Deadly Repercussions

Death hung low over the world this week with many long awaited legal decisions interrupted by a growing body count.

Race Relations Deteriorate

We begin when the dark days that led to Ferguson, Missouri taking it's place in history were relived with another black man shot and killed by a white officer. The incident unfolded in North Charleston where Officer Michael Slager pulled over Walter Scott for a traffic stop. During the stop a bystander managed to record what happened next showing Walter Scott running from Officer Slager followed by 8 shots in his direction, 3 hitting him in the back. The officer claimed Walter Scott had reached for his Taser but the video footage shows Officer Slager walking back to the initial spot, pick something up, walk back and drop it next to Walter Scott.

Needless to say the response to the latest in a long line of shootings has been swift with condemnation coming from all fronts including North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey who said all officers would wear body camera's from now on while the attorney for previous victims, Martin and Brown, questioned progress made. The bystander who shot the video has since spoken out saying that Scott was trying to get away from the Taser. Another video, this time the dashboard cam from the officers vehicle has been released showing the initial stop. Since the shooting and video release Officer Slager has been arrested and is being held without bail.

Legal Trials

One of the biggest trials in years has found Dzhokhar Tsarnaev guilty on all 30 counts for his part in the Boston Marathon bombings, he now awaits sentencing.

Other trial's came to an end this week when blogger, Lacey Spears, was sentenced to 20 years for intentionally killing her 5-year-old son by poisoning him with salt in order to gain attention online; The judge claims Miss Spears was suffering from a rare mental condition and was spared the maximum 25 year sentence. Another case ended this week with 2 women sentenced to 8 years for their part in the death of a Mississippi black man and finally we end this week with a judge declaring that Craig Hicks, the man who killed 3 Muslim college students in North Carolina, can face the death penalty.

Ferguson & Foley, Stories Bigger than the Individual Tragedies

Human tragedy has plagued the news recently with individuals suffering horrific atrocities and in the process bringing attention to even bigger problems.

Ferguson, Missouri

Protests have been raging in Ferguson, Missouri since early August when a young black man, Michael Brown, was shot by a white police officer. An autopsy, one of many to be carried out, would later reveal that Michael had been shot 6 times including 2 to the head.

Police used tear gas and rubber bullets on protestors in what would be the start of endless protests against police brutality. As time passed and anger grew police resorted to smoke bombs and tear gas to disperse crowds. Police even arrested and detained journalists exacerbating the situation as news agencies called into question the police response.

Days into the protest thousands gathered across the US for a moment of silence for victims of police brutality. President Obama called for calm as State Troopers took over security with the commander of the State Troopers joining protesters as they marched in hopes of avoiding more unrest.

However progress was short lived after the disclosure by the officer responsible for the shooting and accusations that Micheal had been involved in an earlier store robbery. As the situation deteriorated once again police began imposing curfews and fired smoke canisters and tear gas into the crowds.

With growing unrest Missouri has called in the National Guard to help and used armoured vehicles to disperse crowds while President Obama has sent Attorney General Eric Holder to Ferguson as protests continue.

James Foley

American journalist James Foley was executed on camera by ISIS militants in retaliation for US airstrikes in Iraq. The execution is believed to have been carried out by a British citizen according to British Prime Minister David Cameron. James was abducted on 22 November 2012 and held captive until the video of his execution. The US government has admitted there had been a failed rescue attempt earlier in the year.

ISIS have since threatened to kill another journalist, Steven Joel Sotloff, who was briefly shown at the end of the video with an ISIS member stating "The life of this American citizen, Obama, depends on your next decision"