OUR FLAWED JUDICIAL SYSTEM

In letters written by John Whalan and Jeff Herman on August 24, both bring
up strong points in regards to District Attorney Capeless. As Mr. Herman
said "as a community, it's incumbent upon us to monitor . our elected and
appointed officials" and Mr. Whalan wrote "at the close of the Sawin
trial, which ended in a hung jury, the judge suggested that the prosecutor
meet with the defense attorney before deciding how to proceed.

But the district attorney announced within hours that he would retry the
case in September." Regarding the editorial dated July 19 titled "Capeless'
odd priorities," where is the deterrent if you confess to stabbing someone
as well as selling drugs to them and go unpunished?

An article printed on July 9 regarding Michael O'Laughlin's appeal being
overturned once again shows priorities are odd. District Attorney Capeless
is quoted as saying "he would appeal the appellate decision." On the
website www.freemichaelnow.org it shows that there were three justices from
out of the area whom for six months reviewed all of the exculpatory
evidence in this case rendering a reversal decision and making it so that
he can not be retired.

This is a waste of taxpayer money rehashing a trial that three appellate
justices rendered an unbiased clear cut decision on.

Have we gone to the extremes to win at all costs when people plead not
guilty? When someone is guilty by admission it should not go unpunished or
given a lighter sentence than what the law written calls for. When people
are being murdered here in Pittsfield and someone is going unpunished we
have a flaw in the Berkshire County judicial system.

People should be held accountable for their actions including elected
officials.

We elect these people and we need to make sure we are being serviced in
what is right for the community.

ROBIN LITCHFIELD

Pittsfield