Innocence Project Joins Boat Crash Defense

The Northern California Innocence Project is joining Bismarck Dinius' defense.

The NCIP usually takes on cases of inmates who've been wrongly convicted, but the group's legal director, Linda Starr, confirms the NCIP is getting involved even before the Dinius trial starts.

Dinius is facing a manslaughter charge in the death of Lynn Thornton of Willows. They were sailing with three other friends at night on Clear Lake when a power boat driven by the number two official in the Lake CoOunty Sheriff's Office, Russell Perdock, slammed into them.

Perdock was not charged. District Attorney Jon Hopkins decided to charge Dinius, based on his alcohol consumption and the accusation that the sailboat's running lights were off.

Jury selection begins tomorrow morning. Given the pre-trial publicity and the potential length of the case, the court will select the jury from a pool of 600-700 Lake County residents. You can see the 12-page questionnaire potential jurors will fill out here.

It asks whether potential jurors have any preconceived notions about the case, and whether they could set them aside and decide the case fairly. You can also see the list of 79 witnesses who could be called to testify. The trial is expected to last through late August to early September, running on a Tuesday through Friday schedule.

By the way, Elizabeth Larson at Lake County News reports that the Sheriff's Office has found the 911 recordings from the night of the crash. The DA's Office had said in court that the recordings had somehow been misplaced. As you'll recall in our series of reports, several witnesses who could be helpful to the defense told us sheriff's investigators refused to take their statements.

In August of 2007, Peter Elmer told the I-Team he saw Perdock's power boat speeding 50 miles an hour, in his estimation: "I said to everybody who was sitting on the dock, 'There's a clown that's either going to kill himself or somebody else.' I kind of regret saying that now, but I knew immediately that this guy was going way too fast for the conditions."

Elmer is a retired police sergeant from East Bay Regional Parks who oversaw the marine unit there. He says he called the Lake County Sheriff's Department, but they refused to take his statement: "I called back and said, 'Listen, a deputy needs to come talk to us,' and they said, 'No, that's okay.' Well, putting that in perspective and the fact that he (Perdock) hasn't been charged, I thought something's not right here."

Elmer's calls to the Lake County Sheriff's Office should be on that batch of 911 recordings just discovered. We'll keep on top of it.

Comments

[Old Salt]

Keep up the good work. The truth will come out and the corrupt of the LCSO will eliminated. They are the cancer in our community.
Its time they were sent down the road to perdition.

[PERDOCK = GOING DOWN!]

It just keeps getting better!
The Corrupt CockRoaches are scattering (or should I say getting smattered by the smattering?).. And Dinius will not face any charges. But I sure as hell hope someone is going to hold every Officer who participated in this case, who lied, or tried to cover for Perdock be held accountable for their actions! And guess what Good Ol Boys... this is the end of the Merry Go Round for you! If Dinius disappeared off the face of the earth tomorrow, We, THE CITIZENS OF LAKE COUNTY will keep the heat on, as long as it takes, to clean house on Martin and Hill Road. GAME OVER! YOU ARE DONE, JUST LIKE A CHRISTMAS GOOSE!

[Try Perdock]

Vote for Perdock to Stand trial. He is a criminal.

http://www.topix.net/forum/source/lake-county-record-bee/TO32HA6ETUKR86AO0

70% of respondents at this Lake County on-line poll have voted that Perdock should be facing trial. 12% say the prosecutor, Hopkins, should be the one on trial.

This case smells awfully bad.

[HALF A BUD LITE]

POOR PERDICK IS A VICTIM, JUST ASK HIM! EVERYONE IS LYING! WAA WAA. HE ONLY HAD A HALF OF A BUD LITE THAT NIGHT! KARMA IS A REAL BITCH!

[Ron Patterson]

Time for another Tea Party. It is not the whack jobs from either the far right or far left, it is the decent tax paying citizens in the middle who have a real problem with this case.

Thanks, Dan, for your hard work in turning over rocks. Interesting that the tapes were not found until trial.

[toolatesmart]

It is very hard to believe that Perdock did not at least have a couple of drinks that evening, otherwise why was he going so fast in the dark on the lake burning all that fuel.

[Beer Batter Pancakes]

I ONLY HAD A 1/2 OF A BUD LITE! (Perdocks Statement)
Which is hysterical! If a Cop pulled you over, and asked how much you had to drink, and you answered.. just a 1/2 of a Bud Lite.. they would laugh themselves silly. So, just for everyone out there, Here is the Recipe for Beer Batter Pancakes. (someone posted Perdock was a great father, and makes great pancakes).

Im sure everyone can whip up a batch of them Beer Batter Pancakes!

Here is the Recipe:
1/2 Can of Bud Lite (Perdo Brand)
2 Cups Bisquick (Bismarck quick charges dropped)
1 Egg (on the face)
1/2 Cup Milk (Cream rises to the Top)
Beat Well (smatter them asssz's)
Cook on a Hot Griddle (light that fire!)
Flip when Golden Brown (Fully COOKED and DONE!)

Smatter with Sweet Maple Syrup & Butter
(The Sweet Taste of Justice)

ENJOY!
Then when it comes out the other "end" the next day, think of Perdock and flush that Turd!

ITS ALL GOOD!
ENJOY every bite with a smile!

[WEB SITE FOR DINIUS'S STRANGE CASE]

THE STRANGE CASE OF BISMARCK DINIUS
http://tinyurl.com/l79kx8

http://justicefordinius.home.comcast.net/~justicefordinius/dinius/The_Strange_Case_of_Bismarck_Dinius.html

[PIRATE GIRL]

READ THIS...
PEOPLE TELLING HOPKINS TO FFUUCCKK OOFFFF, THAT THEY REFUSE TO BE A JUROR ON THIS CASE!!

http://tinyurl.com/ldtaae

www.lakeconews.com

[PIRATE GIRL]

Pirate Girl want to Thank everyone who is standing up for this Travesty of Justice. Bismarck, Carol, Vic, Tony, Capt. Rory, Mark, Lynn's Family, Rick, LaDonna, "Clean", The Innocence Project, Gina, Renee, MIA, Kansas, G&O, Provocateur,Jet Ski and everyone else I have forgot to mention, all of those behind the scenes.
And to the rest of you standing/cowering behind Perdock, who is the reason Lynn is DEAD can go SQUARE TO HELL!
THE STRANGE CASE OF BISMARCK DINIUS
http://tinyurl.com/l79kx8
http://justicefordinius.home.comcast.net/~justicefordinius/dinius/The_Strange_Case_of_Bismarck_Dinius.html
ABC 7 BAY AREA NEWS
http://iteamblog.abc7news.com/2009/07/innocence-project-joins-boat-crash-defense.html
LATITUDE 38
http://www.latitude38.com/index.html
SAILING ANARCHY
http://sailinganarchy.com
FACEBOOK SUPPORT DINIUS - EXPOSE PERDOCK
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Clear-Lake-Case-Support-Bismarck-Dinius-and-Expose-Russell-Perdock/92870361397?ref=mf
FACEBOOK GET RUSSELL PERDOCK
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=4427874700&ref=mf

[Gina]

I told him months ago in my letter, save face, step down, resign, and pack your bags and move out of the county.
See what happens when you fail to listen! From Santa Cruz to Lake County, after is all said and done I would hope that Hopkins will give up on being a Attorney and in hopes that no other County would have to go through all his bullshit. Justice will Prevail!

[garden angel]

I always found it strange that everyone was brought to the closest hospital except the officer...and how long did it take before he had his blood drawn at a another hospital. My heart goes to the friends and family on both boats(A young girl on the Purdock boat was also hurt, and had to watch CPR). It was a difficult night to work, and I still feel for the dreams for the future that were shattered,far beyond the ruins of that night.

[Popeye]

Popeye says, put the judge, the so called prosecutor, and the "expert" witnesses in a small sailboat at night. Give Perdock a can of Bud and his speedboat and let them all play hide and seek on the lake.