But appeasing the families of victims, however terrific they may be; quieting the howling mob, however loud their cries; playing to the changing favourites of the public gallery, however much that may suit the agenda of government or agency, such things aren’t conducive to good decision-making.
Worse, the only justice they have anything to do with is the sort preferred by the Queen in Alice in Wonderland. “No! No!” she cried. “Sentence first — verdict afterwards.”
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4 comments:
Your precious justice system it is known historically rarely even charges police in these cases and even rarer yet ever finds them guilty. Is that not a statistical improbability? I think so!
Therefore it stands to reason the citizen rarely gets justice from the state that is intent on protecting its own so please spare us your sympathies and expressions of defending the innocent until found guilty, when they are usually far from innocent, but yet never found guilty under our present system.
Forcillo murdered Yatim. That is very clear to anyone who isn't a cop, related to a cop or worried about offending cops.
Police brutality and Charter violations by police go unpunished in Canada on a regular basis. Unfortunately for most victims of law-breaking cops, the crimes aren't caught on video and broadcasted to the public.
Struck me as a rather quick decision. Trial-by-You-Tube — hmm, might save some taxpayers' money, then the court system can be freed up for more pressing concerns perhaps. Of course, then we'd create a new problem, with lawyers and judges with way too much free time on their hands!
Whatever we may think of the police officer's actions (from what we've seen on YouTube), he's still entitled to justice like everyone else. If he is guilty, it's a truth he'll have to live with for the rest of his life (which he is still fortunate to have to look forward to).
Media spin and preferential treatment has already been accorded this man (5-6 hours from arrest to bail) and as the years drag out for his trial the outcome is already pretty much a certainty what with the state, high powered attorneys, police union, etc., etc. while the defense relies on a David vs. Goliath scenario based on poverty, ethnicity, and powerlessness in a society already having a well earned reputation of "justice for the rich, the law for the poor".
Gail, you say the officer is entitled to justice. I say he forfeited that right when he decided like so many police today do to take the law into his own hands, acting as judge, jury and 'executioner'. We, in essence, should be entitled to those same rights as well. Based on the YouTube video, the well-earned reputation of police in general and the Toronto police in particular he's guilty as hell, should've been held in jail and made to pay by way of punishment for his brutal and violent crime against those he was entrusted to serve and protect.
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