The Martin Anderson Verdict

Sue Carlton reports that no one in Panama City is surprised by the Martin Anderson verdict. Black Pastor Rufus Wood told Carlton, "I am disappointed. But not surprised." The all white jury took only 90 minutes to reach a verdict. Seven guards and a nurse were found not guilty.

FDLE chief Guy Tunnel and former Bay County medical examiner Charles Siebert were fired for their mishandling of the Anderson case. They were quickly hired by the Bay County State Attorney. The same office responsible from prosecuting the boot camps guards and nurse.

Tunnell went to great effort to keep the infamous videotape from going public. Siebert said Anderson died of Sickle cell trait. The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America ruled that the findings didn't pass the laugh test.

Doctor Willarda Edwards is president of the Baltimore-based association on sickle cell. She says her organization is emphatic that the death is unrelated to the sickle cell trait.

As she put it: "Attributing the death of this young man to sickle cell trait given the physical punishment he was put through does a disservice to the public and those in the sickle cell disease community."

Carlton reported other troubling factors from the trial.

As the manslaughter trial of the seven guards and the nurse played out in a Panama City courtroom, local Sheriff Frank McKeithen regularly seated himself on the right side, behind the guards and alongside their families.

The message was as clear as the blue-green waters of those Panhandle beaches not far away.

Siebert's medical credibility in Florida in in shambles. This man did an autospy on the very female Donna Reed. His report found Reed had "unremarkable prostate gland and testicles." Yet, the defense used him as their star medical witness.

Defense Attorney ripped Charlie Crist for interferring in Panama City business. Judge Michael Overstreet watched his Courttv interview and found it humorous. Overstreet removed Robert Anderson, Martin's father, from the court. He later allowed him back in.

“I don’t care who it is,” he said. “I don’t care who is watching. I have to follow the rule of law and the rules of this court. I don’t care about much else.”

The Justice Department is looking into filing federal charges. This is reminiscant of the Jim Crow era. Charges would have to be brought to federal court because no local court would find the defendant guilty.

Update: The Palm Beach Post has a fantastic op-ed on the Anderson verdeict.

Former Bay County Sheriff Guy Tunnell resigned as director of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement after bragging in e-mails to the current Bay County sheriff that he would block public release of the video and comparing Jesse Jackson to Jesse James and Barack Obama to Osama bin Laden. He quickly was hired by Bay County State Attorney Steve Meadows.

After the state Medical Examiners Commission voted to fire Bay County Coroner Charles Siebert, and the official overseeing his work said Dr. Siebert had a "lack of honesty and integrity," Mr. Meadows rehired him.