From the first days of the official inquiry into the May 21 fire at Gallery Furniture, investigators focused on employees and particularly ex-employees as the likeliest cause of a four-alarm inferno that gutted a huge warehouse, burned up its contents, damaged furniture in a nearby showroom and caused losses upward of $15 million. These suspicions apparently panned out Tuesday when Robert Caroll Gillham , a longtime former Gallery salesman, was charged with first-degree arson. It was not necessary to arrest the 66-year-old Gillham because he was already in Montgomery County Jail on unrelated charges. “This was not just a good job — this was a great job in solving the fire,” said Houston Fire Department Chief Phil Boriskie . “Large fires are very difficult to solve because, quite frankly, they burn up a lot of evidence.” Officials would not discuss details of the investigation or say precisely when they began to look closely at Gillham. It is clear that his name came up … [Read more...] about Ex-employee charged in Gallery Furniture arson case
Which cases was the exclusionary rule created
GM Asks US Supreme Court To Review Racketeering Case Against FCA
General Motors has one last option remaining in its racketeering case against Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA). That is, GM might have one more option. The Detroit-based automaker has filed for an audience with the US Supreme Court to review a case originally filed in 2019 and dismissed in 2020. Whether the nation's highest court takes the case remains to be seen. GM has filed numerous appeals in the case, which has roots back in 2017 with a scandal involving FCA and the United Autoworkers Union (UAW). GM's latest appeal was turned down in August 2022, with a three-judge panel of the US 6th Circuit Court of Appeals upholding the previous decision. In the ruling, the panel indicated that even if GM's claims were true, potential injury to the company was diminished. According to The Detroit Free Press , GM's new filing with the Supreme Court claims the conclusion of the appeals court defied "statutory text, precedent, and common sense" by holding GM couldn't recover any … [Read more...] about GM Asks US Supreme Court To Review Racketeering Case Against FCA
Ferrari has “run out of patience” with F1 rules · RaceFans
Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo had strong words for Bernie Ecclestone following the Formula One Management boss’s recent criticism of the team. “You have to show respect for your elders, especially when they get to that stage in which they are no longer in control of what they say,” said Montezemolo of Ecclestone. “However, old age is clearly incompatible with certain roles and responsibilities.” Ecclestone criticised Ferrari for questioning whether Sebastian Vettel had illegally overtaken Jean-Eric Vergne during the Brazilian Grand Prix. The FIA told Ferrari the pass was legal and there was “no case to answer”. Montezemolo, speaking at a press conference at the Ferrari World Finals in Valencia , said: “The FIA declared that for them there had been no infringement and so the matter was closed.” “Congratulations to Vettel and Red Bull because whoever won after such a difficult season deserved the title and because at Ferrari that is what we do. And we would like … [Read more...] about Ferrari has “run out of patience” with F1 rules · RaceFans
Rodriguez deal with Astros creates quite a buzz
LAKELAND, Fla. — Cecil Cooper didn’t want to discuss Ivan Rodriguez on Tuesday because the veteran catcher’s deal is contingent on his passing a physical and therefore not official. But the Astros manager spent some time Monday morning asking Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland about the 13-time Gold Glove winner. “I had a great conversation about (Rodriguez) with Cecil Cooper,” said Leyland, who managed Rodriguez with the Tigers from 2004 through part of the 2008 season. “He asked me all about him.” Reaction to Rodriguez’s signing ran the gamut before the Astros tied the Tigers at 1 on Tuesday at Joker Marchant Stadium. Some players rejoiced. Others such as Carlos Lee were hesitant to praise the deal out of respect for Humberto Quintero , who was set to be the starter until Rodriguez was signed. Even bench coach Ed Romero and first-base coach Jose Cruz , who gushed about Rodriguez on Sunday when speaking about Puerto Rico’s victory over Team USA in the World … [Read more...] about Rodriguez deal with Astros creates quite a buzz
Ross Brawn: Mystery F1 team sceptics left ‘eating humble pie’ over new rules
Outgoing Formula 1 managing director of motorsports Ross Brawn has declared the sport’s 2022 rule changes a resounding success and claimed those who doubted the revised regulations – including some high-profile technical directors – were left eating humble pie. Last season marked the start of a new era in F1 as the return to ground effect aerodynamics resulted in cars that were able to follow more closely – and therefore overtake more easily – on track. In his role within the Formula 1 organisation, Brawn was seen as the orchestrator of the new rules with the former Ferrari and Mercedes man surrounding himself with trusted technical minds – including Nikolas Tombazis and Pat Symonds – to deliver the most thoroughly researched regulation changes in the sport’s history. The technical changes came after the introduction of F1’s first-ever budget cap in 2021. In an interview with Motor Sport Magazine , Brawn has revealed that F1’s plans for last season encountered some resistance … [Read more...] about Ross Brawn: Mystery F1 team sceptics left ‘eating humble pie’ over new rules
Colorado officials plead not guilty in Elijah McClain case
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 21 BRIGHTON, Colo. (AP) — A group of police officers and paramedics pleaded not guilty Friday to charges stemming from the role they are accused of playing in the death of a 23-year-old Black man who was forcibly restrained and injected with a powerful sedative called ketamine. They were indicted by a state grand jury on manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and other charges in 2021. Two years earlier, Elijah McClain died after being stopped while walking down the street in the Denver suburb of Aurora. A 911 caller had reported a man who seemed “sketchy.” An amended autopsy report released last year concluded that McClain would have most likely survived but for the administration of a dose of ketamine that was higher than recommended for someone his size. However, the … [Read more...] about Colorado officials plead not guilty in Elijah McClain case
Speaker McCarthy adds hard-right Republicans to House Rules Committee
WASHINGTON - The House's powerful Rules Committee has moved to the right, according to lists shared by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Monday. The committee, which will be chaired by Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), includes Reps. Chip Roy (R-Texas), Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ralph Norman (R-S.C.). Cole said Monday night on social media that he was delighted to "welcome a diverse slate" of Republican lawmakers to the committee. He added that they will work to "restore regular order and ensure thorough debate" in the chamber. Roy and Norman were among the group of Republican holdouts who withheld support for McCarthy's speakership during the 15 rounds of voting earlier this month until after he'd made several concessions to the more extremist wing of the party. "This was about empowering people - empowering rank-and-file members," Roy said after the speakership votes were completed, having voted against McCarthy 11 times before supporting him in the final rounds. The … [Read more...] about Speaker McCarthy adds hard-right Republicans to House Rules Committee
Internet evidence key, but not enough in no-body murder case
BOSTON (AP) — Prosecutors in Massachusetts are basing their murder case against a man whose wife is presumed dead but whose body has not been found in large part on a series of gruesome internet searches he made around the time of her disappearance. Scouring data on personal electronic devices is a common strategy in criminal cases, but experts warn that incriminating searches are not enough alone to build a solid case. “It would be very challenging to try and base a criminal investigation on just what somebody searched for on the internet,” said Jennifer Lynch, the surveillance litigation director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a San Francisco-based nonprofit that defends digital civil liberties. Brian Walshe used Google to look up ways to dismember and dispose of a body, including “how long before a body starts to smell,” “hacksaw best tool to dismember,” and “10 ways to dispose of a dead body if you really need to,” a prosecutor said when Walshe was arraigned Jan. … [Read more...] about Internet evidence key, but not enough in no-body murder case
Myanmar resistance steadfast against army rule 2 years later
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 23 BANGKOK (AP) — The prospects for peace in Myanmar, much less a return to democracy, seem dimmer than ever two years after the army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, experts say. On Wednesday, legions of opponents of military rule heeded a call by protest organizers to stay home in what they call a “silent strike” to show their strength and solidarity. The opposition’s General Strike Coordination Body, formed soon after the 2021 takeover, urged people to stay inside in their homes or workplaces from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Photos posted on social media showed empty streets in the normally bustling downtown area of Yangon, the country’s largest city, with just a few vehicles on the roads, and there were reports of similar scenes elsewhere. … [Read more...] about Myanmar resistance steadfast against army rule 2 years later