I know for the average guy, the way the law works can be frustrating. But I’m certain the Denver PD will always keep working on this case and will bring it when they are certain they can get a conviction. In the mean time the rest of us can keep an eye on it and never forget what a gift God gave us by letting us enjoy Darrent Williams for the little time he was among us.

Especially after seeing how fast the Miami PD made arrests on the Taylor shooting.

I don’t understand when and where we turned over control to groups like this decide what is right and what is wrong. Ultimately, the community is going to have to take that power back, even if it is painful. We must not allow creeps and thugs to control even a small part of this society.

I would never get this kind of information if it were not for you guys and the MHR.

I’ve been a lawyer for 28 years, doing largely criminal defense, and I think a lot about these issues:
1. There are two types of criminal laws: A) the kind that has been around since the dawn of thinking mankind – laws against murder, assault, robbery, burglary, arson, etc. B) What I call controlling societal laws – laws against certain sex acts (between consenting adults); drug laws; and the like. With A) type crimes, even the perp will admit he did wrong. Not so with B) type crimes. Prosecuting people for B crimes causes a lot of problems in our society.
2. In regard to the drug laws: Yes, lots of problems occur in families of drug users, and lots of crimes are committed to get the bucks to buy the drugs. Gangs form to sell the stuff,and turf wars erupt in gun fire, and police and citizens get caught up in the cross fire.
The solution? IMO, legalize the stuff. Prohibition didn’t work, and neither do our drug laws. If all this stuff were legal (and let me say, Loud and Clear, that I do not condone the use of this stuff), the gangs selling it would disappear, with their turf wars. Users would not have to commit property crimes to get their stuff, since there would be a reasonable price (the government could tax it, and all that money would no longer be leaving the country to places where the stuff originates). It would take a lot of pressure off families, because all the family money would not be going for high priced illegal stuff, plus the user would not be a criminal. This, IMO, is huge. Also, I kind of think that if drug use was legal, drug use might actually go down. From talking to clients, I’ve come to the conclusion that part of the appeal is that it’s illegal, which gives them a bit of an adventure in obtaining the stuff. (People are bored these days, with their desk jobs, routine lives, etc. – they get a thrill from connecting with their dealer). Also, if legalization doesn’t work, we could make it illegal again, and this time maybe stay on top of the criminal infrastucture. One last thought: if someone provides drugs to a child, shoot the MF. Another thought: if law enforcement officers were freed from trying to nab drug dealers and users, they could spend there time looking for the next Bin Laden episode.
3. HT, if “most of the murders you deal with get plead down to next to nothing”, you live in a wierd place. In my experience (which has mostly been keeping up on legal goings on around Colorado – I’ve only represented one person charged with murder) most murderers get a life sentence in return for not facing the death penalty, unless there is a serious proof problem. Then they may get the opportunity to plead down to second degree murder, which carries a 20 year sentence. That may seem like next to nothing to a lot of people, but think about this: If you had to spend the next week in the local jail, starting, let’s say, Monday morning, how would you be feeling about that on this Saturday morning? I’d be seriously depressed at the thought of a week of lousy food, no trips to the frig, no shower in privacy, snoring bunk mates, missing my dog, etc) My point is that when we hear about a Judge handing down a 5 or 10 or 15 year sentence for whatever crime, a lot of people think the Judge was way too lenient (assuming the Judge had the power to make the sentence longer). But five years is a very long time to be in prison. Youhave to think about five years as the next five coming up, not about how fast the last five flew by as you watched the kids grow, etc. I’ve never been in prison, but I remember after I was drafted into the Army feeling like I had been dropped down a bottomless well – two years! away from home, family, friends. And even then, I had the chance to take leave on occasion and go home for a visit.
4. There is a huge difference between sentencing someone that is totally dangerous, and just needs to be locked up, and sentencing someone who commited a serious felony, but is not inherently a bad person. Judges know that an 8 year sentence, e.g., can probably be reduced to maybe 4 actual, plus some seriously restrictive parole, and they take that into consideration when deciding what to do. Also, for a prisoner having the possibility of shortening his sentence with good behavior is a huge safety factor for the prison gueards.

First: to First Fan: I’m very sorry about your son. Please accept my sincere sympathy. The grief of a parent losing a child is something I cannot imagine.
Second: I too believe in Karma, and have lived my life according to the law of Karma. It not only applies to perpetrators and defense attorneys, but to all of us.
Third: The criminal legal system sucks, IMO. It’s based on a centuries old adversarial system (that actually devolved from physical combat to settle differences, where each side could hire a champion to fight for them). Lawyers in the Anglo/American judicial system are the descendants of these champions. I think we should look to the continental European system, which is much less adversarial.
Fourth: Because of the adversarial system, defense attorneys (especially appointed ones) often have no choice but to try to impeach the credibility of witnesses, etc., as the defense attorney. This is their ethical duty under our adversarial system, which sucks, IMO.
Fifth: Many prosecutors are much worse than defense attorneys. Here in Larimer County, we have been dealing with the Tim Masters case. In short, Masters was convicted of a murder he did not commit. His conviction came about because the investigating police officer and the prosecutors withheld critical information from the defense attorneys. This was totally unethical on their part. Masters’ conviction was recently overturned, and he is now a free man, after spending nine years in the penitentiary. Thankfully, he seems to be adjusting quite well, with the support of his family.
Sixth: A life sentence in Colorado means life without parole. In fact, it means 40 years, and then, and only then, does a person have a chance at parole. Since life in prison is very hard, especially in a maximum security unit, even a young person sentenced to life (forty years Minimum) has almost no chance of ever walking the streets again.
Seventh: As to legalization: HT, I’m unaware of any Scandinavian country reversing it’s legalization, but I’ll take your word for it. I sure didn’t mean to imply that legalization would be a “magic pill” (pun intended ;-) that would make everything wonderful again, like in the fifties with Ozzie and Harriet and Leave It To Beaver. I’m certainly no expert, but I don’t think the problems we’d have with legalization would be as bad as the problems we have now. Again, prohibition does not work.
Eight. As far as these “societal” laws go: HT, you have more faith in the legislative process than I do. Many laws are passed by a legislature or Congress steamrolled by a public whose opinion is mis informed, or by the politics the dollar. One example: back when Prohibition was being repealed, the country passed laws to get after people using drugs other than alcohol. Marijuana was tossed into the mix as an afterthought, giving the beaurocracy more to do, and therefore more money in the budget, etc. As William Buckley stated, “Marijuana is an innocuous little drug.” It certainly shouldn’t be classified with methamphetamine (truly horrible) and the others. Please don’t tell me that, just because a legislature or Congress has passed a law that the law is inherently reasonable.
Nine: I love very much the fact that I live in a country where reasonable minds can peacefully disagree. I am also grateful that I had a very wonderful childhood, with wonderful parents and siblings and neighbors. Not all of the folks in this country had a decent childhood. As the psychologist John Bradshaw said, “It’s difficult to remember that every victimizer was once a victim”.
Ten. We need to address these issues rationally, as a country, instead of just locking people up (which just makes them worse) unless they are truly bad, evil people.

I just hope the police and proecutors gather enough of the right evidence to secure a conviction for those who committed this murder. And for those who have hindered the police by thier silence, may you receive all of the karmic justice that you deserve.

Peace be with you.