For the Record · Point XV of XVII
Loaded Labels
Defense argument against bind-over
Argument · 15 of 17
XV. The State’s Case Depends Upon Its Own Labels
Throughout this proceeding, the State has repeatedly used loaded labels:
- “the shooter” for an unidentified surveillance figure;
- “the murder weapon” for a rifle the firearms examiner could not identify;
- “the confession” for communications whose authorship depends substantially upon Twiggs;
- “the handwritten note” for a photograph of a missing original;
- and “motive” for a political obsession the witness closest to Mr. Robinson did not describe.
Labels are not evidence.
Calling the rifle “the murder weapon” does not make the ballistic comparison conclusive. Calling the messages “Tyler’s” does not replace device and authorship proof. Calling the rooftop figure “Robinson” does not reveal his face. Calling an implication a confession does not supply the missing words.