THERE IS NO DENYING THE FACT THAT VINNIE ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE SHOOTING. THERE ALSO IS NO DOUBT THAT VINNIE WAS MURDERED! SHOT STRAIGHT IN THE BACK! HE WAS NOT "RUNNING IN FULL STRIDE" TOWARD THE KILLERS. IT WAS NOT SELF DEFENSE. THE EVIDENCE IS IRREFUTABLE. THEY DELIBERATELY ENTICED VINNIE TO GO TO THE FIELD. THEY DELIBERATELY BROUGHT THOSE RIFLES IN ANTICIPATION OF THE MEETING WITH VINNIE. THEY OFFERED TO PAY ARBUCKLE $100.00 TO TAKE CARE OF VINNIE. THEN AFTER SHOOTING VINNIE, NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE, ONCE IN THE BACK, THEY BRUTALLY BEAT HIM AS HE LAY HELPLESS!

WAS VINNIE RIGHT IN CHASING THEM AWAY FROM THE TWO GIRLS AS A GANG OF PEOPLE WERE ADVANCING MENACINGLY TOWARD THEM? THREATENING THEM? DEFINITELY. ANYONE WOULD HAVE DONE THE SAME. WAS HE RIGHT IN BEATING THE VEHICLE? DEFINITELY NOT! HE SHOULD NOT HAVE DONE THAT. THAT WAS A MISTAKE THAT COST HIM HIS LIFE. SHOULD HE HAVE BEEN EXECUTED FOR THAT? NEVER! HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ARRESTED. WHEN ASKED WHY HE DID NOT CALL THE POLICE KYLE BOLASKI TESTIFIED "BECAUSE THE POLICE WOULD NOT HAVE DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT!" SO HE TOOK THE LAW INTO HIS OWN HANDS. HE BECAME JUDGE, JURY AND EXECUTIONER! HE KNEW FROM THE TIME HE PUT THE RIFLES IN THE TRUCK THAT HE WAS GOING TO USE THEM. WHEN HE TRIED TO GET IN THE TRUCK IT WAS NOT TO GET AWAY, BUT TO GET THE RIFLE.

BUT THE QUESTION REMAINS, WHY?? WHY DID THEY CHASE VINNIE AND THE GIRLS? THEY STOPPED THEM 3 SEPARATE TIMES ALONG THE ROUTE YET VINNIE DID NOT FIGHT WITH THEM. HE GOT IN HIS CAR AND LEFT EACH TIME TRYING TO AVOID A FIGHT. YET THEY CONTINUED TO CHASE THEM ALL THE WAY TO JULIE'S HOUSE. WAS IT BECAUSE, AS BLANCHARD TESTIFIED, HE GAVE VINNIE SOME GRASS TO LEAVE, THAT VINNIE DIDN'T PAY FOR, EVEN THOUGH BLANCHARD TESTIFIED FIRST THAT VINNIE STOLE MONEY OFF OF THE TABLE, WHEN THAT WAS PROVEN WRONG HE SAID HE SOLD VINNIE THE GRASS BUT VINNIE DID NOT PAY HIM FINALLY HE TESTIFIED HE GAVE IT TO VINNIE TO GET HIM TO LEAVE. IF THAT IS TO BE BELIEVED THEN ALL OF THIS HAPPENED, ALL OF THESE LIVES AND FAMILIES HAVE BEEN RUINED FOR A LOUSY $40.00! WAS THAT WHY THEY CHASED THEM TO JULIE'S HOUSE, TRIED TO RUN THEM OFF THE ROAD AND ASSAULTED JULIE'S MOTHER?  WAS IT WHY BLANCHARD ENLISTED THE AIDE OF A GANG OF TOUGHS TO TAKE CARE OF VINNIE? WHY THEY OFFERED ARBUCKLE $100.00 TO TAKE CARE OF VINNIE? FOR A LOUSY $40.00!? IS THAT WHAT LIFE IS WORTH TO THEM?

WHY DID THEY CONTINUE TO PURSUE VINNIE AND THE GIRLS? WHY DID THEY GOAD HIM INTO THE FIGHT? WAS IT BECAUSE VINNIE HAD DARED TO STAND UP TO THEM? THAT THIS OUT OF TOWNER, THIS ONE MAN DARED TO CHALLENGE THEIR WHOLE GANG ON THEIR OWN TURF? BECAUSE THIS ONE MAN, ALONE, HAD THE COURAGE TO STAND TOE TO TOE WITH, AS SAND WOULD SAY, THE TOWN TOUGHS AND NOT BACK DOWN? WAS IT BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT SCARE OR INTIMIDATE VINNIE? WAS IT BECAUSE THEIR EGOS COULD NOT TAKE ONE MAN STANDING UP AGAINST ALL OF THEM? WHY?

AS FOR VINNIE, WHY DID HE GO TO THAT FIELD AT ALL? WHY DID HE THINK THAT HE WOULD BE FIGHTING JUST ONE PERSON? ONCE HE SAW ALL THE PEOPLE GOING UP AGAINST HIM WHY DIDN'T HE JUST LEAVE? DID HIS PRIDE GET IN THE WAY OF HIS JUDGEMENT? WAS HE DETERMINED TO PROVE THAT HE WAS NOT AFRAID OF THEM? TO THIS DAY THOSE QUESTIONS STILL HAUNT US. AS I'VE SAID VINNIE ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO THE EVENTS OF THAT DAY BUT HE DID NOT DESERVE TO GET EXECUTED FOR IT! AFTER THAT FIRST SHOT THE THREAT, IF ANY, WAS OVER. THE POLICE WERE CALLED AND VINNIE WOULD HAVE BEEN ARRESTED AND CHARGED. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO NEED FOR THAT SECOND SHOT AND THEN THE BRUTAL BEATING.

AND WHAT ABOUT SAND? WHAT COULD HIS REASONING POSSIBLY BE THAT HE WOULD ALLOW, AND EVEN AID, A MURDER? WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT A TRAFFIC TICKET. THIS WAS A MURDER! THERE CAN BE NO EXCUSE FOR HIS CONDUCT! NO EXCUSE OR REASONING COULD EVER JUSTIFY HIS ACTIONS! STILL, WHY? WHY WOULD HE ALLOW A MURDERER AND ALLEGED DRUG DEALER TO WALK THE STREETS TO KILL AGAIN?  WHY WOULD HE ALLOW SUCH A BAD CHARACTER AS ARBUCKLE BACK ON THE STREET? HE HAS A RAP SHEET 9 PAGES LONG! RIGHT AFTER BEATING VINNIE ARBUCKLE WAS JAILED FOR BEATING HIS GIRLFRIEND! YET SAND IS WITHHOLDING EVIDENCE THAT WOULD PUT ARBUCKLE BEHIND BARS WHERE HE BELONGS. HE IS DENYING THAT SAME EVIDENCE TO THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY THOUGH, BY LAW, HE IS OBLIGATED TO SURRENDER IT ALL. WHY IS HE BEING ALLOWED TO SUPPRESS IT?

WHY WOULD HE ALLOW A DRUG DEALER SUCH AS BLANCHARD, ON THE STREETS TO CONTINUE TO PEDDLE HIS WARES TO KIDS?  HE KNOWS HE IS A DRUG DEALER. BLANCHARD WAS ARRESTED BEFORE. WHY ELSE WOULD HE BE THE ONLY PERSON SAND GRANTED IMMUNITY TO? WHY WOULD SAND ALLOW THE CONSPIRATORS TO WALK AWAY SCOTT FREE WITH NO CHARGES AT ALL EVEN THOUGH THEY FIRED RIFLES IN AN OPEN AREA WITH WOMEN, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES EVERYWHERE? WHERE ONE RICOCHET, ONE ERRANT BULLET COULD HAVE SPELLED CATASTROPHE FOR ANY INNOCENT PERSON ON THAT FIELD? WHY IS HE CONDONING THIS ACTION? GIVING EVERYONE THE NOTION THAT IT IS ALRIGHT TO SHOOT WHENEVER OR WHERE EVER THEY PLEASE? HE FREED THE CRIMINALS AND ENDANGERED THE PEOPLE. WHOSE SIDE IS THIS MAN ON?

  IT'S NOT THE PEOPLE'S. HE PROVED THAT. IN A STATEMENT TO US AT A MEETING WITH HIM, WHEN WE ASKED HIM WHAT ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE ON THE FIELD HE BLATANTLY TOLD US HE DOES NOT REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF VERMONT! HIS ACTIONS VERIFY THAT!

AND WHAT ABOUT JENKINS? WHY WOULD HE DO WHAT HE DID?WHY WOULD HE DESTROY HIS INTEGRITY AND THE INTEGRITY OF THE STATE POLICE? WAS IT TO PROTECT SANDS?  THE MURDERERS? HE KNOWS THAT HIS MEN PUT TOGETHER A GOOD, SOLID 2ND DEGREE MURDER CASE. YET HE SLAPPED THEM IN THE FACE. SPIT ON THEIR HONESTY AND INTEGRITY! HOW CAN HE LOOK THEM IN THE FACE AND COMMAND THEM NOW? WHAT KIND OF CONSCIENCE DOES THIS MAN HAVE? COMMANDER L'ESPERANCE AND CAPTAIN LEDO  TOLD US THAT IT DOESN'T MATTER TO THEM A MAN'S WORTH OR CHARACTER, TO THEM A MURDER IS A MURDER! AND AS THEY SAID, THIS WAS DEFINITELY  MURDER!

WHY ARE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE STATE POLICE AND THE GOVERNOR IGNORING EVERYTHING THAT IS HAPPENING AND ALLOWING THIS GROSS MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE? SOME OF THE REASONING MAY BE THAT THEY CANNOT DARE ADMIT WHAT SAND HAS DONE. FOR IF THEY ADMIT WRONG DOING FROM SAND, ADMIT THAT HE HAD USED THE GRAND JURY FOR HIS OWN AGENDA RATHER THAN FOR JUSTICE, THEN THEY ARE OPENING UP A HUGE DOOR FOR APPEALS OF EVERY CASE THAT SAND AND JENKINS HAS BEEN ON. EVERY DEFENSE ATTORNEY WOULD CHALLENGE EVERY CASE AND COST THE STATE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN APPEALS. NOT TO MENTION THE LAWSUITS. AND RIGHTLY SO. THIS CANNOT BE THE ONLY TIME HE HAS DONE THIS. USED THE COURTS TO HIS OWN AGENDA. EVERYTHING WAS TOO PAT, TOO PLANNED.

 NO ONE SHOULD BE ABOVE THE LAW! NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO TAKE THE LAW INTO THEIR OWN HANDS! THEY MADE A MOCKERY OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM. ABUSED THE GRAND JURY. MADE FOOLS OF THE JURORS. MANIPULATED THEM. DECEIVED THEM! LIED TO THE PEOPLE AND ENDANGERED THEM BY RELEASING THE KILLERS AND DRUG DEALERS BACK ON TO THE POPULATION! THESE CRIMINALS NOW HAVE A FREE REIGN. THEY HAVE TOO MUCH ON SAND AND THE SYSTEM. ALL ANY OF THEM HAVE TO DO IS TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT SAND. THEY HAVE THE POWER IN THEIR HANDS TO DESTROY CAREERS. THEY NOW HAVE A GET OUT OF JAIL FREE CARD. WORSE, THEY KNOW THE POWER THEY HAVE!

SAND MADE A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL. THERE'S NO WAY THAT HE IS GOING TO PUT THEM IN JAIL. FOR IF HE DOES HE KNOWS THEY WILL SING. SING LONG AND LOUD! HE IS AT THEIR MERCY. ALONG WITH THE INNOCENT PEOPLE OF VERMONT! WHAT PRICE JUSTICE?? VIGILANTE JUSTICE, NO MATTER THE REASON, CANNOT EVER BE JUSTIFIED. IT CANNOT EVER BE ALLOWED! ONCE THAT HAPPENS THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE IS NO MORE. LAWLESSNESS WILL RULE. AS IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW!  

 THE QUESTION, THOUGH, STILL REMAINS... WHY?

 

IN A GLIMPSE INTO THE THOUGHTS OF SAND, MY ATTORNEY, PAUL BARNICLE, HAD A MEETING WITH SAND AFTER HE EXAMINED ALL OF THE EVIDENCE. AT THAT MEETING WHEN MY ATTORNEY QUESTIONED SAND'S REASONING BEHIND DOING WHAT HE DID SAND SAID TO HIM, "DO YOU THINK VINNIE WOULD HAVE STOPPED IF HE WASN'T SHOT THE 2ND TIME?" PAUL WAS TAKEN ABACK BY THAT QUESTION. HE ANSWERED: "THAT'S LIKE ASKING HOW MANY ANGELS CAN YOU FIT ON THE HEAD OF A PIN. THAT'S A HYPOTHETICAL QUESTION THAT CAN'T BE ANSWERED!" IT'S NOT UP TO THEM TO SURMISE WHAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED BUT TO GO BY THE EVIDENCE. THAT'S LIKE SAYING WOULD THEY HAVE ALSO BEAT THE GIRLS IF VINNIE DIDN'T CHASE THEM AWAY!  "WELL, I DON'T THINK SO," SAND SAID. "TO ME CHARACTER IS A HUGE ISSUE AND I DON'T THINK HE WOULD HAVE STOPPED!" SO SAND GAVE US AN IDEA OF WHY HE DID WHAT HE DID. HE DID NOT LIKE VINNIE! HE DID NOT LIKE HIS CHARACTER. SO IN HIS MIND VINNIE'S EXECUTION WAS JUSTIFIABLE! HE BECAME THE JUDGE AND JURY!