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GoogleFriends and relatives of the victim, as well as the community at large would be outraged -- appropriately -- but a convicted murderer will be released by Thursday unless the state successfully prosecutes him again for a 1984 killing.
Robert Hunt's prosecution is also a bad example of the "good ole boy" network at work.
Anxious to send Hunt away, the prosecutor, later a judge, had his secretary retype the police report for the defense, leaving out Hunt's request for an attorney during questioning, as well as statements leading up to an alleged confession.
The prosecutor got caught when the investigator refused to change the police department's copy of the report.
The prosecutor owned up to his actions to the judge and defense before the original trial in an off-the-record meeting, but the lawyers all kept it under wraps until 1996.
The original prosecutor was suspended for six months when his actions came to light in 2001, but not until this week did U.S. District Judge Joseph Bataillon order the state to give Hunt a new trial.
Because of "egregious prosecutorial misconduct" and other issues, prosecutors have 180 days to try Robert Hunt again or set him free.
It would be a miscarriage of justice if a murderer is turned loose because overzealous attorneys didn't play by the rules.
But that's the way the system has to work.
Police and prosecutors are there to keep the rest of us honest; defense lawyers and judges are there to keep the authorities honest.
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It's the way of the system lately. Look at the horendous murders in North Platte. Alisha Ochoa walks away with at least assisting in the killing of her mother and sister. Go figure!
This article is a prime example of the, "Good ole boy " columnist. With respect for all the victims at heart, I'm inclined to post a reminder: We could all be victimized by the many unnamed criminals in this article. The current national trend appears to ignore not only right and wrong but also age, race, education, economic, social status and constitutional rights. One more try - consider this: our parents, partners, and children are being victimized for profit, personal and political gain by non just educated, wealthy, well fed people of no particular age or race. As for me, I'll defer choosing the poison. Could a non political, non capitalistic based justice system do more good? I believe friends and family members of the slain deserve more.