I assume that if you are reading this post you know about the Cheshire, CT, tragedy and the in-progress trial of one of the perpetrators. I won’t repeat the horrific details of the crime. Look elsewhere if that’s what you want.

CNN’s In Session coverage of the first of two trials has raised three issues fundamental to our failed justice system: 1) the death penalty, 2) police incompetence, and 3) lawyers’ role in the problem.

The Death Penalty

Connecticut is a death-penalty state, but one that rarely resorts to capital punishment, because the electorate is relatively liberal and legislators in the state are generally liberal. The Petit murders, though, have inspired almost state-wide support for capital punishment in this and similar cases. Even I—an adamant “anti”—feel that if capital punishment is ever justified, it is in this case.

At the same time, though, the trial is a poster child for problems with the death penalty: 1) one of the defendants has a low IQ and does not qualify for death; 2) the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Fifth Amendment has forced the two defendants to be tried separately; and 3) death penalty cases go through a long appeals process that ultimately prolongs the victims’ suffering and costs the taxpayers an exorbitant amount of money in a time when we do not have an exorbitant amount of money.

Police Incompetence

Since 9/11 Americans have bent over backwards to respect and reward first-responders, especially law enforcement. Unfortunately, they don’t all deserve it. Small-town police are far from competent to deal with hostage situations like the Petit home invasion. In this situation, the police permitted the tragedy to happen in the name of “following proper procedure.”

Lawyers

For once, I’m not going to complain about over-zealous prosecutors. This crime is so horrific that no one could be over-zealous no matter what he did. The lawyers at fault this time are the defense lawyers. Both lawyers insisted on separate trials for their clients—not merely two juries. Now one lawyer has poisoned the jury pool for his client in a blatant attempt to scuttle the justice system.

I can’t cover all three topics in a single post, so I will write three separate articles.

Sidebar: Please note that In Session is covering this trial without cameras in the courtroom. They’re doing a fine job of it as far as I can tell. Despite the lack of footage, they have brought out the details of these three issues.

To be continued . . .

Technorati Tags: Cheshire home invasion,death penalty,police misconduct