An Indelicate Matter

So much of the world is grumbling about the Casey Whatsherface matter, and on some level I get it. For that poor little girl, justice hasn't been served. But at the same time, my opinion on the matter is that this is probably a failure of the prosecution specifically and not justice generally. I believe in a system where it is hard to convict because I think a guilty person set free is far less horrible than an innocent person imprisoned, and so the scales NEED to be set that way. I don't like it when it seems to go wrong, but a unanimous jury seems to me like the FACTS of the case left reasonable doubt. That is not to say innocence, that is to say the prosecutor didn't (possibly couldn't) do his job.

I think though, the emotional energy devoted to this circus of media trials drains me. I didn't pay much attention all the way through—I never do--not OJ, not Kobi--not the Kennedy kid (all male predators in my opinion, but STILL)--not the Lorena Bobbitt or the mom who drowned her babies—I tune out because I feel like justice is meant to be meted by a jury of our peers. I HATE our Tabloid Spyglass obsession with everybody elses business. I mean YES, somebody should have had this child's back—but it should have happened while she was ALIVE. The failures happened THEN, and who was watching? Wouldn't our energy be better spent on making sure there are safety nets in place for kids BEFORE it's too late?

But I will get down from my soapbox now for a writerly take on the matter...


Simon, yesterday, posted about a trip he took that reminded him there are good people out there, but the writer's brain can sure give a slant to how we look at things, can't it... so when I first paid attention to this story (the trial, not Simon--I always pay attention to Simon), (which was somewhere around Tuesday) my first thought was:


Is this a brilliant set-up for a Murder Mystery or WHAT?

A lot of angry people who think she should be rotting in jail (or hanged—do they hang? I think in Florida they might—the justice system in that state has some dubious precedents)...

So how would YOU write this story?

Briefly, I would include:

*  Uncovering that the prosecutor was bribed to throw the case
*  BY someone who wanted her out
*  So they could kill her...

*  There would be a sister who wants to solve the crime because 'everybody deserves justice' (did you catch the irony there... because her daughter didn't get it)

*  But then they'd discover an evil boyfriend (and an evil... erm... maybe an angry rival...) who'd ACTUALLY done the original deed and she'd covered for the boyfriend (which really is just as bad—covering a crime against your child for a scum of the earth loser) But then HE'D probably be the killer!


I came home and gave my prediction to HWMNBMOTI and he informed me very calmly that she was ACTUALLY going to end up in porn. So we'll have to see who is right.


So there you have it... two competing distasteful predictions. If you'd like to join the indelicacy, you're welcome to add your prediction.... because it is ALL in poor taste, so why not at least throw it into the realm of absurdity?