Please help me understand ...

[sunnystarr]

Why would a prosecutor put a defense witness on the stand in front of a grand jury when seeking an indictment?

I thought that the prosecutor presents his case. Then after an indictment is handed down by the grand jury it goes to trial at which time the defense presents their case.

I know that a prosecutor can indict on his/her own without a grand jury. So how does it happen that Darren Wilson will be presenting his version of the events that led to Michael Browns death?

[Shrike47]

1. The potential defendant can ask to testify. I put my client on the stand to the grand jury once.

It saved him an indictment. The victim claimed he stalked and assaulted her. Once they saw him in his wheelchair, heard his story, and heard the testimony of another witness the DA called for me, they could see what really happened. (She was stalking him; she called him several times the night of the event, at a bar; she lived for drama.)

[sunnystarr]

3. In your obvious case ...

why was the DA trying for an indictment?

[Loudly]

2. First cut at justice for the officer.

Prosecutor's obligation is to do justice, not railroad accuseds.

[sunnystarr]

4. So in other words ...

When a DA isn't sure of an indictment they let a grand jury hear both sides and then decide? I mean I've always heard that a DA can get a grand jury to indict a ham sandwich.