Posted on 12/01/2006 9:51:02 AM PST by Francis
Injustice in the United States
November 30, 2006
by John J. Abele
On August 28, 2005, Miguel Padilla, of Gallitzin, PA, once again avoided being officially sentenced to death. This time the delay was caused by the Mexican government stepping into the case on his behalf.
Is anyone sure that Mexico has a government today? The old regime is due to be replaced at midnight tonight, but by whom? As of yesterday legislators were fighting and rolling on the floor, disputing just who the incoming president will be. The Mexican government obviously considers him a citizen of Mexico.
Let's go back tp August 28, 2005 and review the case. On that date, Padilla shot and killed three citizens. There seems to be no doubt of that. There is also no doubtthat Padilla had been residing and working in the United States, illegally, for someyears.He was arrested, charged with muder and other lesser crimes. Then the delays started.
Padilla appears to have attended high school in Cambria County, but he immediately started to use information not taught in any school. It took several months to get an acceptable attorney to defend him. Then there were endless disputes about where he could be tried, and by whom.
Eventually he was tried and convicted in another Pennsylvania county. Blair County Judge Hiram Carpenter set yesterday, November 29, 2006 as the date for sentencing, fifteen months after the crimes for which he has been convicted.
A petition written by an Arizona attorney, retained by the Mexican government, and signed by the defendant, arrived on the desk of the judge 10 minutes before the scheduled sentencing. In the petition, Padilla asked to withdraw the no-contest plea he entered in October on charges of illegally possessing a weapon on August, 28, 2005, when he shot and killed three men. The jury convicted him of first-degree murder. Now the case is once again in limbo, with no sentencing date.
What standing does the Mexican government have in a court case in the United States? Is the Arizona attorney a member of the Pennsylvania Bar?
On February 15, 1933 Giuseppe Zangara attempts to kill President elect, Franklin D.Roosevelt in Miami. He fails, but does succeed in wounding Chicago Mayor Anton J. Cermak, who was beside Mr. Roosevelt.
On March 6, 1933 Chicago Mayor Anton J. Cermak died from his wounds. On March 20, 1933 Giuseppe Zangara was executed in Florida's electric chair, 32 days after his attempt to assassinate FDR.
The obvious question is: Since we, the citizens of the United States, were clearly savages in 1933, how were we able to become so enlightened in so short a period of time?
About a year ago, a male U.S . citizen was extradited from Britain, flown to Boston in a private plane, and then charged with the murder of his wife and 18 month-old daughter. One of the reporters on this story said: "He will be going to the local jail where he will be housed for at least a year while they prepare for the trial."
1. The standing stems from the fact that the case involves a Mexican citizen.
2. One does not have to be a member of the Pennsylvania Bar to file a document in a court there.
What do I win?
The Mexican government should be fined for all property and human life damage incurred by their policies. Maybe...one barrel of oil for every illegal we have to imprison? Just a thought.
Boy, would that open a can of worms. Trust me, we do not want to go there.
I hit a mexican running across the street. He ran through a line of cars waiting at the light while I was approaching the light in the clear lane on the right. He popped out right in front of me and I didn't even get to the brakes. He was in the hospital for an extended stay.
Naturally I didn't get a ticket and the police and firefighters made remarks about the crosswalk less than 100 feet away.
Meanwhile, the mexican has retained an attourney and seems to think he needs to be compensated for pain and suffering. ;)
My insurance company representitive and I actually laughed about it. They are denying his claim, naturally. It's still sleazy though.
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