FERGUSON SHOWDOWN – AT 8:52 A.M. ET:  There seems to be controlled leakage from the grand jury probing the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown, which touched off weeks of protest, some of it violent.  Pundits speculate that the leaks are designed to inform the citizenry bit by bit that there won't be an indictment of the officer involved, thus trying to reduce shock and anger after an official announcement.   From the New York Daily News: 

Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson's account of the confrontation in which Michael Brown was fatally shot has reportedly been leaked, with an independent medical examiner's report backing up his version of events.

Brown had marijuana in his system and was shot at close range in the hand, backing up claims by a police officer that that there was a violent struggle between the Ferguson, Mo. teen and the cop, an independent medical examiner told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

The report supports Wilson's account, given after he shot and killed the 18-year-old on Aug. 9. Witnesses claimed the teen was surrendering when the cop fired. Police maintained Wilson only used his gun after Brown tried to take it – a life-and-death fight inside a police SUV.

A source familiar with Wilson’s version of events, as told to investigators, said the "incredibly strong" teen punched Wilson and then pressed the barrel of the cop’s gun against the officer’s hip and fought for control of the trigger, the Post-Dispatch said.

Once Wilson finally had the gun, he fired. But Brown’s hand blocked the mechanism, according to the St. Louis newspaper.

COMMENT:  Brown's side is trying to argue that the battle inside the police car is irrelevant, that only the shooting of Brown outside the car, moments later, counts.  But any reasonable grand jury will take into account Wilson's state of mind after being attacked by Brown, who tried to seize Wilson's gun. 

If there's no indictment, you may be sure Eric Holder's Justice Department will try to intervene, and make it into a civil rights case. 

October 22,  2014