Pubdate: Thu, 15 Jan 2004
Source: Roanoke Times (VA)
Copyright: 2004 Roanoke Times
Contact:  http://www.roanoke.com/roatimes/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/368
Author: James K. Morgan

SHINE THE LIGHT ON PROSECUTORS

Your Jan. 8 editorial on Richard Burrow, "Burrow's unending day in
court," was very good and accurate. It seems a parallel situation is
going on in the federal prosecution of the Dr. Cecil Knox trial.

I don't understand why our congressmen and Justice Department allow a
berserk prosecutor to continue to destroy lives. Not just the accused,
but the family of the accused is caught up in the destruction.

The accused get to pay for their prosecution through taxes and their
defense from their own resources. Their lives and their families are
literally destroyed. How is it possible in America for this to happen
to its own citizens?

The only plausible explanation I can come up with is that U.S.
Attorney John Brownlee has higher political ambitions and wants to put
as many cases in the win column as possible, regardless of the
destroyed lives left in the wake.

It seems this newspaper should be investigating the situation and
exposing the prosecutors. Isn't it the real purpose of journalism to
shine the light of day on events like this?

James K. Morgan,

Roanoke
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MAP posted-by: Derek