Review these attached statements and answer the first two questions. Read the attached 3 paragraphs and answer the 3rd question.
*Scott Mayo worked as a bartender at The Local Watering Hole. One night at work, Scott got into an argument with Basil Scowen. Mayo owed Scowen $1500.00. The argument heated up and afterwards, Scowen picked up a beer bottle threateningly and appeared to be intoxicated, Mayo grabbed a pistol kept behind the bar and fired at Scowen, killing him. Mayo says Scowen told him, “I am going to kill you,” and what he believed was imminent danger from Scowen.
Mayo was placed under arrest. He was not read his rights. He was transported to the local county jail. The prosecution witnesses are the police officer, who came to the scene and took statements from Mayo, and a frequent bar customer, Dawn Dietz, who witnessed some of what happened. The defense witnesses are the defendant, Mayo, and Joe, “the fireman,” who was outside and saw some of the action through the window while sitting on the patio.
Based on the facts provided to you, if you are the prosecutor, with what crimes will you charge Mayo, using your own state law? Please discuss why in your response, providing a detailed analysis of how you reached your decision on the charge(s).
If you were the prosecutor, how would you discredit the potential testimony of Joe the Fireman? If you were the defense attorney, how would you discredit the potential testimony of Dawn Dietz? What statements/testimony from the witnesses, the police officer and Mayo, will be admissible and inadmissible? Discuss why.