A June 16 letter writer expressed disgust at two defendants being released and forced to turn in their passports. While the crime is horrendous at best, release of the defendants does not necessarily put the community in danger (if anything, the defendants are more likely to be in danger.)
Perhaps the letter writer has forgotten that all defendants are presumed innocent until proved guilty. I would not want this person sitting on my jury.
One thing I do feel very strongly about in this case: Any guilty verdict must result in a life sentence without any possibility of parole. The offense is heinous and unconscionable. Any lesser sentence would be a severe miscarriage of justice, similar to recent cases of men convicted of continuing sexual assault on children receiving 18 months in prison and five years of probation. Once the innocence of the victim has been lost, it can never be regained. That the punishment must fit the crime works both ways.
Larry Quimby
Haiku
