Description: Conviction of Scott Arsenault for manslaughter of Bun Vong -- Retrial. Court scenes including jury delivering verdict, reaction shots of Arsenault and his fiancee. Interviews with Scott Harshbarger and defense attorney Ralph Champ. Discussion of whether the attack was racially motivated. Interview with Elaine Song from Asians for Justice.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 06/19/1986
Description: Suffolk County District Attorney Garrett Byrne gives press conference to ask Chief Justice Robert Bonin to remove himself from child sexual abuse case because of involvement in fundraising for defendant.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 04/06/1978
Description: Background of CIA recruitment protest trial with Amy Carter and Abbie Hoffman. Footage of protest from year earlier. Court scenes. Interviews with Leonard Weinglass, Abbie Hoffman, Daniel Ellsberg, and Ralph Mcgehee. B-roll follows of interiors of court house, Weinglass talking to Amy Carter, and Amy and Abbie talking.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 04/07/1987
Description: Third day of jury selection for CIA recruitment protest trial of Amy Carter, Abbie Hoffman, and others. David Boeri comments on the media's intense focus on Amy Carter. Court scenes. After the court lets out without having selected a jury, Abbie Hoffman talks to the press about the importance of this trial in revealing the true nature of the Central Intelligence Agency. He also comments that despite his age, he's remaining active in the causes he believes in.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 04/08/1987
Description: Students and camera men walk together. Attorney Leonard Weinglass in court argues in defense of students who protested CIA recruitment at University of Massachusetts, Amherst, due to CIA involvement in Central America. Activist Abbie Hoffman nervously reads from a notebook in defense of the students. Prosecutor Diane Fernault argues that the case is about trespassing, not protest. Footage of jury acquitting students; Amy Carter of charges. Brief individual interviews after trial with Hoffman, Fernault and student. Hoffman says, "good luck, Celtics. They'll need it." Reporter David Boeri appears on screen to sign off among crowd of students.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 04/15/1987
Description: Jury for CIA recruitment protest trial gets sworn in. Other court scenes. Footage of the 1986 protest. Assistant District Attorney Diane Fernauld makes the prosecution's case. Defense attorney Leonard Weinglass and UMass Amherst student Jennifer Johnston make opening arguments for the defense, accusing both the CIA and UMass Amherst of committing crimes, which the defendants were only trying to prevent. Judge Richard Conan allows defense witness to testify as to the crimes of the CIA, but has yet to decide if the jury will be allowed to consider this testimony.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 04/09/1987
Description: Parents of abused children speak out about the damage done to their children and families by Gerald Amirault, as part of the Fells Acres sexual abuse trial. Lawyers also make pleas for a life sentence. Amirault, his nephew and his wife makes passionate pleas for his innocence. The defense lawyer asks for a lesser sentence. Judge Dolan gives her sentence.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 08/21/1986
Description: Update on the Fells Acres sexual assault trial. Testimony of Gerald Amirault, who insists upon his innocence. Protected testimony of the nine children who testified against him. Court room scenes, and explanation of the unusual procedure required for the children's privacy.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 06/26/1986
Description: Closing argument presented by defense and the state in the Fells Acres sexual abuse trial. Gerald Amirault awaits the jury's verdict. Examples of the children's testimony and arguments over whether it can be trusted.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 07/07/1986
Description: David Boeri reports that five Harvard alumni and other protesters were arrested for an apartheid protest outside the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard University in November of 1986. Boeri notes that the protesters are acting as their own lawyers in court this week. Boeri reports that the defendants claim to have committed the lesser crime of civil disobedience in order to prevent the greater crime of economic support to the apartheid regime. Boeri reports that the judge has ruled that the defendants cannot use this line of defense and has refused to hear testimony about apartheid. Boeri notes that the defendants are testing the limits of the judges' ruling by continuing to introduce testimony about apartheid. Footage of the proceedings in the courtroom. Don Carney (Cambridge Police Department) testifies against the defendants. Peter Bellotti (Assistant District Attorney, Middlesex County) objects to testimony by Sarah Browning (defendant) and Joel Reisman (defendant). Wendy Gershengorn (judge, Middlesex County) issues instructions from the bench. Interviews with defendants Peggy Schirmer and Robert Wolff. Boeri notes that the trial will be slow and tedious. Footage from an apartheid protest at the Fogg Art Museum.
1:00:00: Visual: Footage of court proceedings in the Middlesex County Courthouse. Shots of the judge, bailiff and co-defendants in the trial of Harvard alumni and alumnae. David Boeri reports that five Harvard alumni and other protesters were arrested outside of the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard University last November; that the protesters were demonstrating against apartheid outside of a fundraising dinner at the museum. Boeri notes that the fundraising dinner had originally been scheduled for September; that apartheid protests forced the dinner to be postponed until November; that arrests were made at the demonstration in November. V: Footage of apartheid protesters sitting in the museum. The protesters are clapping and chanting. Footage of Don Carney (lieutenant, Cambridge Police Department) in court. He testifies that the protesters were told to leave the area; that the protesters were arrested when they failed to comply with the order. Footage of Peter Bellotti (Assistant District Attorney, Middlesex County) saying that no one was arrested for protesting. Shots of the audience in the courtroom; of a man standing before a blackboard in the courtroom. He indicates locations on a map drawn on the blackboard. Boeri reports that the defendants did not contest the testimony of police officers who arrested them; that the defendants want to use their trial to put Harvard on trial. V: Footage of Peggy Schirmer (defendant, Radcliffe Class of 1938) saying that Harvard has almost $300 million invested in companies doing business in South Africa; that Harvard has no plans to divest those stocks. Shots of the defendants conferring in the courtroom. Boeri reports that the defendants claim to have committed lesser crimes to prevent the greater crime of economic support of apartheid; that Judge Wendy Gershengorn (Middlesex County) has ruled that the defendants cannot use the necessity defense. Boeri adds that the defendants are acting as their own lawyers; that the defendants are testing the limits of the judge's ruling. V: Shots of Gershengorn conferring with the defendants who stand in front of her bench. Footage of Bellotti objecting to testimony by Sarah Browning (defendant, Harvard Class of 1984); of the Bellotti objecting to testimony by Schirmer. Gershengorn sustains the Bellotti's objections. Footage of the Bellotti objecting twice to testimony by Joel Reisman (defendant, Harvard Class of 1975). Shots of Gershengorn issuing instructions from the bench. Boeri reports that the defendants were frustrated by Gershengorn's refusal to hear testimony relevant to apartheid. V: Footage of Robert Wolff (defendant, Harvard Class of 1954) saying that they were at the museum to protest apartheid; that the reason for the protest is relevant evidence; that the jury should be allowed to hear that evidence. Boeri reports that the trial will be slow and tedious. Boeri notes that the defendants are trying to use the necessity defense; that the prosecution objects to much of their testimony.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 05/28/1987
Description: Opening of court proceedings in a criminal contempt case against Michael Gaine (Hyde Park resident). In addition to the defendant, Judge James Lynch, Jr. (Suffolk Superior Court), Richard Driscoll (lawyer for the defendant), Stephen Limon (Assistant Attorney General for the State of Massachusetts), members of the jury, and the Brooks family are present in court. Limon makes opening statement and accuses Gaine of violating a previous consent decree by harassing an African American family in Hyde Park. Debra Stewart testifies about the events of August 22 and identifies Michael Gaine in the courtroom. Tape 1 of 5.
1:00:01: Visual: Shot of Michael Gaine (Hyde Park resident) in courtroom at Suffolk Superior Court. 1:00:31: V: Court proceedings begin in a criminal contempt case against Michael Gaine. Michael Gaine (defendant), Judge James Lynch, Jr. (Suffolk Superior Court), Richard Driscoll (lawyer for the defendant), Stephen Limon (Assistant Attorney General for the State of Massachusetts) and members of the jury are all present in court. Members of the Brooks family are seated in the courtroom. The judge allows a motion to sequester the witnesses for the defense and the prosecution. 1:02:14: V: Limon gives his opening statement. Limon accuses Gaine of violating a consent judgment signed on August 19. Limon says that the consent judgment bars Gaine from harassing African American families in Hyde Park. Limon accuses Gaine of urinating and making obscene gestures in front of an African American family in Hyde Park on August 22. Shots of Limon giving his statement; of the audience; of Gaine. 1:08:24: V: Driscoll reserves his right to make an opening statement. The judge reviews the consent judgment signed by Gaine on August 19. Shot of the audience. The court stenographer records the proceedings. Limon submits a map of the Ross Field area of Hyde Park as an exhibit in the case. 1:13:17: V: Limon calls Debra Stewart (witness) to testify. Stewart is sworn in. Limon questions Stewart about her background and her relations with the Brooks family. Limon questions Stewart about the events at the Brooks's home on the afternoon of August 22. Stewart points out Gaine in the courtroom. She says that she was in the yard of the Brooks's home with Bertha Brooks, Charles Brooks, Chad Brooks, and two other people; that Gaine was walking toward Ross Field in Hyde Park; that he stared at the group gathered outside of the Brooks's home as he passed.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 09/02/1982
Description: Debra Stewart (witness) testifies during court proceedings in the criminal contempt trial of Michael Gaine (Hyde Park resident). Stewart says that Gaine urinated while facing the home of the Brooks family, made obscene gestures at the group outside of the home, and yelled Bertha Brooks's name loudly. Stephen Limon (Assistant Attorney General for the State of Massachusetts) calls Edgar Charles Brooks (witness) to testify. Brooks points out Gaine in the courtroom and says that Gaine slowed down as he walked by the Brooks home on the afternoon of August 22. Tape 2 of 5.
1:00:02: Visual: Court proceedings in the Michael Gaine criminal contempt trial. Debra Stewart (witness) continues to testify. Stewart indicates the location of the Brooks's home on the map of the Ross Field area of Hyde Park. Shot of Gaine. Stewart says that Michael Gaine (defendant) walked from Ross Field toward the Brooks' home; that Gaine unzipped his trousers and urinated while facing the Brooks's home; that Gaine made obscene gestures at the group outside of the Brooks's home. Stewart says that Gaine yelled Bertha Brooks's name loudly. 1:12:14: V: Richard Driscoll (attorney for the defendant) questions Stewart about the events on the afternoon of August 22. Driscoll questions Stewart about her relationship with Bertha and Charles Brooks. Driscoll questions Stewart about her previous statements. Driscoll points to the map while asking Stewart specific questions about her previous statements. Shots of the audience; of reporters in the audience. Stewart indicates the location of the entrance to Ross Field near the Brooks's home. Shots of the audience. 1:17:23: V: Shot of Gaine. Driscoll continues to ask Stewart to indicate locations on the map. Shot of a member of the audience. 1:18:11: V: Stephen Limon (Assistant Attorney General for the State of Massachusetts) calls Edgar Charles Brooks (witness) to testify. Limon asks Brooks questions about his work, education and family background. Limon asks Brooks about the events on the afternoon of August 22. Brooks points out Gaine in the courtroom. Brooks says that Gaine slowed down as he walked by his home on the afternoon of August 22.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 09/02/1982
Description: Edgar Charles Brooks (witness) and Bertha Brooks (witness) testify in the criminal contempt trial of Michael Gaine (Hyde Park resident). Both witnesses say that Gaine urinated while facing the Brooks' home and that Gaine yelled Bertha Brooks's name loudly. Bertha Brooks says that Gaine stared at her and made obscene gestures, and that she called police. Tape 3 of 5.
1:00:05: Visual: Edgar Charles Brooks (witness) continues to testify in the criminal contempt trial of Michael Gaine (Hyde Park resident). Edgar Charles Brooks says that Gaine urinated while facing the Brooks's home; that Gaine yelled Bertha Brooks's name loudly; 1:02:43: V: Richard Driscoll (attorney for the defendant) questions Edgar Charles Brooks about his testimony. Driscoll shows Edgar Charles Brooks photographs of the area near Ross Field. 1:03:54: V: Bertha Brooks (witness) is sworn in. Stephen Limon (Assistant Attorney General for the State of Massachusetts) questions Bertha Brooks about her work and her family. Jump cut in videotape. Bertha Brooks says that Gaine urinated while facing her home; that Gaine continued to stare at the Brooks when he finished urinating. Bertha Brooks says that Gaine made obscene gestures at her and her family and guests. Jump cut in videotape. Bertha Brooks says that Gaine yelled her name loudly. Shots of James Lynch Jr. (Judge, Suffolk Superior Court). Bertha Brooks says that she called the police; that the police arrived 15 minutes after she called them.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 09/02/1982
Description: Footage opens with judge announcing in court proceedings of trial regarding a restraining order violation filed by Bertha Brooks against Michael Gaine and David Gilligan. MacEachern describes actions leading to incident report against Michael Gaine about civil rights contempt of court -- violation of restraining order in Hyde Park. David Gilligan testifies. Defendant Michael Gaine, 18, also testifies, denies harassing residents. Reel 4 of 5.
1:00:02: Visual: Judge James Lynch, Jr. (Suffolk Superior Court) rules on a motion in the criminal contempt case of Michael Gaine. Richard Driscoll (attorney for the defendant) makes his opening statement. Driscoll begins his statement. Jump cut in videotape. Alan MacEachern (Boston Police Department) is sworn in as a witness. Driscoll asks MacEachern about the events on the afternoon of August 22. MacEachern says that Bertha Brooks told him that Michael Gaine (Hyde Park resident) was on Ross Field in violation of a restraining order; that MacEachern told Gaine to leave the field. MacEachern says that Bertha Brooks told him about the urinating incident when he took an incident report; that Bertha Brooks did not mention any obscene gestures made by Gaine. MacEachern says that he arrested Gaine after taking the incident report. Driscoll gives MacEachern a copy of his incident report. Stephen Limon (Assistant Attorney General for the State of Massachusetts) objects to Driscoll giving MacEachern the report. Driscoll questions MacEachern about what he was told by Bertha Brooks when he took the incident report. MacEachern looks at photographs of Ross Field provided by Driscoll. MacEachern says that Bertha Brooks told him that Gaines urinated 50 or 60 feet away from her property; that Bertha Brooks said that Gaines was directly in front of her house. The judge rules on an objection by Limon. 1:09:12: V: Limon questions a Hyde Park youth about his relationship with Gaine. The youth says that he knew about the restraining order; that he was with Gaine on Ross Field on August 22. 1:11:52: V: Gaine is sworn in as a witness. Driscoll asks Gaine about the events on the afternoon of August 22. Gaine says that he walked to Ross Field to join a group of friends on the afternoon of August 22. Gaine says that he walked over to the baseball diamond to urinate. Gaine indicates the spot where he urinated on a photograph provided by Driscoll. Gaine says that he did not make an obscene gesture; that he did not yell Bertha Brooks' name. Driscoll questions Gaine about his activities during the rest of the afternoon. Gaine says that the spot where he urinated was 197 feet from the Brooks' property. Gaine indicates the location of the Brooks' home on a photograph provided by Driscoll. Limon requests a five minute recess.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 09/02/1982
Description: Michael Gaine (Hyde Park resident) testifies in his own criminal contempt trial. Gaine denies urinating in front of the Brooks family home. Gaine says that he understood the previous consent decree and knew that he was not supposed to go to Ross Field. Richard Driscoll (attorney for Gaine) asks Gaine if he intended to violate the consent decree. Gaine says no. In his closing arguments, Driscoll says that Gaine did not intentionally violate the consent decree. He says that the testimony of Bertha Brooks (witness) does not match the incident report filed by Alan MacEachern (Boston Police Department). Lynch rules that Gaine is guilty of intentionally violating the previous consent decree. Lynch charges Gaine with criminal contempt and sentences him to sixty days in the Charles Street jail. Gaine exits the courtroom. The Brooks family and their supporters exchange hugs in the courtroom. Tape 5 of 5
1:00:02: Visual: Michael Gaine (defendant) testifies in his criminal contempt trial. Stephen Limon (Assistant Attorney General for the State of Massachusetts) questions Gaine about the events on the afternoon of August 22. Limon asks Gaine where he urinated on the afternoon of August 22. Gaine denies urinating in front of the Brooks' home. Gaine says that he urinated inside the park. Limon asks Gaine if he understood the consent judgment issued by the court. Gaine says that he understood the consent judgment; that he understood that he was not supposed to congregate on Ross Field with other defendants. Limon finishes questioning Gaine. 1:05:36: V: Richard Driscoll (attorney for the defendant) asks Gaine if he had intended to violate the consent judgment. Gaine says no. Driscoll rests his case. Judge James Lynch, Jr. (Suffolk Superior Court) questions the attorneys about the length of their closing arguments. The lawyers agree to finish arguing the case that afternoon. Shots of Driscoll preparing for his closing arguments; of the audience; of witnesses, including Edgar Charles Brooks, Bertha Brooks, and Debra Stewart, entering the courtroom. 1:08:43: V: Driscoll makes his closing arguments. Driscoll reviews the charges against the defendant. Driscoll argues that the evidence does not show Gaine as violating the consent decree. Driscoll says that Gaine is guilty of urinating in a public place; that Bertha Brooks's testimony does not match the incident report taken by MacEachern; that the plaintiffs have an interest in seeing Gaine punished. Driscoll says that witnesses testified to seeing Gaine urinate; that the witnesses did not see Gaine make an obscene gesture or hear Gaine yell at the Brooks. Driscoll says that Gaine did not make obscene gestures or yell at the Brooks. 1:14:03: V: Lynch reviews the charges against Gaine. He reviews the consent judgment signed by Gaine. Lynch reminds listeners that the trial is a non-jury trial. He reviews the dual roles of the court in a non-jury trial. Lynch says that voluntary intoxication is not a defense for a criminal act. Lynch rules that Gaine is guilty of a willful violation of the consent judgment issued by the court on August 19. Lynch charges Gaine with criminal contempt. Driscoll asks for a few moments before the judge issues a sentence. Driscoll confers with Gaine. 1:18:09: Visual: Shots of the audience; of Bertha Brooks in the audience. Limon recommends that Gaine be sentenced to three months in county jail. Jump cut in videotape. Lynch says that he wants to show that "the law has teeth." Lynch says that violations which occur three or four days after a consent judgment has been issued are unacceptable. Lynch says that Gaine should have thought about the consequences of his actions. Lynch says that he would sentence Gaine to the Deer Island House of Corrections if it were possible under the current statute. Lynch sentences Gaine to 60 days in the Charles Street jail. Gaine and Driscoll stand for the sentencing of Gaine. Lynch denies Driscoll's motion for a stay of the jail sentence pending appeal. Gaine exits the courtroom as court is dismissed. The Brooks family and their supporters exchange hugs in the courtroom. Limon congratulates the Brooks. Limon, the Brooks, and their supporters exit the courtroom.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 09/02/1982
Description: Marcus Jones reports on the public's interest in the Pamela Smart trial. Includes interviews with "groupies" that wait overnight for public seating inside the courtroom, or to watch the trial on television in an adjoining room. The trial is being broadcast live throughout New Hampshire (shots of residents watching in bars, nursing homes, etc.) and has gained national media attention. Reporter Bill Spencer says that the live courtroom coverage will help people understand the legal system and make them more willing to serve as jurors, but Marcus Jones wonders whether the "circus atmosphere" surrounding the trial is about "justice, or just entertainment." B-roll follows edited story, including courthouse exterior, metal detector, waiting for a place in courtroom, Court Room One signs, bags being searched before entry, people entering courtroom directly, Pamela Smart entering courtroom, onlookers watching on television in overflow room, shots of Smart testimony on television.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 03/18/1991
Description: Meg Vaillancourt interviews South Boston high school sophomore boys about their view of confessed teenage murderer William Flynn in the Pamela Smart trial. Interview with Edward Loughran, Commissioner of the Department of Youth Services, about regulations surrounding juvenile offenders charged with capital crimes in Massachusetts.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 03/18/1991
Description: Sharon Stevens interviews Willie Sanders (Boston resident), after his acquittal on rape and assault charges. Sanders discusses his bitterness at being wrongly accused and prosecuted for raping a white woman and compares his ordeal to the Scottsboro rape cases in 1932. Sanders says he met Clarence Norris (Scottsboro defendant); says that little has changed since that case; says that African Americans need to get organized to prevent the recurrence of these cases. Sanders describes his ordeal; accuses the police officers in District 14 of engineering the rape accusation; says that the officers involved in his case have been revealed as "devils." Sanders says that he is writing a book about his experience with the legal system and describes what he sees as a double standard within the legal system. Sanders talks about growing up in the South and discusses differences between the racial climates in the North and in the South. Sanders talks about the racism in the North; accuses the district attorney of racism; recounts instances of racism in the courtroom; and discusses inequities in the legal system.
0:00:23: Visual: Sharon Stevens interviews Willie Sanders (Boston resident) in an apartment. Sanders sits on a couch. Stevens asks if Sanders is angry at the system after his ordeal. Sanders says that he has every right to be bitter; that his case is not the first in which an African American man is wrongly convicted for the rape of a white woman. Sanders mentions the Scottsboro rape cases in 1932. Sanders says that African Americans need to get organized to prevent it from happening again. Stevens asks Sanders if he had been aware of the Scottsboro cases and other civil rights cases before the rape trial. Sanders says that he had been working hard to take care of his family before the rape trial. He says that he has met some good people while fighting the rape charge; that he met Clarence Norris (Scottsboro defendant); that little has changed since the Scottsboro cases in 1932. Sanders says that he has been given a lot of support. Sanders says that the police officers in District 14 engineered the rape accusation. Stevens remarks that Sanders has been quoted as referring to the officers involved in his case as "devils." Sanders describes being taken from his home by police officers, who told him he would only be gone for a few minutes. Sanders describes being held at the District 14 police station. He says that William Curry (Boston Police Department) was in charge of the rape investigation. Sanders says that he thought that the rape charge would be dropped. Sanders adds that he became very angry as the case progressed. Sanders says that his faith helped to see him through the ordeal; that the situation began to turn in his favor when he let go of his anger and forgave his persecutors. Sanders says that he began to smile at the trial because he knew his faith would see him through; that the district attorney mistook his smile for one of guilt. Sanders says that the officers involved in his case have been revealed as "devils." 0:09:56: V: Sanders says that he is writing a book about his experience with the legal system; that there is a double standard in the legal system; that the judges in the legal system are covering for the police officers. Sanders says that he and his lawyers raised a lot money for his defense; that the legal system only works for those with money. Sanders says that African Americans pay for their freedom in the US. He describes how difficult it was to find a good lawyer for his case. Stevens asks Sanders again about growing up in the South. Sanders says that African Americans in the South are better off than African Americans in the North; that African Americans in the South are united; that African Americans in the North need to organize themselves. Sanders says that he was not thinking about these issues before the rape trial. Sanders says that white people in the north are racist; that they assume that all African Americans are criminals. Sanders accuses the district attorney of being racist. Sanders recounts instances of racism in the courtroom. Sanders says that the legal system in Boston works against African Americans; that there are not enough African Americans serving jury duty. Sanders says that an African American suspect does not stand a chance when the judge, jurors, and victim are all white. Sanders says that he wants to keep working for civil rights causes. Sanders tells a story about how someone sent him a dollar in the mail to help with his legal expenses; that he knew that the person who sent the dollar was poor and had made a sacrifice for him. Sanders says that he and his family have learned a lot from this experience; that his son did a project in school based upon the experience. Sanders talks about being arrested on rape charges, even though he had an alibi. He says that the victim was not able to identify him as the rapist.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 10/21/1980