BIKE: Austin Police Seek Cyclists in Murder Investigation

[Robert Farr]

This has already been addressed on this list, and so far, in a very
restrained manner for this list, but I've got a link down below to an
official APD press release with what I believe may be additional
information. Here goes:

It seems to me that murder is a bit over the top but that's what APD says it
is. 

Just for an example:

If you sucker-punch an SOB who wants to kick your ass, who then turns out to
be diiabetic and later dies from an infection 4 months after you broke his
tooth in the fight, that's MURDER. (??)

Here's my take on the Statesman story:

Coffee, 52 years old had an existing neck injury of thirty years. He
previously told his sister there was a "problem with all the bicycle riders"
in Austin. He honked at a pair of riders riding on the street on Guadalupe
at a location and time where there is no reason to believe the cyclists
could have been creating an obstruction to reasonable vehicle travel. He
then stopped to confront the cyclists after they responded by "gesturing."
During the confrontation, he got hit by someone, and fell down injuring his
neck. After a month in Breckenridge, he was apparently on the way to some
kind of recovery after suffering nearly full paralysis -- family stated he
was learning to get out of bed by himself and feed himself. 52 years old and
bedridden, he somehow  turns for the worse and dies 4 months later of
pneumonia. And now APD is suddenly energized to catch some murders.

And my opinion: 

It's too bad that Coffee died from the result of this beating. It didn't
have to happen. Coffee didn't need to act like a tool by hassling cyclists
in the middle of the night, and the cyclists didn't need to kick anyone's
ass.

For crying out loud, it was almost Christmas. Everyone involved should have
just "walked away", rode away, been grown ups and defused the situation.

The cyclists may have felt endangered, but there were two of them. Although
Coffee could have chased down the gesturing cyclists if they tried to ride
away -- if he wanted to, he'd simply chase them down in his truck -- It's a
bit over the top to assume he was doing so.

It is also over the top to assume the two cyclists, having Coffee
outnumbered, felt emboldened and then harrassed the beleaguered Coffee who
only wanted a friendly word with the gesturing cyclists.

I don't think Coffee sounds like he was a neutral party when it came to
Love//Hate cyclists. It still doesn't excuse the beat-down he received.

Nobody in this confrontation had the right to use violence. But I still
don't think the charge of murder is warranted.


Now for the additional information:

I just discovered the following in my inbox, arriving earlier in the week.
It's from an APD detective who writes to me in my capacity as the production
editor of Hyde Park Neighborhood Association's Pecan Press:

<QUOTING>
Mr. Farr,
    I am investigating the death of a resident of the Hyde Park
Neighborhood.  James Michael Coffee, 4206 Ave A #106.  This incident
occurred in December 2003.  The victim was severely injured and ultimately
died on from those injuries on April 19, 2003.  The victim was struck in the
head during a confrontation in the 4200 block of Guadalupe Street.  It is
likely that the other persons involved do live in or frequent the Hyde Park
Neighborhood as well.  I am attaching a press release with the public
information about this case.  If at all possible it would be very helpful to
have this release printed in the next Pecan Press Newsletter.  Please call
me or reply to this email with any questions or concerns.   Thank you,

MARK GILCHREST 775
Detective
Homicide Unit
Austin Police Department
office: 512-974-5385
email: mark.gilchrest

 <<Murder #7 04-22-04.doc>>
</QUOTING>

The attachment contains descriptions of the suspect cyclists. Perhaps
someone will recognize the individuals described. Rather than attempt to
attach a 113K Word doc to this message, I've posted it to the web at:
http://home.austin.rr.com/bobfarr/murder_no7_04-22-0_3.doc

-- 
Robert Farr
bobfarr
Austin, Texas

"Regime change begins at home."