Prosecutors had 14 police witnesses trying to identify those who have been arrested and testify that the arrestees were trespassing. Ultimately, the prosecutors and their witnesses showed the judge how weak their case was. From submitting discovery material late after having an extension to 5 p.m. the previous Friday, to the officers telling on themselves as they were answering questions from the defendants’ defense attorneys, the prosecutor brought a weak case.

“It’s disappointing that the district attorney would take a case to trial when he and his office knew the evidence in the case exonerated the accused. But fortunately, the court quickly recognized that the prosecution had no case,” said defense attorney Graham Bosworth.

The mainly pro bono defense attorneys played offense. They exposed the contradictions between police witnesses and blatant conflicts of interest. They also caught Tulane destroying evidence. The university had allowed self-incriminating security camera footage to delete, despite having a requirement to turn it in. Defense lawyers additionally objected to the DA submitting evidence that they failed to hand over during pre-trial discovery. In other words, the DA had withheld evidence. Judge Benedict Willard acquitted the arrestees.

That’s just a crazy amount of incompetence. Also obligatory ACAB for arresting people for no reason and trying lie their way to justifying it.