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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 20, 2007

Animals Treated Better

Regarding 'Acquitted On All Counts' (front page, Oct. 13):

I have to write and express my absolute disgust regarding the acquittal of the seven guards and the nurse in the Martin Lee Anderson case. When this young man was brutally murdered, I was stunned that the guards were not immediately arrested. I could not believe any member of the medical profession could watch, hands on her hips, as a child, already collapsed and not resisting in the least, was brutally pummeled for 20 minutes. There was a videotape that graphically showed this child's slaying. Although Anderson died Jan. 6, 2006, a warrant charging those responsible was not issued until Nov. 28.

Think about it - seven men, one child. If even one man did this to an animal he would have immediately been arrested, not free to walk until public pressure became such that warrants were finally served. When are we going to start valuing our children more than animals?

L. BETH BEEKMAN

Port Orange

Tried And Judged

The boot camp cops are not guilty - period. They were tried and judged by their peers on a jury picked by both attorneys. Just because there wasn't a black juror or two makes no difference. Some racists still believe that discrimination should be used in a jury pool. Eighty years ago this may have been the case, but today we are all Americans, and we need no racist, discriminating juries.

As long as we are all called Americans and are no longer called black, white, Latino, Irish, African, etc., the likes of Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson won't have a job. They are racial dividers.

JOHN LALLEMAND

Dade City

Justice Takes A Back Seat

I am appalled, but unsurprised, at the 'not guilty' verdict of Panama City's all-white jury in the Anderson case. Given the empanelling of this jury along with the introduction of an out-of-town prosecution team, it had been my expectation that prejudice and local provincialism would prevail over reason and common sense. Each of these defendants has their friends and neighbors to thank for their escape from the prison time they all so richly deserved. But at least these defendants will suffer the unavoidable penalty of living with their consciences - but what about the jurors?

How does this jury justify its willingness to ignore both justice and glaringly obvious facts in taking only 90 minutes to return this decision? It seems clear to me that the state more than met its burden of proof with the videotape of this vicious beating and the all-too-coincidental timetable of Martin Anderson's subsequent death. The medical examiner's original autopsy report taking refuge in 'sickle cell trait' was clearly a convenient excuse and not a basis for reasonable doubt.

The tragic legacy of this case will be that once again in Florida, justice has taken a back seat.

JOHN FEENEY

Tampa

A Sad Commentary

The Geneva Conventions forbid torture of prisoners of war, and yet we tolerate the beating of a 14-year-old by several grown men. What a sad world this is, indeed.

TERRY NEAL

Tampa

A Double Whammy

I believe the jurors in the Martin Lee Anderson trial used this theory: If a parent was seen doing this punishment to a child, they would be put in jail for a very long time.

As reported in The Tampa Tribune by Thomas Krause, state Rep. Jimmy Patronis said he will sponsor a bill for the state to pay legal expenses for the guards and nurse involved. Wow, a double whammy; justice was not served in this trial.

FRANCES PELFREY

Tampa

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