NY - Robert Williams for home invasion rape, torture, Hamilton Heights, 2007

[BrowneyedEmily]

I may have missed it - is he also charged with arson? Should add that.

They probably dropped the charge for a more serious one. I've seen that happen before.

 

[Taximom]

http://www.att.net/s/editorial.dll?...1522&dcatid=0&eetype=article&render=y&ac=2&ck=
Guilty of 44 out of 46 counts.

 

[csds703]

http://www.att.net/s/editorial.dll?...1522&dcatid=0&eetype=article&render=y&ac=2&ck=
Guilty of 44 out of 46 counts.

:woohoo::woohoo::woohoo:

 

[concernedperson]

http://www.att.net/s/editorial.dll?...1522&dcatid=0&eetype=article&render=y&ac=2&ck=
Guilty of 44 out of 46 counts.

Let's hope the sentence is strict and unyielding.

 

[believe09]

http://www.att.net/s/editorial.dll?...1522&dcatid=0&eetype=article&render=y&ac=2&ck=
Guilty of 44 out of 46 counts.

I looked and looked through the smilies, and I can't find one that expresses what I feel, so I guess I will say that I wish her peace and dreamless sleep now that this part is over...

 

[philamena]

http://www.att.net/s/editorial.dll?...1522&dcatid=0&eetype=article&render=y&ac=2&ck=
Guilty of 44 out of 46 counts.

Thank God. I believe justice was served.:woohoo::clap::woohoo::clap:

 

[Taximom]

That stupid article didn't say anything about sentencing. ARGH.

 

[Lucy's mom]

I'm sure that the guys in prison will teach him a thing or two about how to treat a lady!!! :behindbar

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,390701,00.html

NEW YORK — An ex-convict has been sentenced to life in prison for the sadistic, 19-hour rape and torture of a Columbia University graduate student.

Robert Williams was convicted last month in Manhattan of attempted murder, rape, kidnapping and arson.

 

[Ciara]

Lucy's mom.....Thanks for the link. I was hoping this beast would never see daylight again even though I think life is too good for him. This is one of the most brutal rapes I ever read about and I think the penalties should be just as harsh when someone leaves someone for dead as if they were, had they died.

This man really was an animal and I hope he rots slowly and dies in prison and that this poor girl can recover

 

[Grainne Dhu]

OMG Believe, I thought the exact same thing! Usually I am not bothered by defense statements, but when I read the details of this case, I wondered exactly what kind of defense attorney could stomach taking it on.

Defense attorneys are allowed only very limited grounds for picking and choosing cases; if they are public defenders, they can only turn down cases where they can prove they have a personal link to the case. And that link has to be significant, not just "my cousin played tennis with this guy's niece five years ago." Lawyers in private practice can only turn down a defendant if the defendant cannot pay or if there is a personal and significant link to the case.

In areas where there isn't a public defender's office, judges assign cases pro bono. A defense lawyer can only get out of it if they have a significant link to the case and it's not easy.

So it's not like the defense attorneys who represent clients who have been charged with horrible crimes have much of a choice. They know going into practice (whether as a public defender or in private practice) that they are going, for the most part, to be representing people who have done terrible things and that they are not going to have much of a choice about it.

Defense attorneys play an important part in the system. By presenting the strongest, best case they can within ethical guidelines, they keep the system strong and as fair as possible.