OK, this is visceral, not a logical, reasoned response, so I guess it wouldn't be a good idea to put me on the jury for Simon Rios, assuming the trial even takes place in our lifetimes. How far do we have to go, exactly, to make sure a trial is fair?
Defense attorneys for Simon Rios, a suspect in the deaths of his wife and three daughters, on Friday were granted their motion for a continuance of his February trial.
Allen Superior Judge Fran C. Gull ruled attorneys Michelle Kraus and John Nimmo did not have sufficient time to properly prepare for the trial, which was scheduled to begin Feb. 5. Prosecutors did not object. The trial is now scheduled to run from Oct. 1-31, 2007.
[. . .]
Rios attended Friday's hearing, which lasted 10-15 minutes. Kraus said she and Nimmo need more time to find bilingual people who can assist in their pre-trial investigations. Their nationwide search has slowed their preparations. Rios does not speak English.
This particular story does not mention it, but it has also been reported that Rios' defense team wants the pre-trial investigation to include an exhaustive documentation of his life in Mexico, in case he suffered head trauma for has some other excuse to warrant a life term instead of the death penalty. We know, do we not, that Rios killed his wife and three daughers? We know because he called police and said he did, after which he waited for them on the front porch. We can also reasonably believe he raped and killed 10-year-old Alejandra Gutierrez, since he, you know, led police to the body. And now we wait another year so this man's defense team can dig up everything they can to help him beat the death penalty? This is not justice delayed. It is justice tied and gagged and kicked into the farthest corner of the basement.
It seems to me one of the biggest news stories of the past few years, played up by both newspapers and all over the TV stations, is the growth of the Hispanic community here. What's with the "nationwide search" for bilingual people who can assist the defense team?
