|
TECHNICALITIES
Whereas
we would all like to think that we could get off a parking charge
because the Officer wrote the time or date down wrongly, most of us
would not agree that criminals should be discharged without
conviction for crimes because of a technicality.
Imagine that your elderly mother is alone in her house when she
hears a knock at the door. When she opens it, a solidly built
assailant throws her aside and she falls heavily to the floor. While
she is lying on the floor he rifles through the house, takes her
purse and kicks her in the ribs as he leaves.
He is
gone but your mother is left with broken ribs and massive trauma.
The
offender is rapidly located by the Police and arrested. His rights
are read to him, procedures are followed and everything is done
correctly.He declines a lawyer and is taken to the station. Just as
he is about to be put in the cell, he says that he has changed his
mind and wants a lawyer.
The
Station Officer is distracted and forgets for two hours before he
makes the call to the lawyer.
Too
late, the prisoners rights have been breached and he is discharged
without conviction because the call to his lawyer was delayed and he
was kept in the cells too long.
Sound
fair to you? After all, your mother eventually healed, avoided
pneumonia and the scars on the outside are not that visible now.
Prisoners have rights you know!
Now
do you see why people should not get off on technicalities when they
have committed the crime and it is proved without doubt except for
that technicality?
|
