That is exactly how it will be perceived by a Durham jury- these hotshot white lawyers from out of town trying to crucify this poor black girl who went to school with their cousin or whose mom goes to their church. It has to be handled very carefully or it could backfire into making the jury feel sorry for the stripper.
I wish there were some way for the defense to INSIST this thing go to trial, where the whole world will be able to see this farce get played out.
Because of course, juries already do the right thing. I mean, that's why O.J. just finished the first decade of his life sentence for killing his wife and Ron Goldman, right?
These two, maybe eventually three young men are facing at a minimum 12 years in prison if they are found guilty. The last thing the defense attorneys wants is to go to trial and put these guys fates in hands of a jury that may very well be biased toward their race and wealth. Seligmann appears to have an air-tight alibi, and the D.A. appears to have little to no evidence. There is no reason for him to have to go to trial and put his life at risk. Even a hung jury would leave a stigma of possible guilt.
YOu're right, of course. I'm speaking from my own emotional standpoint of wanting to see them have their day in court to fight back, but the reality is they probably never will be able to really fight back, in court or out.
This has not been a level playing field from the beginning, and unfortunately the courtroom probably won't be one either.
Noway in hell this is staying in Durham. Judges move high profile cases.
I think people still think there is the heated atmosphere like the first couple of weeks.
I think it's been turned around, and while a large portion of the AA community might think these guys should be put in jail, I doubt they'd riot (SEE Rodney King Verdict)if they weren't.
I feel some air has left the zealot activist balloon since the DNA results and alibi has come out via the media.
Well, yeah, but that's life in today's America. The lower socio-economic hyphenated hold their palms up and look for even more reasons to claim special treatment. In the meantime Jessie Jack, Calyso Louis, and the Reverand Al play their welfare pimp cards and scare the liberal honkies to death.
Of course this hurts responsible Americans of all races, but other than us old-fashioned patriotic, hard-working, and God-fearing guys and gals, who cares?