The question
Why on earth should Jonathan, a first-time offender who had lived most of his life in a wheelchair as a quadriplegic and who required virtually round-the-clock nursing, have been sent to jail for simple possession of marijuana?
Colbert King of the Washington Post has been asking alot of questions about Jonathan Magbie's death. King has a new report in Saturday's newspaper, which includes the above question.
The devastating ending of the piece, in which King quotes a conversation between the judge in the case and Magbie's lawyer that took place before sentencing, gives a clue to the question about why Magbie was in jail:
Judge: Good morning. Where is Mr. Magbie?
Lawyer: Your Honor, I wonder if the court would consider waiving his presence; he was hospitalized. He's not hospitalized right now, but he was released earlier in the week having had a bout of pneumonia.
Judge: No, I would not waive his presence. He needs to be here.
Lawyer: I'll see if I can get him here later in the day, your honor. But, could we waive his presence just for purposes of scheduling matters and then I'll have him. . . .
Judge: I'll issue a warrant for his arrest. It will be no bond as to Mr. Magbie.
Another question that isn't asked but should be: Why should any marijuana user be arrested leaving them subject to the cruel whims displayed by Magbie's judge?
12:55:33 AM | permalink |
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