Florida Judge Orders Makeup Artist To Cover Defendant's Neo-Nazi Tattoos

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Reuters) - A neo-Nazi gang member went on trial for murder Monday with his swastika and other tattoos covered by makeup on the order of a Florida judge who thought they could prejudice jurors.

Read the whole story: Reuters

Comments

[SLRTX1]

10:11 PM on 12/11/2009

As repugnant as this seems, that's how these things go. If his tattoos were admissible in court, then there's no need to hide them. But, it was probably ruled inadmissible - so they will be hidden. $150 per day is a drop in the bucket, compared to the cost of paying the Judge, his/her staff, the deputies, the DA, his/her staff, the jury, etc. ALL trials cost $$. At least we get FAIR trials in the US.

[piper1233]

08:31 AM on 12/09/2009

Why not have a Plastic Surgeon make Charles Manson look more friendly, why not put all people of color in white face before a deep south trial, why not remove scars from all crime victims if they intend to come to the trial of their attacker, why not forbid crying at trials under penalty of imprisonment. If this Judges' descision doen't warrant a misstrial after any descision I dont know what does. If found Innocent (the Judge helped hide evidence of character from the Jury), if found Guilty (the Judge was offended by the sight of the defendent and did not make fair rulings). My guest is the former.

[dissanayake]

08:30 AM on 12/09/2009

Withholding eveidence, in this case, the Judge did the work of the defendents attorney

[StAlphonso]

08:30 AM on 12/09/2009

New Port Richey? Geez, he ought to insist on being tried locally and shirtless.

[PartTimeRoadie]

05:09 AM on 12/09/2009

You get a tattoo, on your FACE of all places, you're trying to make a statement and be noticed.

The fact that he got these tattoos after he was arrested, to me, makes a strong argument to keep them visible. Because he knew he'd be going to court, appearing before a jury, and that it may influence their opinion.

This judge, in my opinion, made a grievous error.

[drumz]

02:52 AM on 12/09/2009

Justice is supposed to be blind so I see the point but it was the guys choice to 'wear' the lifestyle, so what comes around goes around. But I would think it would be the choice of the defense attorney and not the judge advising on the defendants appearance.

[blaharumph]

07:21 AM on 12/09/2009

i agree.

[StormWarrior]

01:25 AM on 12/09/2009

birds of a feather...

[frankcaprafan]

01:16 AM on 12/09/2009

Seems this judge's decision is to err on the side of safety, as to diminish chances for an appeal based on a prejudiced jury.

[Phalanxman]

01:39 AM on 12/09/2009

Methinks so, too.

[mathme]

02:12 AM on 12/09/2009

that is an excellent point.

[GoDems2012]

01:15 AM on 12/09/2009

what about sleeves and pants?? keep it simple.

i'm not even sure the judge should decide to cover the tattoos. they add to his story. jury needs to see that.

[bentheimmigrant]

06:15 AM on 12/09/2009

But in all honesty, if I was a juror and a guy came in with such tattoos, I would think he was guilty of murder even if it was a trial for a blue collar crime.

[SinisterK9]

12:27 AM on 12/09/2009

He chose to get the tattoos. He ought to have to live with the personal responsibility of his decisions. However that ideal seems to be somewhat absent in much of society today.

[Phalanxman]

01:41 AM on 12/09/2009

This is also true, but why risk the outcome of his trial on his skin art? If the only difference between getting found "guilty" or "not guilty" was the tats, then they are certainly potentially prejudicial. If the jury decides for guilt, who'd want to lose the conviction because of that? And if the jury decides for innocence, or a lesser included, the tats would only have confused the issue.

[SinisterK9]

09:49 AM on 12/09/2009

As a jury is filled with human beings and not robots, there is no such thing as a truly objective jury and/or trial. We simply try to create an environment which gets us a close to that goal as possible. How would you/we know that the ONLY reason he was found guilty was because of the tats? Does the jury have an option to announce "guilty by tats"?

[ILuvBubbles]

10:52 PM on 12/08/2009

Why stop at the tattoos? How bout a wall street suit, European glasses, Italian shoes, a Swiss watch, a $400.00 hair cut and get'em a wedding band. Hell plant some fake blond hair blue eyed kids in the courtroom as well. This way the jurors will just see the real kind hearted average white guy that made a simple mistake, murder.

[SwingingFromCenter]

09:24 PM on 12/08/2009

1) They could prejudice jurors.
2) It should be his choice whether to show them or not. If he wants to prejudice jurors, that's his business.

[Puzzles]

10:38 PM on 12/08/2009

HIS lawyer asked the judge for the cover up. The prosecution should have fought that one.

[WhatDaBleep]

02:18 AM on 12/09/2009

The prosecution can't since they goosestep along with the judge!

[ipastor01]

09:10 PM on 12/08/2009

you have to be kidding me Florida. Do you do this for every tattooed defendant?

Ok, I understand the underlying principle, but do you have to hire a pro-makeup artist...?

I'm sure another inmate would have loved to help him using a Barbi Style Purse.

[co-sine]

08:45 PM on 12/08/2009

did he swear to tell the truth and nothing but the whole truth with his right hand on a copy of "Mein Kamph"?

[jeanrenoir]

09:53 PM on 12/08/2009

Could we get real? Half the outlaw bikers in America have Nazi tattoos, don't they? It's quite the fashion statement among great swaths of the great American unwashed. Nothing new here. Just another manifestation of the wages of American freedom.

[superjules]

08:42 PM on 12/08/2009

Tattoos are public declaration of who you are and what you believe. The jury needs to see that. If he no longer believes the things he has inked on his body, he should have them removed.

[tierone]

09:07 PM on 12/08/2009

Agree.

[lisakaz2]

09:57 PM on 12/08/2009

He put 'em on. I don't get why the judge rules for this. Why don't he just wear sleeves. Is he Larry the Cable Guy's homie?

[groot]

12:00 AM on 12/09/2009

the tattoos are on his face and neck so sleeves won't cover them. a white hood would be fitting and do the job for this mope.