By John I. Yam, M.D.
10-12-97
We often wonder why in America, murderers run
free and the murder rate is among the highest
in the world. Here is why.
The October 10, 1997 issue of the Seattle Times
reported that David Lewis Rice, a convicted
murderer of Seattle attorney Charles Goldmark,
his wife, and two sons, ages 10 and 12 years, in
1985 is now getting a new trial. U.S. District
Court Judge Jack Tanner said that Rice did not
have effective assistance of counsel in his trial,
although Rice had confessed willingly to the brutal murders.
Rice admitted that he committed the murders because
he thought Goldmark was Jewish and a Communist,
both of which were erroneous.
Earlier Judge Tanner overturned Rice's death sentence
on the ground that Rice was not in the courtroom when
it was read. This, however, was reversed by the circuit court.
Laws are made to protect the innocent. Cases like this
makes one wonder who the law is protecting, the innocent
or the criminal.
Reference: Seattle Times 10/10/97
