On Monday October 28, 2024, Micahel Bosse, his attorney and a loving support group of family and friends entered the Hailey Court House for a status hearing on the Lion’s Park shooting of September 1, 2023.
The drive-by shooting perpetrated by Hailey resident William Robert Butler left Bosse blind, disabled and reliant, now, on a blind walking stick and the passionate people who help him via the Be My Eyes app.
Regarding how his life has been changed so dramatically by Butler’s choice that day, Bosse lamented the plans he had for his life, including his dog who “doesn’t understand” why he now acts as he does. He used the metaphor of a mold that has crept into the root structure of the very tree of his life to describe how this event has affected his family, friends and even Hailey community members. Bosse was overwhelmingly forgiving of Butler and made clear Butler’s family should never face blame.
Judge Ned Williamson, visibly moved, rose and shook Bosse’s hand after the powerful testimony.
Key to the difficulty in this case is that Butler suffers from irreversible dementia and has been repeatedly found unfit to stand trial. Butler’s claimed motive is that Bosse was annoying him with noise which implies that it could have been a child, a concert, a couple – anything making the noise that triggered the unstable Butler.
Bosse’s respect for the 4th Amendment was made clear but furthermore he voiced critical reasoning about the precedent that would be set by throwing out this case. His family and the community are deeply concerned that this case might be dismissed on grounds of Butler being potentially unfit for trial in spite of his open admission of guilt. It could set a dangerous precedent for future cases of a similar nature.
Judge Williamson is in a difficult position, saying as much and noting that no movement will take place for another 120 days, setting the next hearing for Spring of 2025.