By Gary Dickson
One of the biggest stories in the world last week was the acquittal, through an appeal, of the murder charges against Amanda Knox by a panel of Italian judges. Knox had earlier been convicted of killing Meredith Kercher and spent a total of four years in an Italian prison while waiting for trial and the appeal process.
I have read that Knox received a “hero”s welcome” in her hometown of Seattle, Wash. Americans seemed to be unified in their disdain for the fact that Knox had to spend four years in a prison cell in a foreign country for something she apparently did not do. I agree with that sentiment, as well. Life is short as it is and for a person to have to spend any of it incarcerated, especially for something they did not do, is a horrible tragedy.
Part of the problem with this case is that there are still plenty of people who believe that she was involved in the Kercher murder. I read a Reuters news story last week that stated, “The Italian judge who presided over Amanda Knox”s murder appeal has told local media the American student may have been guilty but had to be acquitted because of doubts over evidence linking her to the killing of Meredith Kercher in 2007.”
Well, if Knox was involved in the murder, we”ll never know about it now. And, Amanda Knox, according to national media consultants, can now start to rake in millions of dollars for appearances, a book and likely a movie. If she wishes, she will be extremely wealthy. That isn”t bad for spending four years in a prison where she had a number of cellmates who formed a social group, were allowed to cook their own meals, watch television and spend several hours a day outside.
It may sound like I”m being a little hard on Amanda Knox. If she really wasn”t involved in Meredith Kercher”s murder, I believe she deserves the opportunity to cash in on her unfortunate circumstances of the past four years. If she was involved in the murder, many people are being cheated, but no one more than Meredith Kercher and her family.
While Amanda Knox made the headlines, another story was made public last week, too. It got little attention. Many of you probably didn”t even see it in print or on television. It was a story out of Texas about Michael Morton. Morton was also released from prison last week; only he had spent considerably more time behind bars. The accommodations were likely not as nice as Amanda Knox”s. Texas penitentiaries are not known for being plush.
Morton spent 25 years incarcerated. In 1986 he was convicted of the brutal murder of his wife. His 3-year old son was an eyewitness to the crime and he told the police that his father was not present at the crime, but the judge would not allow the child”s testimony in court.
DNA evidence finally proved that Morton was not the killer and he was allowed to rejoin society. Last week, John Raley, Morton”s lawyer, told the Associated Press his client is “thrilled” about his release. He said, “He”s kind of going to be Rip Van Winkle. He”s never held a cell phone. Reagan was president when he went in, so there”s going to be a long adjustment.” Morton has struck an agreement with the state that will provide him with a sizable amount of money, but they can”t give him back 25 years.
I used to be a proponent of the death penalty for the crime of murder. I have changed my position over the last few years. There have been a large number of death row inmates and others facing life sentences who have been released because DNA evidence proved they were not the murderer. Putting one person to death for a crime not committed would be one person too many.
Gary Dickson is the publisher of the Record-Bee. Call him at 263-5636, ext. 24. Email him at gdickson@record-bee.com.
