False accusation leads to tragedy (A question for the forum)

Kansas City Star ^ | 2/15/04 | Timothy Dwyer

[Non-Sequitur]

Strange, considering his innocence, that he didn't fight for justice rather than resort to this monumentally selfish act. Contemptible, really.

You can ask such a question in this politically sensitive day and age? Where accusation alone is enough to impeach, and legal findings of innocense are meaningless?

[Tired_of_the_Lies]

That will never happen. Lying about other people to protect or enhance one's wetched little self (or some other ignominious motive) is so commonplace in America that it is the national norm.

Liars are protected and honored - just remember President Clinton. He defamed woman after woman, and the national reaction: His supporters praised him for his great political skills.

Slander, libel, defamation, lying, false accusations are nothing in modern America.

[skip2myloo]

He couldn't even vote for stupid legislation.

[Cboldt]

Since this student's false accusation directly led to the death of Ron Mayfield then shouldn't the student be charged with manslaughter?

No. Death is not a reasonably foreseeable result of making a false accusation. Not that it's an impossible result, just that it's not expected.

If your conclusion were to hold, think of the jilted lovers, especially teens, who commit suicide over the loss of their boy or girlfriend. We don't charge the partner that dumped them with manslaughter, and shouldn't.

[Mr. Mojo]

You can ask such a question in this politically sensitive day and age?

I didn't ask a question, I stated an opinion. And I can tell you with certainty that if I were falsely accused of something similar that I'd fight like hell for justice and to restore my reputation. Instead, he took the easy (and cowardly) way out. .....And utterly destroyed the lives of his family in the process.

[Non-Sequitur]

So perhaps we should reward the student for helping us rid the world of yet another sap, drama queen, and weakling?

[bvw]

LOL! Well we agree on the idiocity of suicide!

[Spiff]

So his entire life's work is trashed, his name smeared, his sense of honor impinged. And you can't see how someone might take their own life under those circumstances?

So, his reputation at his schoolteaching job was more important to him than his wife and kids. And now, after killing himself, he has none of them and he's set a bad example for others to follow. He's not a hero in my book.

[HairOfTheDog]

shouldn't the student be charged with manslaughter?

Absolutely not. There should be a stiff penalty for malicious accusations with no basis in fact.... But this outcome by Mayfield is bizarre and not predictable.

[bvw]

As long as his body was putrid in chambers, maybe we'd have a better legislative session.

[AzJohn]

My question to the forum is this. Since this student's false accusation directly led to the death of Ron Mayfield then shouldn't the student be charged with manslaughter?

In my opinion, no. I believe the great majority of those who are falsely accused don't kill themselves. Something in Mayfield's own psyche led him to take his own life.

If the police have clear-cut evidence that the charges were fabricated they should prosecute the student for making the false accusation, but not for manslaughter.

[steplock]

"you can't see how someone might take their own life under those circumstances?"

In a word.....

NOPE!

[skinkinthegrass]

Without a Doubt...the student should get prison time and/or be very heavily fined...make a example of the student, "If the charges are false, you pay."...none of the crap, "They're just students" whine from the Liberals.

[Tired_of_the_Lies]

I'd fight like hell for justice and to restore my reputation

Good luck trying that. The harder you fight, the more guilty people will think you are. There is no way to defend against a false accusation in today's America.

Not that suicide is the answer either. Just look at the responses of people on this string that think the man must be guilty of something or he wouldn't have killed himself.

[Chris Talk]

He did just what I would have done.

No one who wants to stay out of jail can take a job as a public school teacher, especially if male.

What in this vale of tears, would make a person want to cling on here, with this kind of rottenness now encouraged by "law"?

[Mr. Mojo]

Not that suicide is the answer either

Well then the only option is what I stated. It may or may not work, but there are no other (sane) choices.

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

I just got a fundraising/membership solicitin letter from the Sierra Club. I'm guessing they got our name through a photography magazine we receive. I wish I'd had that quote before I tossed the stuff in the trash.