No mercy for killer
Reading friends' fond and still vivid memories of Kathleen Stanfield Weinstein, the Middletown teacher slain by a Berkeley teenager 10 years ago, makes one wonder about a legal system that seems to exist only for defendants.
Michael LaSane in 1997 admitted smothering the woman, whose secret tape-recording of her ordeal made national headlines. But he was allowed to withdraw his guilty plea last month after an appeals court ruled he received ineffective legal counsel because his attorney and his mother had a sexual liaison. Now, he wants the court to lower his bail, which has been set at $2 million.
The judge should reject that out of hand. He may not be a flight risk, but he surely doesn't deserve to walk free, assuming he can raise a lower bail. Think of Weinstein's family, friends or anyone touched by this woman's kindness knowing her killer may be on the loose. Where's the justice?
Michael LaSane in 1997 admitted smothering the woman, whose secret tape-recording of her ordeal made national headlines. But he was allowed to withdraw his guilty plea last month after an appeals court ruled he received ineffective legal counsel because his attorney and his mother had a sexual liaison. Now, he wants the court to lower his bail, which has been set at $2 million.
The judge should reject that out of hand. He may not be a flight risk, but he surely doesn't deserve to walk free, assuming he can raise a lower bail. Think of Weinstein's family, friends or anyone touched by this woman's kindness knowing her killer may be on the loose. Where's the justice?
posted by Larry Benjamin at 2:12 PM
2 Comments:
I don't know why LaSane wants to get out of jail. I can only imagine that Ms. Weinstein's family will be waiting for him.
There is always mercy for murderers and there is never justice for murder victims. That is true even on the extremely rare occasions when murderers are mercifully executed. Part of the reason for that is that the legislators and judges of New Jersey hate the pursuit of justice for murder.
In the case of Kathleen Stanfiel Weinstein there will never be justice or evan a near approach to it. Twenty years from now, she will still be dead, but her murderer will be out on parole. Out judges, professionally trained in justice, will say that is a just outcome.
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