Van Dyke's attorney is saying this is not a case that should be tried in the news media, nor on Facebook. But, one wonders. One wonders but what this case is exactly why the Constitution wisely calls for our trials to be public.
It took prosecutors 13 months to arrive at the decision to file charges against Van Dyke. One wonders about this, too. One wonders if this case is exactly why there is wisdom in the Constitution's calling for a speedy trail.
Van Dyke's attorney says Van Dyke was fearful. One wonders. One wonders at how so often the defendants invoke that defense. Is it sometimes a defense without warrant? Do defendants sometimes abuse this defense?
McDonald's family did not want the video released? They had a large settlement? One wonders at the wisdom of allowing settlements to block what goes on in our courts. It seems, if you want to pay the family for damages, do so, but that should not have any impact on whether the officer is charged. If he committed a murder, no amount of money should have any influence on whether he is charged and whether the case goes to court.
Maybe the settlement didn't have anything to do whether the case being strung out for 13 months before charges were filed. But, at this point, and knowing what little we do know, it all seems to be a matter that should be investigated.
Van Dyke stayed on the job. He moved to a desk job, but he stayed on the job. One wonders.
Van Dyke's attorney says his client was justified. He says the video does not tell the full story. One wonders. One wonders. Perhaps. It is seems highly unlikely. Highly. Yet, we shall see.
So far, there is one hero in this case: the judge who ordered the video released. One wonders what would have happened -- or not happened -- if the video had not been released. Sometimes it takes but one hero, one person standing up for what is right, to make a difference in a matter.
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