Craigslist suspect loses bid for media leak probe Fresno Bee
BOSTON -- A former medical student charged with killing a masseuse he met on Craigslist has lost his request for an investigation into media leaks he claimed may have tainted the grand jury that indicted him.
An attorney for Philip Markoff last month asked a judge in Boston to order prosecutors to prove that media leaks didn't influence the grand jury.
Attorney John Salsberg cited news articles that included leaked evidence and possible motives for the killing of New York masseuse Julissa Brisman, 25, and the armed robbery of a Las Vegas prostitute. Markoff allegedly met both women at Boston hotels after contacting them through the erotic services section of Craigslist.
But Judge Frank Gaziano ruled that unlike jurors who sit at trials, grand jurors may "act on their own personal knowledge." He said the defense had not shown that grand jurors were influenced by bias or prejudice.
"Moreover, the defendant has not demonstrated that the indictments were improperly based on feelings of 'hatred or malice,' as opposed to indictments properly returned after the grand jury considered evidence that the defendant committed the charged crimes," Gaziano wrote in his ruling, dated Monday.
Written by Craig D. Robins, Esq.
There were articles yesterday, both in Newsday and USA Today about how foreclosures were continuing to set records despite the Obama administration’s efforts to help borrowers.
Long Island Foreclosure Figures
In Suffolk County, for the first half of this year, one out of every 155 households was facing foreclosure, while one out of every 166 Nassau County households was facing foreclosure, according to data released by RealtyTrac.
This means that there were 3,512 Suffolk Foreclosures and 2,762 nassau foreclosures. This represents a 63.6% increase from last year.
National Foreclosure Figures
So far in 2009 there have been 1.9 million foreclosure filings in the first six months. This represents a 15% increase from last year, according to data from RealtyTrac.
June was the fourth consecutive month that nationwide foreclosure filings exceeded 300,000.
The Recession Continues
The staggering level of foreclosures is further evidence that the recession is continuing. Americans and Long Island consumers continue to be victims of job losses and cutbacks. Falling home values also continue to plague consumers.
It’s no wonder that we are seeing large increases in Chapter 13 bankruptcy filings by consumers to save homes from foreclosure.
![Corliss arraigned, held without bail in Dangol murder Wicked Local Roslindale]("http://nt3.ggpht.com/news/tbn/8xSuH9DhFySaTM/6.jpg")
Boston GlobeCorliss arraigned, held without bail in Dangol murderWicked Local RoslindaleSuffolk County District Attorney Dan Conley said it was a "high tech investigation" but the sheer "shoe leather" work of detectives helped bring the Weapon found in JP clerk murderall 9 news articles »
![Suffolk DPW Worker Charged With Bookmaking North Country Gazette]("http://nt3.ggpht.com/news/tbn/b8fDFrTdyzvTtM/6.jpg")
Long Island PressSuffolk DPW Worker Charged With BookmakingNorth Country GazetteSuffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said Edward Barnes, 38, of Middle Island, was arrested following a joint investigation by the Special County mechanic charged in illegal bookmaking ringSpota: Suffolk Employee Doubled as Bookieall 4 news articles »
