Justice Realized..or Justice Delayed?

Darent Williams' trial concluded today with a conviction for Willie Clark. Mr. Clark was a suspected gang member, and it was alleged that he shot a spray of bullets into the rented limo that Mr. Williams and his entourage were in that evening. Apparently the motive, was an altercation that happened at a night club, the night before, and I don't mean a frank sinatra blues club, I mean a strip club, the places that professional athletes flock to like mice to a really smelly slice of rocquefort. In any event, there were 16 other people in this limo, so Mr. Clark is charged with the murder of Williams, and attempted murder`of the rest.

After having read the coverage of the trial, it seems like the defense did a fine job. They cast credibility concerns on the main witness, and the jury really seemed to have a hard time convicting. At the end, the owner of the Denver Broncos (Mr. Williams team), said that he was glad to have conclusion to this case some three years after it happened. Everyone who reads this blog understands two things about me, when you have done something wrong I would like you to own up to it, but I also am a defense attorney, and this case stinks to high heaven of prosecutorial no-no's. I know I wasn't there, and I didn't hear the evidence, and I know that witnesses involved in the illegality are ok, but something isn't right here. We've got witnesses that say the defendant wasn't even in the car in which the bullets came from, and the only person who says the defendant did do it, was a guy who has a rap sheet as long as...well you place your own colorful analogy in said space.

On top of that the jury is asking questions to the judge asking if they can convict of murder is he is complicit,but not the primary offender, and on top of that, the only other evidence is from highly suspect folks who got their potential sentences in other criminal cases reduced by a combined 188 years for implicating Willie Clark. In the end, Willie Clark was convicted of all charges brought against him, that is murder of Darent Williams, and attempted murder of 16 others.

Now, I don't know what happened that night, I wasn't there, but I am wondering a few things, would this case have ever come to court if the victim was not a star player on the denver broncos, or any other multi-million dollar making professional sports club? Would this case have ever been brought up, say in a time other than this, other than this time in which it seems like flashy sports superstars have become targets because of their success, and dare I say brashness and entombed sense of entitlement? So I guess if this is about justice,a nd this case is a valid case, ok, there are some flimsy facts, we have those cases, and they can go either way. But, I really have a huge problem if this is a case of protecting our investment, of sending a message that those that make money will be protected no matter what.

I will just say this, I have seen several cases where charges ended up getting dropped, with similar facts to what I have seen and what has been reported here. I honestly believe, that because this was a discretionary case, that the prosecution felt forced to go for a conviction, where they might not have if this wasn't a professional athlete. This system is supposed to treat Darent Williams and Willie Clark the same way, or at least that what's the equal protection clause to the 14th amendment is supposed to guarantee. I will just leave this entry with one question, if the thug with no skills would have been shot and killed and the rich football player would have allegedly fired the shots, that is if the roles were switched, what do you think the chances are that Mr. Williams would be spending the rest of his life in jail? I know the answer and so do you.

As always,

Keep sports on your mind, and the law on your side.

The Sports Law Blogger
www.sportslaw-sportslaw.blogspot.com