Subway Gunman: A Juror's Account of the Bernard Goetz Trial (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Charles Shuttleworth (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Probably no case in recent memory has garnered more ink than that of Goetz, who was acquitted of attempted murder and assault in the shooting of four young men in a Manhattan subway car in 1984. New light is shed on the case in this book by one of the jurors, actor/martial-arts instructor Lesley, aided by journalist Shuttleworth. Lesley recorded his impressions of the trial day-by-day, although here he appears to rely more heavily on the court transcripts than on his tapes. At first inclined to convict Goetz, he was gradually converted to the opposite view by the conflicting testimony of eyewitnesses, the behavior on the stand of two of the victims and the arguments of Goetz's attorney, Barry Slotnick. While there are numerous sterile passages, the chapter on the jury's deliberations is riveting. Interesting, too, is Lesley's conclusion: that some of the law applying in the Goetz case is seriously flawed.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Lesly, a juror on the Goetz trial, has written an interesting, informative insider's book about his experiences working on this most controversial and now well-known trial. The Goetz case has many fascinating facets. Whereas George Fletcher in A Crime of Self-defense : Bernhard Goetz and the Law on Trial ( LJ 7/88) used this volatile case to analyze the self-defense plea, Lesly explores its jury in action. Neither book can be called the "definitive" Goetz book, but Lesly's, like Fletcher's, will help shed light on this difficult case. Recommended. Sandra K. Lindheimer, Middlesex Law Lib., Cambridge, Mass.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 322 pages
• Publisher: British Amer Pub Ltd (September 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0945167083
• ISBN-13: 978-0945167082
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,008,711 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Informative!, October 29, 1998

By A Customer

This is a well written story, that goes to the heart of the matter, namely, the burden placed upon a juror in a well known trial. This book places you in the juror seat thoughout the trial process. You experience both the defense and prosecutions side of the evidence, as presented to the jurors, through the use of text from the actual trial transcripts etc. I would recomend this book to anyone, who likes an easy read, and a story, that keeps your interest up. The author, did a fine job, of conveying the mood of the trial and of all the participants involved.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars justice serves those that serve themselves, June 10, 2008

By	J. Abercrombi - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I really wanted to read "Subway Gunman" because I understood it to be the story of Bernie Goetz. However, this isn't Bernie's story at all, and if you read between the lines ("he's a very sick man, draw your own conclusions...") even though it's by Mark Lesly (one of the jurors who acquitted Mr. Goetz) it's really not a "Pro-Bernie" book.

Perhaps if I were a law student or a paralegal studying 1980's New York law I would have appreciated this book more because it's very detailed as far as the mechanics of the courtroom are concerned. But most of the book was very dry and lacking any real body or depth. I'm sorry, but I got so sick of hearing about the day in and day out cross-examinations and other humdrum circumstances of each session.

Mr. Lesly was very detailed in his descriptions of the court case, but he negated to actually speak to anyone or interview anyone about what really happened. Frankly, just because he sat on a jury does not mean that there is a story to tell in and of it self. Don't get me wrong, the story of Bernie Goetz is fascinating (that's why I chose to read this book more than 20 years later) but the story of Mark Lesly is the complete opposite.

I almost feel like I was hoodwinked or tricked on the part of the author because for more than 300 pages he wrote as if he were on Bernie's side. But then I get to the last few pages and the author claims that he had to acquit Bernie because "the New York laws are written wrong." Then he goes on about how "sick of a man" he was.

Mr. Geotz is as far as I'm concerned an American hero. He didn't do anything any reasonable person wouldn't have done had they been in the same kind of violent circumstance. It's tragic how some have chosen to vilify him and write him off as a "crazy" or a biggot. And frankly I don't care if Bernie Geotz was the grand poobah of the clan, what he did was for his own safety just as much as it was for the safety of all New Yorkers.

Generally I make it a rule not to read books that have scrawling and writings all over the pages, however this book was an exception. I must have purchased a used copy that came from library because they apparently didn't like all of the typographical errors (any more than I do) and were kind enough to cross them out and pencil in the correct grammar. So, for that I am grateful.

I dunno I almost got the feeling in some parts that Mark Lesly was somewhat envious of all the attention that Bernie received. (God knows why?) It seemed like Mr. Lesly enjoyed being in the limelight, sitting on the jury and giving media interviews. Perhaps that's why he ran out to write this book before the story was even finished? He never stated the sentence that Bernie received on the gun charges conviction (after appealing he was sentenced to 1 year and wound up serving 8 months in total.)

Maybe one day there'll be a detailed book about Bernie. (BTW here's a great interview with Bernie that he did a couple of years ago: youtube.com/watch?v=d4uQJ6_00so) He was on Larry King 4 years ago (to mark the 20th anniversary) and discussed a program that he was implementing which would offer more options for vegetarian students in New York schools. Larry also asked him if he currently owned a gun, however Mr. Goetz wasn't prepared to answer that question. And it is no one's business. But IMO anyone who's protecting themselves and their family and follows the law has every single right to be proud that they own a firearm.