Dismissals announced in UNC protester cases
NON-LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES.
NO ONE WAS INSIDE THE HOME AT
THE TIME. NEW TODAY CHARGES
WERE DROPPED AGAINST SEVERAL
PEOPLE ARRESTED DURING A
PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTEST AT UNC,
WRAL OBTAINED THIS BODY CAMERA
VIDEO FROM THAT DAY SHOWING
PROTESTERS CLASHING WITH
POLICE. MONICA CASEY IS LIVE AT
THE ORANGE COUNTY COURTHOUSE
AFTER SPEAKING WITH ATTORNEYS
ON BOTH SIDES OF THESE CASES,
MONICA RECENT RULING IN ONE OF
THE CASES COULD AFFECT THE
OTHERS.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. THERE ARE
STILL 8 PENDING CASES RELATED
TO THESE PROTESTS. BUT THIS
JUDGE'S DECISION TO DISMISS
ONE CASE COULD IMPACT THE
REMAINING ONES.
>> FROM POLK PLACE TO ORANGE
COUNTY COURT ROOMS, MEMBERS
OF THIS PRO-PALESTINE GROUPS
SAY THEY'RE FIGHTING FOR THEIR
RIGHT TO PROTEST ON CAMPUS.
THERE JUST WASN'T REMOTELY
ENOUGH HERE TO JUSTIFY
INFRINGING THESE PROTESTERS
RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH. DEFENSE
ATTORNEY GINA BHALLA MOOKIE
ARGUES UNC DID NOT HAVE PROPER
JUSTIFICATION TO BREAK UP THE
PROTEST DENYING ANY SAFETY
HAZARD WHEN THEY GAVE THIS
DISPERSAL NOTICE. NOT ONLY DID
THEY NOT GIVE IT TO EVERYONE,
BUT THEY ALSO DID NOT STATE
APPROPRIATE GROUNDS. A JUDGE
AGREED WITH HER NOW BHALLA
MOOKIE AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY
JEFF NIEMANN ARE WAITING ON
THE JUDGE'S ORDER. NIEMANN
TELLS ME HIS OFFICE IS STILL
DECIDING WHETHER TO APPEAL AND
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE
REMAINING CASES, THE TIMING OF
GETTING THAT ORDER MAY AFFECT
THE TIMING OF THOSE CASES.
5 CASES WERE DISMISSED BY THE
DA'S OFFICE LAST WEEK. EVEN
TELLS ME THAT BECAUSE OF THE
UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES AROUND
THE CHAOTIC SITUATION AND THE
NUMBER OF ARRESTS TO THOSE
CASES WHERE A COMBINATION OF
SE, THEY'RE NOT BEING ABLE TO
ACTUALLY IDENTIFY THE ACTUAL
CHARGING OFFICER IN SOME CASES
OR IF WE DID IDENTIFY NOT BEING
ABLE TO LOCATE THEM BECAUSE
DETAILS WE SHE HOPES THIS CASE
WILL SET PRECEDENT FOR OTHER
NORTH CAROLINA SCHOOLS. WE
REALLY HOPE THAT THIS WILL HELP
TEACH UNIVERSITIES. WHAT IS
ACTUALLY REQUIRED TO STOP
STUDENT PROTESTERS.
>> CARRYING OUT PROTESTS AND
ACTS OF FREE SPEECH.
>> NOW MORE THAN 30 PEOPLE WERE
ARRESTED AT THAT PROTEST.
THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY JEFF
NIEMANN TELLS ME MOST OF THOSE
CASES HAVE BEEN RESOLVED EITHER
BY DEFERRED PROSECUTION OR
CONDITIONAL DISCHARGE DEALS.
THESE LAST FEW CASES THAT ARE
REMAINING ARE SET FOR EITHER
THIS COMING FRIDAY OR EARLY