CNN Breaking News email: Police Officer Darren Wilson to resign

[branford]

32. Are you implying I'm a racist for not prejudging criminal guilt and discussing the relevant law?

First, the "guilt" of Michael Brown is not at issue, and it goes without saying that no one should die because of the color of their skin.

However, the issue in the shooting is whether Officer Wilson followed proper procedure, including having a reasonable (even if wrong) fear for his life. Any defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty, even those individuals we may personally find repulsive. More importantly, any criminal conviction requires actual admissible evidence sufficient to convince a jury beyond a reasonable doubt concerning the guilt of the accused.

Despite the scattered leaks about the case, we know the authorities, state and federal, and grand jury, have far more evidence than has been publicly revealed. I am not in the habit, both by inclination and profession as a trial attorney (although I practice commercial litigation), to prejudge any matter without all available facts.

Michael Brown's death was unquestionably a tragedy. That does not mean that a crime definitely occurred, no less can be proven in a court of law.