Field Observation Report Stephen Peters Trial

Miguel Gallegos POLS 317 Professor Ward

Field Observation and Report: “Michael Flisk & Stephen Peters Trail”

The defendant and the accused Timothy Herring, is being charged with first degree murder in the murders of Chicago Police officer Michael Flisk and former Chicago Housing Authority officer Stephen Peters. The murders took place back in November 2010. Five years later state prosecutors are arguing that Herring shot Flisk and Peters to cover up a burglary he'd committed hours earlier. Herring is accused of burglarizing Stephen Peters a well looked after customized 2003 Ford Mustang Cobra. Herring allegedly broke into the car and stole car and audio equipment. The car was parked in a garage located

It was a diverse jury as the county that it resides in. The gender composition of the jury consisted of 9 women and 3 men. The race of the jurors varied as well: 5 blacks, 3 whites, 2 Hispanic, and 2 Other (Indian, Middle eastern). The age range varied as well with 4 jurors appearing to be under 30 years of age and the other 8 jurors 40 years of age and higher. This information I present was observational but could not be verified. The layout of the courtroom was simple. Judge was in front center, the jury box to the right hand of the judge. To the left of the judge was the defendant and his counsel. The prosecutors were located center in between the jurors and the defendant. In the back of the courtroom was seating for the public. The left side was labeled as for the members of the state and to the right were for the members of the defendant. The courtroom was full of both supporters of the state and the defendant

Such as presenting the evidence of the two garbage cans were Herring allegedly hid the stolen stereo and car equipment form Peter’s Mustang. The CPD investigator opened two large sealed boxes containing the garbage cans that were located in the alley. The investigator explained the science to the jurors on finding fingerprints on the cans. The police apply a super glue to the areas of the cans where they think might have fingerprints and then use an LAS system which is a laser light they use to find and see fingerprints on objects. The investigator explaining the procedures on collecting the evidence did so in the simplest and clearest way possible. They also explained how investigators and the detectives investigated the Peters car in quadrants where they take a wet swab and then dry swab to find any prints on or int the car. In addition they fumigated the car and wear orange goggles that help them find more prints and evidence that the human eye can't see. All of these scientific investigative evidence procedures can seem to be detrimental to Herring. However, we learned in class that the CSI effect has no meaningful impact between forensic science show viewers and non-viewers when it came to convict or acquit a defendant. Research suggests that the CSI Effect benefits the prosecution is a myth. Which is correct because of the prosecution doesn't have solid hard evidence they don't have much of a chance. The burden falls