Voice in the Wilderness

Phillip Blanchard · **Posted:** Tue Oct 21, 2003 8:01 am

AP covers the "sniper trial" (much like everyone else): <p> Legal experts agreed that Muhammad, in choosing to defend himself, now has little chance of an acquittal. But he may be seeking a different kind of vindication, University of Virginia law professor Anne Coughlin said.<p>"He doesn't want to be perceived as voiceless and helpless man, the pawn of lawyers," Coughlin said. "Maybe he wants to stand on his own two feet. Maybe he'd rather be presented as ruthless and cold-blooded than insane." <p>***Just cover the damn trial. Let what happens in the courtroom speak for itself. For God's sake, don't seek "comments" from "experts" who are not involved in the proceeding. Stay focused on the case as it's presented. Write clearly. Murder trials by their very nature are dramatic. There is no need to embellish. Let someone else write about the sideshow.***

catwoman · **Posted:** Tue Oct 21, 2003 5:40 pm

I've kinda had it with describing defendants' demeanor. Wire services had the sniper suspect "breaking his yearlong stony silence" or somesuch, and on the same day had the contraband Quaker-school kid sitting in court in "stoney silence."

Phillip Blanchard · **Posted:** Wed Oct 22, 2003 9:06 am

Lest people say I never have anything nice to say: The account in the Baltimore Sun of yesterday's trial proceedings was refreshingly free of outside chatter.

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