Reply #3: About four or five years ago, there were TWO cases here [View All]

[Bluzmann57]

One was an African-American crackhead guy who left his daughter in the car for five hours in 90 degtree heat to get drugs. He was charged with first degree murder and got life without parole. A few months later, a white suburban housewife left her kid in a car at the mall, he died, and she got...probation.
I happened to serve on the jury which convicted the first person of murder. I know that this guy was negligent and should not get out of prison until he dies. But judging by the facts the local newspaper and TV gave us, the woman knew she was wrong and should have gotten some sort of prison time. She was actually quoted as saying, "All I wanted to do was try on some outfits for my sister's wedding."
Now as an individual who served on a first degree murder case, I must tell you that it was one of the most agonizing things I have ever done, convicting this guy for first degree murder. We all make mistakes. But the guy was guilty, we decided he was, and the law states that he be sentenced to life without parole. The woman seemed callous and while I was not on the jury, I think I may have leaned toward murder charges had I been serving. Were race and/or the "social status" factors in charges filed? I believe so. And I believe that is still the case.