by Joseph Michalitsianos at Daily Mail
- Daniel Lowenthal, a judge of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, declared a mistrial for a violent offender after the suspect was reportedly tired
- Vamazae Banks robbed a McDonald’s at gunpoint before taking less than $100 from the fast food chain
- Banks was not given proper bedding before his trial and his lawyer said this meant he could not take proper notes during his court appearance
- Lowenthal hurriedly declared the mistrial despite calls he had not properly probed Banks’ behavior in jail
- Lowenthal comes from a powerful political family, and his Democratic congressman father has ties to LA DA George Gascon
- Deputy District Attorney Tricia Halstead called the decision to declare a mistrial extreme
- Robbery trials can cost the judicial system and taxpayers between $600-$1,300
A California judge, who hails from a powerful Democrat family who endorsed LA DA George Gascon, granted a mistrial for a man facing life in prison because he was sleepy.
The alleged criminal apparently did not get a good night’s rest before the trial after spending the night in a cell without a bed or blanket.
Vamazae Elgin Banks, 24, appeared in court after threatening a McDonald’s worker with a gun before stealing less than $100.
Court records accused Banks of telling the cashier at the fast food joint that he would kill her if she didn’t produce the cash quickly enough, allegedly telling her ‘hurry up or I’ll blow your brains out!’
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Daniel Lowenthal made the mistrial ruling after…
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