The Knucklehead of the Day award

Today's winner is Palm Beach County State Attorney Barry Krischer. He gets the award for the following.

What happened after Norman Borden fired five shots at the Jeep coming at him: self-defense or murder?

There's little disagreement surrounding the circumstances behind the deaths of Christopher Araujo and Saul Trejo, prosecutor Craig Williams told jurors Wednesday during his opening statement in Borden's murder trial.

Even Juan Mendez, who survived the shooting with injuries to his legs, testified that he and Araujo were going to go beat up Borden. Trejo was needed as a third man against Borden, Mendez said, to "rough him up a little bit."

Williams told jurors up front that Trejo was a documented member of the violent street gang Sur 13. And, he said, he doesn't deny that if there hadn't been a fence post on Hiawatha Avenue, Norman Borden probably would have gotten hit by the Jeep that Araujo was driving.

Borden, 44, pulled out his gun and shot five rounds through the windshield.

"I'm not going to stand here and tell you that's not some form of self-defense," Williams said. "It is. That's not in dispute."

After quickly firing off five rounds, Borden circled around the Jeep and unloaded his gun, Williams said. Araujo, 19, was shot multiple times in the face. Trejo, 21, was shot once. Mendez was shot several times in his legs.

The only issue for jurors to decide, Williams said, is whether the threat to Borden was still imminent before he decided to fire nine more rounds.

Borden is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder.

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Within a day of the shooting and Borden's arrest, his home was set on fire. Borden has since received death threats, Haughwout said. His trial has generated extra security at the courthouse.

Read carefully the parts in bold. Does anyone but our Knucklehead State Attorney think this is worth first degree murder charges? Mr. Borden was threatened with a deadly weapon by known gang members and fired back. Yes 14 shots is excessive, but not first degree murder. Considering the history of Mr. Mendez and his cohorts, who would you give the benefit of the doubt to?

Welcome to the upside down justice system of Palm Beach County Florida. Police shoot unarmed civilians aren't prosecuted, but people defending themselves in life threatening situations are. State Attorney Barry Krischer isn't mentioned in the above article, but this is his office's prosecution, and that makes him today's Knucklehead of the Day.

Also note The Palm Beach Post online article neither notes the prosecutor's statements, or the fact that Borden's house was burned down. Cox Communications wouldn't have an agenda they're pushing, would they?

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