SAWIN JURY'S VERDICT SHOULD BE RESPECTED

To the Editor of The Eagle:

Regarding the letter from S.L. Kozlowski of Sept. 28, ("Surprised by trial
outcome") I do not understand his surprise and confusion. A jury found Kyle
Sawin not guilty of the charges he was accused of committing, and that
should be the end of the matter. That jury was privy to evidence and
witnesses that may not have been shared with the media.

Kyle's frequenting an area known for drug dealing and use is not a
crime for which he was accused. Furthermore, we are not at liberty to
ask that Mr. Capeless prosecute for an action in order that we not see
a crime committed in the future. That is patently unconstitutional.

As for Kyle's parents and the family's happiness at his acquittal, I
would be delighted at any time my child was found not guilty of any
crime he did or did not commit, in order that he not spend time in
prison. How this family deals with any possible transgressions on the
part of their son is simply none of our business. Perhaps they have
done something within their home to discourage Kyle's friendships
with people they'd rather he not be seen with. Perhaps they feel Kyle
has already learned something through his ordeal. Whatever, these
things have no bearing on a happy family photograph printed in the
newspaper. Most importantly, let us not be so quick to question the
verdict of a jury of one's peers when it makes a decision based on
law, not emotion. This particular jury found no reason to make Kyle
guilty of the crimes of which he was accused, and under our system of
justice, that is the end of his trial. There is no further need of
prosecuting him in the media.

Penny Lundberg

Dalton