3-22, State: Drug agent says he used racial epithet as "greeting:: The use of a racially charged epithet doesn't reveal prejudice, testified Tom Coleman, the man who worked undercover in Tulia and built drug cases against 46 people -- 39 of whom were black. Coleman, who told the court Friday that the epithet doesn't in "this day and time" indicate racial prejudice, also admitted during evidentiary hearings for four of the black men convicted as a result of Coleman's 18-month operation that he has used the epithet, as have his friends.
Sad thing is, he's just got enough right on his side there to maybe get away with that excuse. (Although, you know, if some white guy said that to me, especially if I did not know him particularly well -- the ones who know me well know better -- I would not assume that he was a beacon of tolerance and humanity, nor that he was particularly well disposed toward me.
In any event, for whatever reason, the trial is now adjourned until April 1, so Mr Coleman has time to collect himself and think of new lies to tell on the stand to defend the indefensible.
Posted by iain at March 23, 2003 02:00 AMComments
