I refuse to call the Legal system in this country, a Justice system. It is far, far from being just. In fact, the system too often allows for gross miscarriages of justice, damaging many innocent people, to varying degrees.
Take the case of Susan Cox Powell. In 2009, Susan mysteriously disappeared one night in Utah, leaving behind a husband and two young sons. Her husband, Josh Powell, was not arrested, despite an overwhelming amount of facts that very strongly pointed towards the conclusion that he was behind the disappearance, and likely death, of his wife.
Josh Powell said, “he’d taken his two sons on a sudden late-night camping trip the night his wife was last seen, despite freezing temperatures and a snowstorm.” Source: https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/dateline-investigates-the-disappearance-of-susan-powell-in-new-2-hour-special.html/ Retrieved 11/20/19. After the disappearance, one of the sons, when being interviewed separately from their father at a police station, said that his Mom had gone on that trip too! She never came back.
I understand the hesitation to declare a person guilty until there is enough evidence. Innocent until proven guilty. Susan’s body was not found. But Susan had confided in female friends, letting them know that Josh was a controlling, abusive husband. And Susan had consulted a divorce lawyer. We know that one of the most dangerous times for a victim of domestic violence is when the abusive partner finds out that his partner has decided to leave the relationship.
Following the highly suspicious disappearance of Susan, the two sons, Charles and Braden, (then ages four years and two years), were initially allowed to stay living with their father, Josh. I see this, in basic terms, as allowing a suspected murderer to be allowed to freely take care of two very young children. Josh had moved in with his father. When Josh’s father was arrested for child pornography, the situation was re-visited and Charles and Braden went to live with the parents of Susan Powell, their grandparents. A judge ruled that Josh Powell could see his sons, with supervision. Supervision in the form of a social worker being present.
In 2012, a social worker arrived with Charles and Braden at a house that Josh was renting. Charles and Braden entered the house. Josh shut the front door on the social worker before she had a chance to enter. Then, in the spirit of pure evil, “Josh killed himself and his two children in a murder-suicide, attacking the boys with a hatchet before setting his home on fire, leading to an explosion.” Source: https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/dateline-investigates-the-disappearance-of-susan-powell-in-new-2-hour-special.html/ Retrieved 11/20/19.
Meanwhile, despite so many reasons to back up the innocence of Rodney Reed, Rodney Reed “has spent the past 22 years in prison after being convicted of the 1996 murder of Stacy Stites.” Source: https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/rodney-reed-jason-flom-wrongful-conviction-interview-913170/ Retrieved 11/20/19. For example, “Rodney Reed and Stacey Stites were having a consensual sexual relationship.” Source: https://www.innocenceproject.org/10-facts-you-need-to-know-about-rodney-reed-who-is-scheduled-for-execution-on-november-20/ Retrieved 11/20/19. So, accusing Rodney Reed of rape and murder makes no sense. By the way, Rodney Reed is a black man. Furthermore, a prison-mate of Jimmy Fennell’s, (Jimmy Fennell being the man who had been engaged to Stacey, and both Jimmy and Stacey being white people), reported that he had heard Jimmy Fennell confessing “to murdering Stacey stating, “I had to kill my n*****-loving fiancée”. Note: Jimmy Fennell “served a 10-year prison term for a sex crime and kidnapping” after Stacey Stites was murdered. Source: https://www.innocenceproject.org/10-facts-you-need-to-know-about-rodney-reed-who-is-scheduled-for-execution-on-november-20/ Retrieved 11/20/19.
Rodney Reed was due to be executed in Texas today, November 20th, 2019. Fortunately, this execution was halted. Just five days ago! But, … Bitter-sweet. Innocent people in prison for decades for crimes they did not commit?! Where is the justice?!