calgary123
Member
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2008
- Messages
- 228
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Its getting pretty punchy around here. I think all of us want to see justice done its just we have different views of the facts of this case, the evidence (which doesn't necessarily equate to the facts), and what should be happening with Brad and his children going into the future. There is some very vocal opposition to Brad spending time in jail, and that seems to be divided into two camps, those who think he is innocent and didn't receive due process, and those who aren't sure but think he didn't receive due process.
I'm on the side that says he clearly did kill Nancy, but I have concerns about the process that that led to where things are at now. I think Brad can thank his lucky stars that the circumstances of the first trial led to a successful appeal and led to him having a second opportunity to take a plea deal. I have no idea where this other supposed offer from the state came from, I haven't heard any actual source mentioning it, just innuendo to me.
Brad won't be spending enough time in jail for what I think he did, though I'd also agree that the state offering a plea deal twice points to less than desireable evidence in some respects. For example, the erasing of Nancy's cell phone is a travesty, and the state relying upon "national security" to prevent the defence from challenging some aspects of the case troubles me. At the same time I thought Jay Ward's intended testimony was a crock, and the defence was putting up a smoke screen as opposed to a genuine challenge of the technical evidence. I can not fathom that the level of conspiracy that would be required to plant those files in the way they showed up could be carried out by what appears to be a less-than-stellar group of officers; beyond that I can not fathom that any group of people in law enforcement would have the desire to even try to carry out such a plan. What could they possibly gain by implicating Brad at the expense of their own careers and freedom?
I also don't buy that Brad wouldn't want a second trial with Judge Gessner. The Appeals Court put him in his place, its clear what he needed to allow in terms of evidence, the second time around. The appeal system is there to right wrongs, and that's proof the appeal system worked in this case. Brad absolutely would have received a fair trial, and would have had the benefit of only having to convince one juror out of 12 that there is doubt as to whether he killed Nancy. Those are great odds for a murder suspect who professes their innocence and wasn't caught in the actual act or via DNA evidence. My working theory is these plea offers only occurred because of the grace of the Rentz's, though I don't know that.
In murder cases there are no winners, there are only varying degrees of losing. Nancy lost her life, her children a mother, Brad a career and for some years his freedom. Both families have been devastated, the people of NC are out a pile of money, and lingering questions remain about the what-ifs of a second trial. Myself, I'm comfortable that the right person is in jail, and my own thoughts (not shared by everyone out here in Alberta) are that Brad will not be a risk to anyone once he's released excepting an intimate partner, who will experience eventual similar abuse as Brad's prior girlfriends. I think he's learned he isn't smart enough to commit the perfect crime, and will not be likely to murder again. Just a guess though.
I'm on the side that says he clearly did kill Nancy, but I have concerns about the process that that led to where things are at now. I think Brad can thank his lucky stars that the circumstances of the first trial led to a successful appeal and led to him having a second opportunity to take a plea deal. I have no idea where this other supposed offer from the state came from, I haven't heard any actual source mentioning it, just innuendo to me.
Brad won't be spending enough time in jail for what I think he did, though I'd also agree that the state offering a plea deal twice points to less than desireable evidence in some respects. For example, the erasing of Nancy's cell phone is a travesty, and the state relying upon "national security" to prevent the defence from challenging some aspects of the case troubles me. At the same time I thought Jay Ward's intended testimony was a crock, and the defence was putting up a smoke screen as opposed to a genuine challenge of the technical evidence. I can not fathom that the level of conspiracy that would be required to plant those files in the way they showed up could be carried out by what appears to be a less-than-stellar group of officers; beyond that I can not fathom that any group of people in law enforcement would have the desire to even try to carry out such a plan. What could they possibly gain by implicating Brad at the expense of their own careers and freedom?
I also don't buy that Brad wouldn't want a second trial with Judge Gessner. The Appeals Court put him in his place, its clear what he needed to allow in terms of evidence, the second time around. The appeal system is there to right wrongs, and that's proof the appeal system worked in this case. Brad absolutely would have received a fair trial, and would have had the benefit of only having to convince one juror out of 12 that there is doubt as to whether he killed Nancy. Those are great odds for a murder suspect who professes their innocence and wasn't caught in the actual act or via DNA evidence. My working theory is these plea offers only occurred because of the grace of the Rentz's, though I don't know that.
In murder cases there are no winners, there are only varying degrees of losing. Nancy lost her life, her children a mother, Brad a career and for some years his freedom. Both families have been devastated, the people of NC are out a pile of money, and lingering questions remain about the what-ifs of a second trial. Myself, I'm comfortable that the right person is in jail, and my own thoughts (not shared by everyone out here in Alberta) are that Brad will not be a risk to anyone once he's released excepting an intimate partner, who will experience eventual similar abuse as Brad's prior girlfriends. I think he's learned he isn't smart enough to commit the perfect crime, and will not be likely to murder again. Just a guess though.