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Today's paper had two articles about shootings on St Croix that really put a bad taste in my mouth.
The first (before I moved here) was a shooting at a public place, Cramers Park. They dismissed the charges for three people involved because the victim wouldn't cooperate. The victim, who also had a gun and a criminal, received a suspended sentence and then stopped cooperating after getting the plea deal. Shouldnt the lawyers gotten the testimony before the plea deal? Now there are 4 criminals walking free.
The second, the sunny isle shooting is also concerning. One of the gunmen isn't even in jail. Just house arrest. The other is being handled by juvenile court and few details are given. But also likely on house arrest and not in jail, and is not being treated as an adult despite putting many other people's lives in jeopardy.
I won't be surprised that the second shooting ends up like the first one - with criminals walking free or getting a slap on the wrist. I hope I'm wrong but if I was a criminal I wouldn't be too deterred after reading today's paper. What a shame.
Shouldnt the lawyers gotten the testimony before the plea deal?
They should have made the plea deal contingent on his full cooperation. Failure to cooperate at the trial? Plea deal off.
One of the gunmen isn't even in jail. Just house arrest. The other is being handled by juvenile court and few details are given. But also likely on house arrest and not in jail
According to the article I just read, the judge granted house arrest (in addition to a bail requirement) because of the guy's injuries (taking several bullets to the body has to do some damage), and based on the recommendation of the guy's doctor. So, it's not just house arrest because the justice system is corrupt, but the judge actually considered the health of the individual and whether keeping the guy in jail would do more harm.
Also, In the VI, you can't just detain someone without bail, unless they are arrested for murder. It's a constitutional protection. The judge set bail, and it sounds like the guy was able to post it.
Just my two cents. -_-
