Thursday, July 7, 2011

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?

23 comments:

Trisha said...

I know this sounds bad...like, really bad...but I prefer not to hear about any of this crap, because it's just too depressing. I often feel that justice ISN'T served, because a really good lawyer CAN get a scum-sucking heinous criminal off all charges in court - it happens. But I will agree it's the prosecution's fault for not presenting a good enough case. Still, it sucks that justice is not served because of some people's incompetence.

Old Kitty said...

I've not really followed this story but I do gather it's big news over there. Here the big news are the horrific revelations that a certain tabloid newspaper hacked the phones of high profile murder victims and their families.

Terrible.

Take care
x

Briony said...

To continue the poor-taste theme, in the spirit of Delusional Thursday, here is my offering:

The murder was performed by a hit-person who was paid off by a tabloid newspaper to frame the mother so they could boost flagging sales in the electronic media world...

Hart Johnson said...

*giggles* Oh, nice! That fits the theme very well. Thanks, BrioNI!

Ciara said...

You made a great statement I totally agree with. We have a judicial system for a reason. A person should not be tried by the media. I'm like you with having to avoid some of the media stuff.

Carol Kilgore said...

Hang the electronic lynch mob. There was no proof, only assumptions and possible conclusions. The defense presented other possible conclusions.

Trisha said...

Re: GoodReads, I have a link to my profile on my blog page - it's on the left hand side, below my picture, in the "Social Media" spot :)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I'll just let you revel in the twisted, mysterious glee!

Hart Johnson said...

Ciara-glad I'm not alone--so many people seemed so thoroughly obsessed.

Carol-yeah-the media can make it seem clearer than it is, and it's irresponsible of them.

Trisha-Got ya! I like that little collection of links you have.

Alex-that's me--all bendy.

Sarah Ahiers said...

THIS. I completely agree with you.

Jill Kemerer said...

I didn't follow the trial. It's been a very busy summer! However, I'm glad we live in America where we have a justice system built on fairness. It's not perfect, but I'll take it!

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

Didn't have time to follow the case--the little I read about it was fairly interesting (only from a crime writer's perspective...the DNA, forensics, the bug expert they had, etc.) I did think this case would make a great springboard for a book! But I only thought that in a very vague way...you've got a great potential book there! Quick thinking!

Matthew MacNish said...

You're wicked. Pissah.

I Must Be Off said...

Sadly (?), we're not getting this news in Germany. But I'm sure we will.

ViolaNut said...

Is it the UK that has the third option for a verdict? Not just "guilty" or "not guilty", but "not proven"? Life is not black and white and I appreciate having that grey area available...

erica and christy said...

I didn't watch any of it (like you, I never do), but I did hear some ramblings. No matter what happened to the poor child, it's a horrible tragedy. But something certainly convinced the jurors that her mom wasn't responsible. And for all those who say she did it and didn't pay for it at all, I don't believe that. She paid with time in jail and she'll pay for the rest of her life with the memories and fear and scrutiny and loss. (again, I don't know if she did it. but her life is ruined regardless.)
erica

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the link, m'dear! And I can't claim to watch the news at all. It just ends up making me aggravated, both at the stupidity of people in general, and at the inherent falseness and profiteering of the news media. Blech.

As for the murder mystery, I'd probably invoke shadowy government organizations and possibly involve alien abductions and child switching plots. Also, randy miniature unicorns (with a hat tip to Allison Pang).

:)

RaShelle Workman said...

The news is depressing. I agree that something should've been done when they were ALIVE.

As for you and YOU KNOW WHO'S prediction - well, we shall see. We shall see. LOL

G Blechman said...

haha. interesting predictions. I never pay attention to any of that crap. Any of those trials. To me, it's that there are people murdered, abused, beaten, and traded into slavery every day. There are millions of people all over the world being mistreated every second of every day. What they put on the news is just the pick of the week, and why should I let some no good murderer get all the attention? It's not like I'm on the jury and can make a difference in the decision. Sure, thousands of woman are currently being passed around in the sex trade right now, but lets not talk about that, lets talk about a case that's already been tried and completed.*sigh* So that's what I have to say about that.

<3 Gina Blechman

Tonja said...

I can't imagine why this little girl got murdered - it makes no sense to me - but my story would go like this.

The mom goes out partying again after her prison release as if she didn't murder her daughter (or faciliate that). She sees visions of her dead little girl on the dance floor and goes insane while media is watching with cameras on. She spends her life in the mental hospital where her poltergeist daughter torments her forever. Poltergeist child also torments everyone else involved who made mistakes (or lied) leading to the verdict. Too harsh?

L. Diane Wolfe said...

I never follow stuff like this, so until the verdict was announced, I didn't even know what was going on. And I'm too positive for anything but a happy ending.

Hart Johnson said...

Thanks so much, everyone for stopping by! Love the ideas! I think that insanity, haunted by poltergeist thing wins for real justice! Nice!

k~dawg said...

First and foremost, you used the word dubious. a w e s o m e!

Second, as you know from my FB post yesterday, I'm keenly aware that there are (1) persons among us who do heinous things and (2) that there is very little we can do about it without crossing our Ts and dotting our Is where Johnny Law and THE SYSTEM is concerned. Justice is a pretty word... very hard to attain, however.

You've given me points to ponder, not the least of which is: would I rather more innocents be imprisoned or more perps walking free? Guh!

Think I'll ponder it all more....

McLovin' you, Naked Spice. You make me think. (That's a good thing.)