The Danny Masterson Trial thread
- Thread starter Karakorum
- Start date
Enthetan
Veteran of the Psychic Wars
That's my thought too. There are people out there who will lie on the stand very convincingly, in order to get revenge or score a paycheck. The jury needs to be VERY convinced that it really happened.
It would have been different if a woman had gone immediately to the police with bruises, anal trauma, date-rape drug residue in her bloodstream, and his semen in her rectum. THEN there would have been physical evidence to back up the testimony. But here all we have is tearful testimony, and I think at least one of the accusers is a professional actress, or maybe all.
Karakorum
千差万別
Except that she did.
She went to the in-house, second-rate, semi-amateur scientology police in the form of Julian the sloppy clutz. In no way can I believe this is an accident. This case was by all evidence sent to some of the least competent, dumb and lousy scientology ethics people in all of LA.
Those who don't know Chris Scoggins well think he is a fool. Those of us who do know him well realize that he is also a first-class nimrod and a prize winning cretin. Julian Swartz couldn't crack a financial case even if the accountable registrar would come to him and smack him over the head with the cooked books. He probably needs an assistant to unzip his pants whenever he wants to use a urinal.
Chris and Julian are men of the most limited capacities, whose ineptitude is superseded only by their lack of wisdom. That's who took over this case internally.
You know who is the real winner in this trial? David Miscavige.
Why? Because the evidence that is necessary to convince these jurors is in Danny's PC folder, it is in the OSA archives. Maybe even in some of the reports.
That's what I think. Davey keeping this as "hush-hush-super-secret-religious-priest-peninent" stuff saved Danny's bacon.
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Enthetan
Veteran of the Psychic Wars
And Miscavige will hold it over Danny's head, and compel him to donate HEAVILY to IAS for all the trouble he's caused.
Because if Danny is ever declared, then all that stuff will be splashed out in public.
Karakorum
千差万別
I think Danny's parents already did to some extent. Now Davey will choke them further, while holding this as an example to all celebrities. It is clear as day, the message is:
"You remain loyal and you end up like Danny. You betray us and you end up like Paul Haggis."
Overall I hate to say it, but if the DA drops this case, it will be a massive win for Davey.
Isaac
Well-known member
“And his bank accounts are all being drained far faster than if he was handcuffed inside a cult sales office with a dozen hardcore, hard-sell registrars.”
I think the major problem was that the charges were for forcible rape. If it had been just rape I think they would have gotten convictions. But they couldn't just charge rape given the statutory limits.
Whatever happens with a retrial, Danny's life is pretty much ruined. Nobody is going to give him an acting job, not even the co$.
Whatever happens with a retrial, Danny's life is pretty much ruined. Nobody is going to give him an acting job, not even the co$.
onceuponatime
Well-known member
I agree, I think this was the most likely outcome and with the way the jurors were apparently leaning I don't see that there is anything to gain by doing it again. I don't think there will be another trial. At the end of the day there's no evidence and it's very hard not to have some doubt.
I hope the civil trial continues and goes better, they can bring more Scientology into it, maybe we'll hear testimony from Lisa Marie Presley.
The issue with what you're saying is they had to bring these charges or they run into statute of limitations problems. I don't think they had an option to bring/add lesser charges. With all the time that's passed they had to bring the charges they brought or there wouldn't be a trial at all. At least that was my understanding.
Well guys, it is a mistrial. They jury was not able to agree. This was my predition from October 28th:
Admittedly, I didn't expect that so many of the jurors would find him not guilty. I was expecting a mistrial because 1 or two jurors would hold out. Not half of them.
I can't read their minds, but I suspect it is not that someone in the jury thinks drugging and raping women in OK. Rather they aren't entirely sure if this had happened at all. There's very little evidence right now other than the testimonies of the witnesses. Goes down into a "he said - they said" thing. The jurors voting "not guilty" probably think that it is a very real possibility that the Jane Does are lying and have conspired to shake down Danny for some cash.
After cases like the fake rape conspiracy against Johnny Depp, the juries are gonna be more wary. That' s exactly why false rape charges are so pernicious and destructive - they make actual rape victims have a much harder time getting believed.
Rape cases are tough. Especially with little physical evidence, a long time before reporting etc.
The outcome of this trial surprises me a bit less than the Paul Haggis trial. In his case it was just one woman, the circumstances were far less suspicious, there was even less witness testimony or evidence.
It is surprising that Paul was found guilty, while Danny walked. Even though the weight of the evidence and testimony was much heavier against Danny than against Paul Haggis.
... all that I said above is the 'charitable' interpretation of what the Masterson jury did. What would be the uncharitable interpretation? This:
Yeah, I was expecting a much more even split from the beginning, I'm a bit shocked the first vote only had two voting guilty. I was expecting it more even and then there to be a few holdouts, but the majority was always voting not guilty, best they got was a 5/7 split.
Important to note that Paul's was not a criminal trial, it was civil where the burden of proof is much lower.
Yes, that was my understanding, they had to bring those charges or they run into statutory limits.
His career is still ruined, I think even with a not guilty he would've been ruined as an actor. He didn't even get a not guilty, just a mistrial.
Karakorum
千差万別
I think the civil trial depends largely on the criminal trial. If Danny is found guilty, the civil trial will be pretty much a "how much does he have t pay and how much scientology will get their ass kicked".
But if Danny is not found guilty, then the civil trial is imho in peril of becoming a farce.
Who cares. He's not gonna do time and he's not gonna go around hungry. The only thing he will really lose is the ability to shake hands with other non-scn celebrities. If he is not sent to prison, it will only make him double-down on his scn background. Because the scn friends will not abandon him, while some others might.
Type4_PTS
Well-known member
Is the prosecutor allowed to communicate with any of the jurors at this point to find out what they were thinking during deliberations?
The civil trial that is already in progress didn't depend upon the outcome of the criminal trial because the civil trial isn't about the rapes, it is about the Fair Game campaign ran against the witnesses, which is why Scientology is involved in the civil trial.
I doubt there will be a civil trial, not because of a lack of evidence, but rather because of an abundance of evidence. Miscavige will use the standard delay tactics that CoS usually uses so this case may take many years to play out, but in the end, he'll be writing some very large checks to settle this case. Miscavige cannot let this case go to trial. While we won't know the amount of the settlement as it will be confidential, I predict that the amount will be the highest ever that CoS ever paid to settle a case.
The civil trial that is already in progress didn't depend upon the outcome of the criminal trial because the civil trial isn't about the rapes, it is about the Fair Game campaign ran against the witnesses, which is why Scientology is involved in the civil trial.
I doubt there will be a civil trial, not because of a lack of evidence, but rather because of an abundance of evidence. Miscavige will use the standard delay tactics that CoS usually uses so this case may take many years to play out, but in the end, he'll be writing some very large checks to settle this case. Miscavige cannot let this case go to trial. While we won't know the amount of the settlement as it will be confidential, I predict that the amount will be the highest ever that CoS ever paid to settle a case.
Karakorum
千差万別
I think in theory it should not depend on it. But let's get real - it will.
"Harassement by the convicted rapist and the church that he belongs to" will sound different to the jury than "harassment by that '70s show actor that nobody heard of".
mimsey borogrove
Well-known member
I don't think his career is ruined - just on hold. His is producing Limbo BTW. While Matt Lauer is currently poison - Paul Rubens ( Pee Wee Herman )has left purgatory and is doing some gigs. And Alex Baldwin is steaming ahead on Rust. Paul Haggis is connected to Walker as a writer - it's a crap shoot.
Mimsey
Paul Reubens | Actor, Writer, Director
Known for: Pee-wee's Playhouse, Pee-wee's Big Adventure, Big Top Pee-wee
www.imdb.com
Paul Haggis | Writer, Producer, Additional Crew
Known for: Crash, Due South, In the Valley of Elah
www.imdb.com
Danny Masterson | Actor, Producer, Soundtrack
Known for: That '70s Show, Dracula 2000, Face/Off
www.imdb.com
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Karakorum
千差万別
The impact of tehse sort of charges seems to be "devaluating". Soon enough Hollywood will care about sexual assault charges as much as it does about marijuana possession and interracial relationships.I don't think his career is ruined - just on hold. His is producing Limbo BTW. While Matt Lauer is currently poison - Paul Rubens ( Pee Wee Herman )has left purgatory and is doing some gigs. And Alex Baldwin is steaming ahead on Rust. Paul Haggis is connected to Walker as a writer - it's a crap shoot.
Mimsey
Paul Reubens | Actor, Writer, Director
Known for: Pee-wee's Playhouse, Pee-wee's Big Adventure, Big Top Pee-wee
Paul Haggis | Writer, Producer, Additional Crew
Known for: Crash, Due South, In the Valley of Elah
Danny Masterson | Actor, Producer, Soundtrack
Known for: That '70s Show, Dracula 2000, Face/Off
onceuponatime
Well-known member
Well I think the criminal trial is basically over, what happens with the civil trial remains to be seen. I could see it continuing or I could see Scientology writing a large check to make everything go away. I don't think we will get a guilty/not guilty from the criminal trial, I don't think they will re-prosecute.
Very true that he isn't going hungry, at the same time it's got to hurt that he can't be in any sort of leading role. Isn't there a spin-off of the 70s show coming out soon? That 90's show or something? I'm sure he has no part of it. He can probably find some work, but nothing like his prior years.
Type4_PTS
Well-known member
Get real - this case will never be in front of a jury. The following is taken from the California Appeals Court ruling. (and more importantly, the plaintiffs have LOTS of evidence to support the allegations mentioned in this ruling). Miscavige, who is one of the defendants, would write a check for $100 million before letting such a case go to trial, even if he personally is removed as one of the defendants.
According to plaintiffs, Scientology forbids members from contacting police to report a crime committed by a member. It instructs members that reporting such incidents is considered a “high crime” and subjects the reporting member to punishment. Scientology utilizes so-called “Fair Game” tactics to “attack, harass, embarrass, humiliate, destroy, and/or injure individuals who Defendants declare to be an enemy of Scientology, known in Scientology as a ‘Suppressive Person’ . . . .” Masterson is a television actor; Scientology granted him special treatment when he achieved “celebrity status.” To that end, Scientology worked to prevent plaintiffs from reporting Masterson’s crimes and, once they did, declared plaintiffs Suppressive Persons. Scientology then mobilized an aggressive Fair Game campaign against them.
While the Fair Game campaigns against each plaintiff differed, collectively plaintiffs allege Scientology’s agents committed the following acts against them: surveilled them, hacked their security systems, filmed them, chased them, hacked their email, killed (and attempted to kill) their pets, tapped their phones, incited others to harass them, threatened to kill them, broke their locks, broke into their cars, ran them off the road, posted fake ads purporting to be from them soliciting anal sex from strangers, broke their windows, set the outside of their home on fire, went through their trash, and poisoned trees in their yards. This conduct was alleged to be pursuant to Scientology’s policies and procedures. According to plaintiffs’ complaint, Scientology’s directives are that Suppressive Persons are to be silenced by whatever means necessary. Scientology instructs members “to damage the person’s professional reputation, file frivolous lawsuits, and harass and surveil ‘the enemy.’ ” Scientology’s “policies and procedures encourage and/or instruct followers to ‘ruin [the individual] utterly.’ ”
Karakorum
千差万別
mimsey borogrove
Well-known member
Well, all the negative pr scientology garnered from the trial can only work in their behalf in the civil suit. He doesn't need more bad pr ala Debby Cooke in the news.
Mimsey
Mimsey
Type4_PTS
Well-known member
My understanding is that the civil case is still at an early stage and years away from getting to a trial. It first must get through Scientology's attempts to derail and/or delay it from happening. And CoS doesn't usually write a check to settle cases until they get to that stage where they know a trial is going to happen. But if it gets to that stage I don't believe that the outcome of the criminal case will have any impact on the civil case. Your mileage may vary. Anyways, we'll see how it all turns out.
then again, birds of a feather. she is enabling that asshole.