Sometimes The Justice System Makes Me Wonder- Is it Really The Best?

We've heard this story way too many times, after many wasted years in jail, someone is set free after being found innocent. The situation happen again today. Ryan  Ferguson's case was in the national spotlight for years after being accused by his high school classmate, Chuck Erickson of murder. This is the sketchy part, Erickson claimed to have recalled through dreams that he and Ferguson killed Columbia Daily Tribune sports editor Kent Heitholt in a late-night robbery after partying for Halloween. Ryan was 17 and a junior in high school at the time.

Then we get into the real stench of this story.Earlier a state appeals court panel overturned the conviction, stating the prosecutor's office withheld evidence from Ferguson's attorneys and that he didn't get a fair trial. The State attorney generals office said yesterday that it would not retry this case and Ryan was set free and is now a free man, after wasting over 8 years behind bars.Through it all, Ferguson proclaimed his innocents the entire time. But isn't everyone sentence to jail suppose to proclaim that they are innocent?

I don't see how local and state authorities can pull such 'shady" tactics only to get a conviction. This is not a problem only in Columbia, Missouri, but it happens all too often and it happens for the simple fact that prosecuting attorneys want a conviction all too bad, but at what cost? How can the citizens of this country have faith in our justice system when these types of antics happen way too often. It's not the jury, it's the prosecuting attorneys that actually lied and purger themselves knowing fully well that they are withholding evidence or misleading the jury.

Today, the Columbia Police Department said it "will continue to follow-up on any new leads or information that is brought to the department" regarding Heitholt's death. Right! If I was the family of the murdered man, that would sure bring me piece of mind!

On national TV this morning on CBS, to show how much class Ryan has, he feels no resentment to his classmate Chuck Erickson, who he feels that Mr. Ericson was used and that he feels was forced into a false confession.