Your above statement I have to completely disagree with.
Regardless to her taking the fifth, BARB, Damon,and Brenda had already stated to police (BARB first, then Damon and Brenda after repeated questioning) that Denise was also smoking pot. I believe that the airlines would have fired her regardless.
the people testifying against a criminal suspect are more likely to be punished than the criminal suspect is.
As for this part of your statement, if the people testifying either admit themselves to criminal action, or have others testify that they did, then yes, they should have to face the music. Your statement that they are more likely (if they are undeniably guilty) of being punished than the criminal SUSPECT is, is obvious too, because he is a SUSPECT. The evidence trial is not finished and he has not been proven guilty yet, nor admitted to it.
Anyway, nice to see you on the threads.
Yes, she could have sought refuge in the amendment which protects her right against self-incrimination, but perhaps she believed that her testimony might help convict the vicious, sadistic beast who killed that little girl. For that she's better than the Enron, Arthur Anderson, WorldCom, Martha Stewarts of the world.