Perjury Trial for Cop Begins in Tulia Case: UPDATE: CONVICTION

The perjury trial of a former Texas police officer, Tom Coleman, began yesterday with jury selection.  In a case that has gained international attention, Coleman is accused of having fabricated drug charges against a high percentage of Tulia's African American residents.  Most of the innocent individuals he charged have subsequently been exonerated.  Coleman's jury consists of 11 whites and one Hispanic.  In a Sixty Minutes interview of Coleman that aired a year or two ago, Coleman came across, not surprisingly, as an unabashed racist, and when confronted with his frequent use of the "N" word, claimed there was nothing wrong with his use of the word.  Full story . . .   More at gritsforbreakfast here and here. 

UPDATE:  Conviction on one count of perjury, jury recommends probation.  [Mark Godsey]