Legal Commentary

Vigilante Injustice in Philadelphia

By Jeralyn

Reader Scribe writes in about a mob gone wild in Philly. From Scribe:

In connection with the alleged rape of an 11 year old girl, the police announced they were looking for a particular person of interest (not a suspect). Then the police union put out a reward of $10k for bringing him in by 5 PM.

Then, about an hour before the deadline, a mob grabbed the guy and beat him into critical condition (caught on surveillance video at a local bodega), such that a patrol unit had to rescue him from the mob. Then the head of the police union complimented the neighborhood for "really stepping up". And the mayor didn't even think to condemn this.

[More...]

And the neighborhood gathered around the video at the bodega to cheer a replay of the mob beating.

And the guy beaten has not even been charged, though everyone is assuming he is guilty.

Vigilante justice is no justice at all.

More here.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on June 04, 2009 (boomark / email).