"Alpha Dog" Trial's Top Dog Allowed to Rumble

31. i agree and understand every thing jamie has written about.....no one has any right to make judgement on weather a person should live or die.,god forbid it ever happened to my son no matter what his crime,how dare a man as equal as myself deside the fate of my or anybody elses child for that matter.if ever the death penelty came enforced again in england it would be a tradgety,id no longer feel safe.id feel oppressed.....how dare anybody take my or my childrens life away.one who was borne into this world and leave this world the same way.as the next person,his education his job his class, these seem to be justifiable in takin lifes.........someone please help me out.how can it be ok!!!!!

Posted at 3:23PM on May 14th 2008 by scouser gal

32. When you're a 5'1" punk, snatching an unsuspecting woman is the toughest thing you can do. Get ready to fry, Napoleon!!

Posted at 9:45PM on May 14th 2008 by Nordbizzle

33. Kennedy .. you are a bold faced liar. We both know it. You probably got the idea of this because somewhere along the line you heard that Ben Markowitz actually DID kill Jesses dog .. short of seeing him do it .. everyone knew it .. it is one of the things that started this disgusting mess. If there was one thing that ANYONE knew about Jesse .. he loved animals from the time he was a little boy to this day. It is people like you who have proliferated these lies about this whole case .. the truth is bad enough. You are disgusting as the morons who killed Nicholas

Posted at 1:37PM on May 15th 2008 by oh, please

34. I was searching through TMZ trying to fill my once intelligent brain with my addiction for mindless celebrity gossip when I came across this article. I have to say that I took the time to read everybody's comments. I think people are letting their emotions get carried away with this. You are arguing back and forth with each other about people that most of you do not know. I am sad for the loss Nicholas. It is a horrible tragedy that something like that could happen to such a young child. If Jesse were the responsible party than I think by all means he should be punished to the fullest. A person who could convice comrads to kidnap and kill an innocent boy for $1200 is a danger to society and does not belong on the streets. Furthermore, it is not fair to the people of California to have to use their hard earned tax dollars to keep him incarcerated. That's where the death penalty comes in handy. However, Jesse has not been convicted of this crime. I therefore think that everyone should stop the calling of the lynch mob until he is found guilty in the court of law.

I saw the movie too. I cried like a baby for that poor boy, I was begging him to run away when he had the chance, I wanted to jump through the tv and kill every last one of those a-holes that kidnapped him. I was praying Jesse got caught. I cried for Nicholas's mother. At the end of the movie, I just sat there and hoped Jesse would get the death penalty, That's the emotions I felt. And, I should have felt that way because I was watching a MOVIE. That's what a good movie makes you do. I don't know much more about the case other than reading a few stories here and there, or watching Alpha Dog. I can't say Jesse is a horrible person who deserves to die because I don't know him personally.

May instead of spending so much time to argue back and forth about who is right, who is wrong, who deserves to die, and who doesn't..... we should sit back and pray for the families of all parties involved that they find peace and solice in this horrible situation. For they are the ones suffering now. Maybe we should take a minute to think about how fortunate we are in our own lives. Do the math, count your blessings...

Posted at 10:04AM on May 15th 2008 by Kate in MD

35. The crimes are so serious and punishments so severe( death penalty) you can't be pulling Hollywood crap! I'm sure the movies producers are drawing their inspiration from the OJ Simpson Circus. I'm sure everyone involved in this film knows the Courts have givin them the go ahead to have this film prevail above the law and Justice for the Murdered.

Posted at 10:26AM on May 15th 2008 by Jennifer2000

36. I was at Jesse's house on many occaisions during those years. It was typical if anything of any of the places a teenager would hang out with friends. Yes there was a lot of kids hanging out, smoking pot and drinking beer. It wasn't a gang type of environment at all. There was never guns or other drug use there. It was a typical hang out. Nothing out of the ordinary. That is until Ben Markowitz came on the scene. The whole place and vibe changed after that. It was Jesse's dad who when he found out that he (Ben)was hanging out there said "That kid is trouble" he told him to get out and that's when the trouble started. Ben didn't like that fact that he got the boot. Jesse was in fear of his own life after that due to numerous threats from Ben . Jesse didn't have any power over anyone at his house. They just hung out there. This whole thing had nothing to do with a drug debt.

Posted at 3:13PM on May 15th 2008 by someone who knows

37. To someone who knows:
You say you know Jesse and hung out there. Well lets be honest and get to the facts. Have you seen the home videos on Americas Most Wanted? Lets just say that was Jesse Hollywood in the videos not Ben Markowitz. Jesse was and is who he made himself out to be. We all make our own beds and sleep in them. I am not going to sit here and say that my cousin Ben was a saint. No he wasnt he was a bad ass but everyone knew that. It was Jesse's house and he knew who Ben was and what Ben was like at that time and he let him in his life. Ben would never push himself into anyones life. He didnt need too he was who he was and if you associated yourself with him then you knew what you were going to be around. I can not beleive that people are even trying to justify for what he did. Nick Markowitz is dead and hes never coming back can you not see why we NIcks family would want to have a fair trial to see that Justice is served!

Posted at 9:57PM on May 15th 2008 by Tiffany

38. To Tiffany and the Markowitz family I am truly and deeply sorry for your loss. I am sincere and intend no disrespect in this but it is puzzling to me that you and so many others apparently confuse some "home videos" and clips for America's Most Wanted with the FACTS of this case. Again, that is TV and media hype. It's only what the media wants you to see. It's someone's version for the purpose of entertainment for the most part. I have several children of various ages, The youngest being 16 yrs. old. I can't tell you how many times they have filmed things just in the spirit of horsing around (usually in bad taste and judgement and if taken literally probably self-incriminating) which is true in the case of these home videos. It is very sad that "home vides" of kids jerking around has given people an excuse to pass such harsh judgement. The fact is that Jesse had NO idea what type of person Ben Markowitz was till he already IN his home. He had NO idea just how much of a "BAD ASS" he was (your words) He didn't know how to get him out. It was his dad who had to step in to insist that he leave. Jesse wasn't an angel but in all honesty he was more of a smart ass than a bad ass. He just had a smart ass personality but not a hard core guy to be scared of at all.Ryan Hoyt was not scared of Jesse in the least. He was a regular guest in the family's home since they were kids. Jesse was not involved in ANY gang activity. He had NO need for guns until he literally feared for his own life. These are just some some of the facts that no has heard on the various media clips they have seen. This is the truth. I don't want to argue and I am NOT in anyway minimizing or justifying the horrible events that occured in the tragic death of Nicholas. I sincerely understand your family's desire to have a fair trial. Our family wants the same. I just wish that people would stop judging from TV and movies and hear say. I also find it hard to hear such brutal things like "I HOPE HE FRIES" etc. Jesse will continue to pay for his part in this tragedy. Whatever is the outcome and judgement he will pay that too . Sadly it wil not bring Nicholas back. My sincere and deepest condolences to all of you.

Posted at 8:35PM on May 15th 2008 by relative to this case

39. KATE...HOW WOULD YOU BE FEELING IF YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER WAS ON DEATH ROW MAYBE GUILTY MAYBE NOT....WHAT IF IN YOUR HEART YOU KNOW YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER IS INNOCENT,THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY FAMLIES.THERES BEEN IMATES EXECUTED ONLY TO BE PROVEN INNOCENT .......JUST ONE WRONGFUL EXECUTION. ISONE TO MANY..IT COULD HAPPEN TO ANY ONE OF US.......ONLY A FOOL THINKS THAT IT ONLY HAPPENS TO OTHERS OR THOSE ON DEATH ROW ARE ALL GUILTY AND DESERVE TO DIE...................THESE MISTAKES TO ME ARE ALL MURDERS.....AS THE SAYIN GOES"NEVER SAY NEVER" PEACE&LIGHT..

Posted at 8:58PM on May 15th 2008 by scouser gal

40. SCOUSER GAL:

I think you're taking what I said out of context. I was trying to
say that it's horrible what happened to Nicholas and if Jesse had
something to do with it than he should be punished accordingly. I
even said (and I am quoting) "However, Jesse has not been convicted
of this crime. I therefore think that everyone should stop the
calling of the lynch mob until he is found guilty in the court of
law. "

I then went on to say ".... And, I should have felt that way because
I was watching a MOVIE. That's what a good movie makes you do. I
don't know much more about the case other than reading a few stories
here and there, or watching Alpha Dog. I can't say Jesse is a
horrible person who deserves to die because I don't know him
personally. "


IN my closing I said " Maybe instead of spending so much time to
argue back and forth about who is right, who is wrong, who deserves
to die, and who doesn't..... we should sit back and pray for the
families of all parties involved that they find peace and solice in
this horrible situation. For they are the ones suffering now..."

I'm not sure where you can draw conclusions from those words that I
think he should get the death penalty, or that I think that as you
say "...IT ONLY HAPPENS TO OTHERS OR THOSE ON DEATH ROW ARE ALL
GUILTY AND DESERVE TO DIE..." Where in my whole post did you see
that? You didn't because that's not even how I feel.

If you feel such conviction about the death penalty then instead of
trying to pick apart an un-biased post from a girl who feels pain for
BOTH sides, you should write to your local congressman or the Governor
of your state and try to put an end to death penalty.

I'm sorry if I feel sad for a poor 15 year old kid who lost his life
because of other people's problems. Get over yourself and think
about the bigger picture because there are more important things in
life than trying to start a pointless argument over the computer about something that both of us know minimal facts about.

God Bless You and every one else who keeps Nicholas's memory alive by continuing to post!!

Posted at 11:21PM on May 15th 2008 by Kate in MD

41. DOUBLE STANDARDS.WE KILL...WHO KILL....WHATS THAT ALL ABOUT?

Posted at 1:51AM on May 16th 2008 by SPEAK UP

42. KATE........I HOLD MY HANDS UP....GOT IT ALL WRONG....PEACE&LIGHT

Posted at 8:59AM on May 16th 2008 by scouser gal