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McGrew convicted of murder

I have known Ron McGrew personally and professionally for more than thirty years.  He is a great guy and a good citizen.  I was a city prosecutor, part-time judge, and defense attorney in our small community,  Ron was well regarded as a good guy, good cop, and good citizen by everyone I know. He did what he did as a friend to his neighbor who's house was being burglarized by the "victim" and because he was asked to help apprehend this doper, career criminal, by others in the neighborhood.

 

Hind site is always 20-20, and we can now see that this man )who should be regarded as a hero who did his neighborhood and the citizens of Panama a favor) should have just stayed in bed and let this punk crook go through the neighborhood stealing stuff to support his drug habit.

 

Every decent person in Panama should do whatever they can to right this huge miscarriage of justice.  If they don't, the crooks have won.

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  • Is this the same guy??????

     

    August 06, 2002

    Officer Charged with Drunken Driving


    Associated Press

    An off-duty Roseburg police officer was charged with drunken driving and assault after his pickup slammed into an Oregon State Police patrol car parked alongside Interstate 5.

    Two people were taken to a Roseburg hospital.

    Officer Ronald McGrew, 51, was cited after the Saturday night accident, the Douglas County sheriff's office reported Sunday.

    State police had parked their car along I-5 in south Roseburg and were speaking with Caprielle Maschinot, 32, of Roseburg. Maschinot had been standing alongside the freeway holding a sign, the sheriff's office said.

    McGrew smashed into the back of the patrol car, causing his pickup to spin into the freeway's left lane, where it was struck by a car driven by Jared Dewbre, 19, of Roseburg, the sheriff's office said.

    Dewbry's passenger, Casey Bonds, 18, of Huntsville, Ark.,was treated and released for back injuries. Linda Fisher, 58, of Roseburg, a passenger in McGrew's pickup, was listed in fair condition Sunday.

    McGrew was charged with driving under the influence of intoxicants, reckless driving and assault.

     

     

    http://www.policeone.com/news/53637/
  • where was he legally permitted to use it? a permit doesn't state your allowed to use it in this zone only, it can be used anyplace.   I read about  the man who was on a bus and two kids with guns jumped on it to rob everyone on that bus, the man shot and killed both of them. no charges. that was here a few weeks ago.
  • A "sense of American superiority" is obvious in most of the comments on this case, especially those that blame the Panamanian justice system for Ron McGrew's unfortunate situation.  Americans need to try to look at the world from a non-American perspective (especially when an expat in another country).  Just imagine if this situation were reversed and it were a Panamanian (or native of any state south of the Rio Grande) who had shot and killed a white American in the state of Texas.  Surely he would be on Death Row now, not at liberty, with his passport, and able to skip the country.  

    In the words of Robert Burns: "O wad some Pow'r the giftie gie us, to see oursels as others see us.

    • I was not at the court room and I am not a lawyer but I will point out something that keep me thinking about this case with the limited information that was posted here.  I will not talk about the shooting or if it was right or not because there are enough material for a debate and also opinions in favor and against.

       

      This is a case of a simple murder - manslaughter.  Some people posted that Mr. McGrew was declared GUILTY by the jury of murder in first degree! 

       

      The strange and crazy thing comes now. 

       

      House Arrest

      Mr McGrew has the benefit of a "medida cautelar"  that is "house arrest" and his passport has been returned.  In a criminal case of murder/manslaughter our legal system doesnt allow for house arrest.  You will remain in custody/ jail until the day of the trials and if you were convicted and declared guilty you will remain in custody/jail. 

       

      House arrest are given to people that the prosecutor could not prove above reasonable doubt his culpability but need to be investigated and should stay available at any time for additional investigation.  Usually people that are granted house arrest could not leave the country and their names are given to migration authorities at any point of departure in Panama like airports, Paso Canoas, marine ports, etc.  This person should go physically to the prosecutors office weekly to sign a book just only to prove that he/she is still available in the country. 

       

      So my questions are how Mr. McGrew obtained house arrest if nothing favors him in this trial and he was declared guilty?  Was the trial that some people posted here a "hearing" or the trial itself?  A trial for murder/manslaughter is not done in one day.  Usually it takes several dates depending on the expositions of the prosecutor and defendant lawyer, witness declaring, etc.  If Mr. McGrew was granted house arrest how the authorities returned him back his passport?  Something is not clear to me here.  Was Mr. McGrew really declared Guilty and waiting for the verdict or court decision? 

       

      Speed of the process

      The problem in Panama is the length of the legal process.  There are people in jail for robbery, smuggling, counterfeiting that have been in jail for at least 2 years waiting for trial for crimes that are punished only 3 or 4 years in jail. Imagine what happened to those people when they are declared NOT GUILTY or INNOCENT.  They already spent time in jail being innocents.

       

      Mr. McGrew was so lucky.  The shooting happened in October 2010 and he went to trial so quickly.  Wild Bill is still on jail waiting for the process to continue and have not been programmed yet for trial. 

       

      There is Canadian lady in jail for drug trafficking and only recently she is being called for trial.  So the only trial process that are solved so quickly in Panama are those who involved high profile people and/or politicians.  So I can only conclude that Mr. McGrew had a very fast process and he has been so lucky.

       

      Media Coverage

      Every single crime that involved murders that happens in Panama is usually published in local newspapers, specially those tabloids like CRITICA, EL SIGLO, etc.  Those journalist dig for this kind of information for their tabloids.  My surprise is that this incident was not published!  I did a search and nothing is written.  It is very strange, rare and very odd.  You should see how morbid are those journalist and with this incident they probably would be extremely pleased.

       

      So, I dont know about the case itself.  I dont know what really happened at the court.  I dont know if he is really convicted for this crime or not. 

       

      What's next:

       

      If Mr. McGrew was really declared guilty and convicted for this crime and everything that was posted here regarding the trial that it was viscious, full of inconsistencies, biased, etc its true.  He should fire his actual lawyer, find another good criminal lawyer and ask for an appeal.  If he was granted a house arrest the lawyer should fight for keeping him in house arrest until the next trial. 

       

       

       

       

       

      • way to go Roger........

        My 2 cents based upon what has been reported as being reasonably factual...

        Where is the miscarriage of justice?

        Bias? every prosecutor has a bias against the defense and vice versa, and inflamatory statements are common.

        Hearsay is wonderful if you can get away with it, when there is no objection.

        Why is the gun a problem?... the issue is the guy died, the means is secondary... apparently there is evidence of warning shots in the walls, a positive, but not if not introduced....  

        All of the accolades, pronouncements, justifications, etc. sound great BUT why was all this, and more, not introduced at the trial...

        A defendant needs a defense strategy.... where was that? some type of defense... where was that?

        Actually while I may not like some aspects of the legal system here, the same goes for that in the USA. In my opinion he would have been convicted in the USA... but not of 1st degree... why? because he offered no defense.... all the 'jury' saw and heard where reasons to convict... what were they given in order to find him innocent... remember, as a juror you basically know only what is presented at the trial... give them reasons to aquit!

        The machete was missing??????? so why did the 'defense' lawyer not menancingly wave a duplicate in the air as he approached the jury.... just one example of 'defense'... remember Johnny Cochran....

        The prosecutor did his job, the court theirs, but the 'defense' lawyer?????????????? and supposedly a friend... seems to me they perhaps viewed this as a slam dunk.... show up at court, go free... no preparation... no defense... basically sit in silence - go to jail... what other outcome would you expect.

        Agree Roger, some strange things here that do not make sense.... but way past time to get a competent attorney... hope it isn't too late....

        • Joseph:

           

          Regarding the defense lawyer I agreed with you.  To me everything started wrong with the defense attorney.  As much as I heard he was a lawyer with no specialization in Penal or Criminal cases.  The case was solid for a good defense lawyer to work with but... something happened. 

           

          It is going to be my last post on this thread.  I am so surprised to find here a lot of EXPERTS in Panama's legal system, laws, procedures that I am so overwhelmed.  Something that took  law students five years in college and a lot of profesional practice as assistants is presented here in such a way that makes me wonder why those people didnt give legal advice on time to Mr. McGrew. 

           

           

          I wish the best luck to Mr. McGrew.  He is having a bad and traumatic experience.  It is not easy.  I only wish that GOD give him peace of mind and that he take the best decision he may consider viable and reasonable.  I only wish that their real and true friends give him the best support and advice possible.  Not a fast and not well thought decision.  I wonder why the US Embassy wasnt involved and emitted any comment and legal help. 

           

          If all of you want to really help Mr. McGrew do it the right way with possitive actitude.  There are always real and right ways to do this.  If he doesnt have enough money get him a public (free) defense lawyer given by government (Instituto de Defensoria de Oficio).  Make this case public.  His family and friends have the right to go to media and explain what happened and what is consider unfair. Make noise.  Shout it aloud.  If you think that the best way is to run and return back to US...well it will be his decision too. 

           

          He could ask for an appeal.  As much as I know the law provides ways to ask for an appeal and reconsideration to his case, even a murder case.   Give the job to a lawyer with experience in criminal law.  He must know what to do and as lawyer he should know all the tools and legal tricks to get the appeal and work this case.  All other things here are only especulations and opinions.  Whatever legal thing he may decide he should do it quick.  In legal procedures everything have a time and a prescription to present the arguments, appeals and reconsiderations.

           

          See you in another thread.

          • The US Embassy rarely gets involved.  It is not their job to judge someone guilty or innocent or provide council.  They do visit you occasionally in the prison and ask if you need anything from your friends or relatives. They can only give you  a list of attorney's but not recommend one.  You get in trouble in a foreign country it takes a lot for them to go to bat for you.  They usually don't get involved except on communication basis.   Good luck to Mr. McGrew too.   He has a long road if he makes more wrong decisions in the next few days.

             

      • Ron McGrew was not lucky. He was convicted of First degree murder. How do you find a good criminal lawyer when they want from $5000 to $10,000 up front. Simple to say, difficult to do.
        • he was lucky in a way that he didn't have to sit in jail for two years waiting to be found guilty. That is the point.  maybe that was unlucky as well, because it seems he needed more time to allow things to die down a little, maybe try to get some funds to hire a good legal team and all around be better prepared to face all this.  I guess he thought that there would be no way he would be found guilty of this, thinking as a police officer back in his state he was in the right to do what he did.  down here laws are not the same, and as a expat I have found that many parts of the law are applied to me but not to them.

           

          some wrote maybe the president would pardon him,  I don't think that will ever happen, he would have to rule against his own courts to do so, and in the eyes of the people here he wouldn't gain much for doing it.

           

          I am not if favor of paying bribes, but I also feel that he isn't going to get a fair hearing over this, even with a new legal team. I would rather pay it and be done with it, then to risk spending the rest of my life locked up.

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