounded his estranged wife Regina Kelley and then held his children hostage in a home on Singapore Road.
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seamusTX
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Post by seamusTX »

When I read the first story, I thought, self-defense, yeah, right. But it certainly sounds legitimate.

- Jim
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stevie_d_64
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Post by stevie_d_64 »

Amazing once again that the net was cast far and wide, then when the story was confirmed and the evidence (not the news) was evaluated...

The people who lived to take that accusatory ride, eventually walked...

Thats why I think its important to maintain a level of coolness, train yourself to understand and accept that this may be the first in a line of things that will happen to you regardless if "you" think its a "self-defense" shooting...

"Plan and hope for the best, but understand that the worst may still happen..."
"Perseverance and Preparedness triumph over Procrastination and Paranoia every time.” -- Steve
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