15 September 2007

Jena 6 Update



I'm sure several of you are familiar with the case of 16 year old Mychal Bell. If not, here's a link to familarize yourself with the situation: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20218937/site/newsweek/page/0/. Jena 6 is a great example of the injustices our world faces. It's sad (for lack of better term) that situations as such are not as televised as Brittney Spears' lack of responsiblity or Mike Vick's dogfighting. However, it seems as if there has been some sort of justice served.

According to washingtonpost.com, a Louisiana appeals court yesterday overturned the aggravated-battery conviction of Mychal Bell. The states 3rd Circuit Court ruled that Mychal should have never been tried as an adult by District Attorney J. Reed Walters, and that the trial judge was inaccurate in allowing Bell to be tried as an adult on charges of aggravated second-degree battery. Under Louisiana law, teenagers can be tried as adults for certain violent crimes but not battery, something I do recall from my years at John Jay College. I wonder if he will be compensated for the year he erroneously served in prison? What do you guys think ?

No comments: