Thankfully, there is, by design, little room for sanctimony and/or prejudicial venom in our criminal court system. Everyone plays by the same rules of evidence, an unbiased judge referees arguments and the jury brings the mind and heart to weigh everything that is presented. I want Terri (and any criminally accused) to experience adequate defense so that the jurys ruling sticks. And I prefer adequate defense, (please see The Innocence Project), because not having adequate defense would fling open the door for corruption, incompetence and injustice in the courts.
So far, IMO, Terri is doing just fine. Steven Houze is a esteemed criminal defense attorney and according to his peers, he defends his clients brilliantly and ethically. He keeps the bar high on behalf of the accused, and our court system itself. (Thank goodness for that.) The law states that the burden of proof is on the prosecution, and that the accused has certain rights. The presumption of innocence is our law; it is widely held to follow from the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th amendments from the Constitution/Bill of Rights.
Quick look-up / Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_amendments_to_the_United_States_Constitution
IMO, we know why Kaine & Desiree have stopped begging Terri to cooperate. IMO, the investigation is at a point where theyve come to realize that Terri cant cooperate without incriminating herself. Most recently, they started to ask those close to Terri to cooperate. And even acquaintances. They are pulling a circumstantial case together.
Im encouraged that from the beginning weve have had this sort of bill of rights stand-off, defense vs. prosecution Mr. Houze doing his job to protect Terris rights, because (yes indeed, the prosecution has enough on her that she needs protection). When I see Houze doing his job, it doesnt make me mad. Im happy to know hes taking it seriously, because he probably HAS to. Kyron has a stellar team on his side - the DA, dedicated LE, the searchers, and his parents stand up for him when he cannot. Team Terri is shaking in their boots. This is how criminal cases are supposed to proceed. Its up to all of these attorneys to do their jobs now - to the best of their ability - to uphold every player's constitutional rights - from victim to accused to family.
Mr. Houze has previously expressed his professional preference not to comment on matters under investigation. He has from day 1, said that to do so would be unethical before. (At his first appearance.) Houze set the attorney behavior bar for this case in the hall of the court the first time Kaine walked out of that courtroom when he had to attend an emergency hearing in his shorts
Kaines counsel attempted to lobby questions from the press that day, and Mr. Houze took exception and no commented. Not a peep out of Kaines counsel since. Is Dedes attorney commenting? Nope. Not anymore. Not since Mr. Houze set the bar none of these attorneys seek any gratuitous air time. Likewise, we do not expect the DA to comment on matters under investigation.
Myself, I prefer this level of professionalism amongst attorneys and LE to the grandstanding weve seen in other situations.
IMO, constitutionally on this one, Terri's doing just fine, as is Kyron.
If I may interject, however, I'm not so sure this is the case with Haleigh's situation, and I'm pretty sure any professionalism on Caylee's defense side flew out the window the day Casey picked the big O's call girl's go-to-guy, Baez as counsel. :waitasec:
JMHO JMHO JMOH JMHO