Reader comments: Will book compromise trial?
9 comments | Read story
avengeance | 9:28 a.m. May 15, 2008
He can't possibly get a fair trial, but if he did, a beautiful irony would be him getting to sue her for slander and libel and get all the proceeds from sales of her juicy novel.
Sharon | 9:58 a.m. May 15, 2008
Sure Allen Steed will get a fair trial. The way I see it, Allen was also a victim of Warren Jeffs as Elisa Wall stated...if I recall right.This young man was following Warren Jeffs orders. He wasnt ready for marriage anymore than Elisa was, but the almighty prophet could of cared less. What do you think would of happened to this young boy..if he would have refused Jeffs orders? He'd be kicking a can down the road with the other LOST BOYS.
Oh , Please! | 10:19 a.m. May 15, 2008
I would have to buy the novel in order for it to taint my views. I doubt it will be a best seller anytime soon. Those that would buy the novel are most likely those who would be excused from jury duty for cause.
FYI to other readers "avengeance" appears to be FLDS and would obviously support the "man" involved.
FYI to other readers "avengeance" appears to be FLDS and would obviously support the "man" involved.
Comments continue below
Justthefactsmaam | 10:26 a.m. May 15, 2008
Er, wait a minute...I thought the whole "Lost Boys" argument was that they were KICKED OUT so that they *couldn't* marry the young girls?
Do I smell a lie?
Oops!
Do I smell a lie?
Oops!
Interesting | 11:20 a.m. May 15, 2008
Re: Justthefactsmaam | 10:26 a.m. May 15, 2008
No claims have been made that ALL the boys are kicked out. Just that many are left to wander the streets without money or a home and that this is to allow the older ones to have more than one wife. The girls are not kicked out to the streets just the boys.
Most will not be swayed by strawmen....
No claims have been made that ALL the boys are kicked out. Just that many are left to wander the streets without money or a home and that this is to allow the older ones to have more than one wife. The girls are not kicked out to the streets just the boys.
Most will not be swayed by strawmen....
youcan'thandlethefactsbonehead | 11:40 a.m. May 15, 2008
Sharon's point was that if he had refused to wed the lovely Miss Wall he would have been kicked out, and thus become one of the lost boys.
Just write your own book | 1:29 p.m. May 15, 2008
He should just write his own book.
Even if he's found guilty, he will only get a slap on the wrist. They weren't after him. He only got pulled into this because so many people pointed out that if they were going prosecute Jeffs as an acomplice to rape they couldn't just ignore the person who did the rape.
Utah authorities were going to totally overlook the husband's roll in the rape until they realised their case against Jeffs was going down the drain unless they charged the husband too.
Charges against the husband are just a formality and colateral damage well worth the price of sacrificing the guy if it was required to get Jeffs. After months on America's Most Wanted list, Utah couldn't let anything get in the way of a conviction on Jeffs, even if it meant charging someone they actually felt was innocent, but had to be charged or they could loose the grounds for their case on the REAL target... Jeffs.
I'm not a Jeffs supporter but even I can see the legal issues in trying the acomplice if we know who and where the rapist is and just say, "Oh he's-OK-he-didn't-do-anything-wrong".
Even if he's found guilty, he will only get a slap on the wrist. They weren't after him. He only got pulled into this because so many people pointed out that if they were going prosecute Jeffs as an acomplice to rape they couldn't just ignore the person who did the rape.
Utah authorities were going to totally overlook the husband's roll in the rape until they realised their case against Jeffs was going down the drain unless they charged the husband too.
Charges against the husband are just a formality and colateral damage well worth the price of sacrificing the guy if it was required to get Jeffs. After months on America's Most Wanted list, Utah couldn't let anything get in the way of a conviction on Jeffs, even if it meant charging someone they actually felt was innocent, but had to be charged or they could loose the grounds for their case on the REAL target... Jeffs.
I'm not a Jeffs supporter but even I can see the legal issues in trying the acomplice if we know who and where the rapist is and just say, "Oh he's-OK-he-didn't-do-anything-wrong".
Interloper | 4:14 p.m. May 15, 2008
This claim is more evasion, smoke and mirrors - exactly what we have come to expect from the FLDS. Ms. Wall's book with have no effect on Steed's case because:
• There will likely be no trial. Steed admitted the rape during the trial against Jeffs. So, he has already fully impeached himself. The case is prime for a guilty plea to a lesser offense and payment of restitution to Ms. Wall,
• Even if the Steed case went to trial it would be months from now, after the peak of the interest in Ms. Wall's book has ended.
• People in the area where the trial would be likely to be held or where any change of venue would occur already know more about the FLDS than any other people in the country. Ms. Wall's story lacks shock value for them. Some, still clinging to the LDS' polygamous past are even FLDS sympathizers. Contrary to what Steed's lawyer is claiming, Utah is the most favorable place for Steed to go to trial.
• There will likely be no trial. Steed admitted the rape during the trial against Jeffs. So, he has already fully impeached himself. The case is prime for a guilty plea to a lesser offense and payment of restitution to Ms. Wall,
• Even if the Steed case went to trial it would be months from now, after the peak of the interest in Ms. Wall's book has ended.
• People in the area where the trial would be likely to be held or where any change of venue would occur already know more about the FLDS than any other people in the country. Ms. Wall's story lacks shock value for them. Some, still clinging to the LDS' polygamous past are even FLDS sympathizers. Contrary to what Steed's lawyer is claiming, Utah is the most favorable place for Steed to go to trial.
Interloper | 5:09 p.m. May 15, 2008
Correction: Ms. Wall's book will have no effect on Steed's case....
The restitution issue is probably the sticking point to the plea bargain since any appreciable amount of money would have to come from the FLDS leadership, which may not consider Steed worth much now that they have gotten as much use out of him as they can.
Steed was not charged until after Jeffs was convicted, so it is ludicrous to say Steed was indicted to 'get' Jeffs.
Nor does the prosecution consider Steed innocent. He was certainly old enough to know that his 'marriage' to and continual rape of Ms. Wall was wrong.
The restitution issue is probably the sticking point to the plea bargain since any appreciable amount of money would have to come from the FLDS leadership, which may not consider Steed worth much now that they have gotten as much use out of him as they can.
Steed was not charged until after Jeffs was convicted, so it is ludicrous to say Steed was indicted to 'get' Jeffs.
Nor does the prosecution consider Steed innocent. He was certainly old enough to know that his 'marriage' to and continual rape of Ms. Wall was wrong.
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