Posted by NEWFAITHMAN on Sep 27 2006 2:30PM - NEWFAITHMAN....It is truly appalling how easily we as a society can put a man to death in the media before he can be judged by a jury of his peers.

It is devastating when another human being takes the life of another. It is heart breaking and hurtful and emotionally upsetting to all families, victim and accused, involved. However, to try, convict and condemn to death a person before they are tried is behaving just like the citizenry of the world is accusing the United States in its wars. NO DIFFERENCE. We, the United States are supposed to be a civilized country.

As others have commented, what has happened to "innocent until proven guilty?" Question, Does anyone know how easy is it to pick up or transfer another’s DNA? Yes, I believe that DNA is a good thing but it is only good when the proof is beyond a reasonable doubt.

What will happen to this man's reputation should the evidence come back exonerating him? Will these same people that have tried, convicted and condemned him to death in the public eye, apologize, give him his job back, give him his life back? Probably not, because a beloved woman, daughter, friend, and student of the community has tragically and horrifically died at the hands of SOMEONE.

Are the police investigating Miss Mindy's boyfriend, friends and acquaintances? I also hear that Miss Mindy had put a restraining order out on "SOMEONE" are the police investigating that or is it because they have an African-American Male in custody in their community that the mayor of Valley City has stated,

" Mayor Mary Lee Nielson said the community was "very relieved that this murder has been solved. But it's very shocking."

How has this murder been solved without a trial? It seems as if the community is saying, Oh we have the "big black man" he must have done this horrible crime so now we are safe, the only thing left to do is "lynch the nigger."

Question, When Miss Mindy was stabbed in the neck and throat cut, would that not have cause and enormous amount of blood to spatter and spray everywhere, even on the murderer? Were the accused clothes and shoes check and examined for blood residue? Which would then appear to make him guilty WITHOUT a shadow of a doubt? Even then, the murderer would still have a legal right and obligation to be tried, convicted and sentenced in a United States court of law. Or are we as barbaric as the world sees us, doing whatever it takes to calm a community at the expense of convicting an “INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY”, man?

Please don’t get my comments wrong, Miss Mindy’s family is crushed, hurt and devastated and should be. Just as I am and would be, were this tragedy to happen in my family. But, I would also like to believe they would want the right person tried, convicted and sentenced to the most harsh sentence the state of North Dakota can impose, and not just pick someone to be held accountable to satisfy their hurt as well as the fear and hurt of their community. I understand they want someone to pay, I do too, but by the grace of God let it be the proven guilty SOMEONE.

Respectfully, NEWFAITHMAN

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