Billy Lane Criminal Trial Delayed, Civil Trial to Proceed

The attorneys for motorcycle builder Billy Lane, who is facing charges of DUI manslaughter in Brevard County Florida for a Labor day 2006 truck wreck in which Gerald Morelock riding a motorcycle was killed, were granted extra time by a Judge to work on the case after citing they only received it several weeks ago.

The civil suite filed against Billy Lane by the family of Morelock is still however scheduled to be heard Monday March 19, 2007.

This is a bunch of BULL they had all this time to to get ready.

This is your court system and how it works. This action was nothing unusual and I wouldn't be surprised if more continuances are granted. The courts will often grant continuances because they don't want things thrown out if they are appealed. And if they had not granted that continuance, you can rest assured that if an appeal was filed by the defense, they would say they were not given enough time to prepare. Which basically means that the case could be thrown out. I'd rather see it proceed slowly and carefully.

The defendant has a right to a speedy trial. If he and his attorneys wish to ask for continuances and delay that trial or plea bargain, they have the right to do so.

Sad to say but our courts favor the defendant's rights over a victim's rights. While I think our system could definitely use many improvements, I still think it's one of the better ones out there.

FRY HIS ASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!:jerkit:

And I really have to ask this again because it still amazes me -

Why was this a "non-story" to the media? Was it overshadowed by Steve Orwin's death around that same time? Why didn't the media take this story and run with it? This is the kind of shit they usually eat right up.

I don't get it.

I have to agree with AJA,this has been kept way to quiet,I smell PAY-OFF!!:spank: If it would'nt for this site I would not know what was going on with this case....:moped:

I have to agree with AJA,this has been kept way to quiet,I smell PAY-OFF!!:spank: If it would'nt for this site I would not know what was going on with this case....:moped:

95% of the public has no idea who Billy Lane is. I've brought his name up a couple of times to non riding friends and all I get is a blank stare.

So....Get the media involved...write to the editors of your local rags and bitch about the lack of coverage...send e-mails , letters and make calls...have all your family and friends join in the fun too...See who can garner the most ire out of the editors..
I do it all the time, and now all I gotta do is call one of several on the staff of the Flint Journal and I get action.....They finally learned it's easier to oblige me than it is to ignore me, plus it gets them extra sales when it's a story that catches the attention of the occasional reader....
Besides that.....

FRY HIS ASS!!!!!

While I've always been a big fan of Billy's work, I've got to agree w/ the overall reaction thus far. It's such a shame that our system is so driven by the almighty dollar. They're not even good at covering up the BS anymore. The only people who don't see it are those that just don't wanna see.

Although I've just recently returned from a bike-building seminar in Ohio and a new friend of mine from Florida just informed me that Billy seems to be pretty much finished. His shop no longer draws the crowds it used to and is not open to the public. It merely posts a sign that reads something like it's not open unless approaching a major event or something like that.

And also, a new book called "Art of the Bobber" was released w/ no reference to Billy whatsoever. Apparently anything relating to him was edited out when word got out about this incident. Seemingly everyone's abandoning him. I even heard Daimlerchrysler wants nothing to do w/ him anymore. Can you really blame them though? Anyway, delay or not, he's seemingly done.

With the social climate the way it is, if he gets off scot-free, it's still possible for him to assume his position in the bike-building community but the chances seem very slim for him! :spank:

Hi everyone.
Just got home from a hearing on the civil matter. There is a lot going on. I have to get the article done and then I will let you in on it.

I will also have a interview going up later tonight that everyone will want to see. I am not advertising, just trying to keep you all posted.

Later

95% of the public has no idea who Billy Lane is. I've brought his name up a couple of times to non riding friends and all I get is a blank stare.

Even though many people don't know who he is outside of the bike world, it's still the kind of story that we usually have shoved down our throats. You have a dread-locked cocky bike builder from Florida who lands himself a TV show and endorsements and all that other crap, gets the good life, and then kills a guy. This is normally the kind of shit that the media likes to wear out, not ignore.

I was not implying pay-off however. I'm just kinda confused because our media is usually quite predictable and as I have said before, the fact that news on this story was actually HARD to find at some points . . . well, I just think it's kinda strange.

In reality, though, it may be better if the media stays low key about it. Without a media circus, he won't get to plead his case to the public, mucking up the jury pool, as so many defendants manage to do.

Hi everyone.
Just got home from a hearing on the civil matter. There is a lot going on. I have to get the article done and then I will let you in on it.

I will also have a interview going up later tonight that everyone will want to see. I am not advertising, just trying to keep you all posted.

Later

We're always looking forward to your coverage of the Billy Lane matter MrMNO. Please feel free to post a link when you publish what you saw at the civil trial.

Thanks!

I'm actually extremely interested to find out what's been going on in the civil trial, and was going to ask about it tonight.

I agree that this is isnsane that the publicity of this case is non-existent... but it's even more insane to me that the civil trial is proceeding while the brakes have been put on the criminal trial. I can't recall a single other case where the civil trial was held prior to the criminal trial being settled.

Maybe it was not settled. I'm sure a lot of emotion was played out and then a delay granted in the civil case against Billy Lane as well. But I don't know, that's a guess. MrMNO will enlighten us soon.

Big Water

Unfortunately it's not so uncommon. As a matter of fact, if they can reach an agreement (undisclosed amounts and a non discloser)-with the family prior to the criminal trial, that will prevent the family from making an appearance in court, shows he has accepted responsibility and last but not least can be considered as a mitigating factor in the plea bargain or reduction in charges. So I guess it's just business as usual......

He'll get used to this soon
:owned:

Okay the article is posted.

The big surprise to me was when I walked into the Judge's office. Lane's criminal attorney was seated and waiting. What? Am I at the wrong place here? I thought I was here for the civil hearing.....

Any way, he was there to object to questioning in the civil trial that might incriminate his client.

The story is here (http://www.mikeodom.name/2007/03/19/billy-lanes-civil-and-criminal-cases-clash/)

I am finishing up the last bit of typing on an interview I did with Byron Morelock and it will be up next. Oops, did I just let out a story leak?

Thanks Man keep up the good work,we'll all be waiting.............and oh yeahFRY HIS ASS!!!!!!!!!

The Byron Morelock interview is up on my blog.

LETS NOT FORGET FRY HIS ASS