BRIAN IS INNOCENT

  Brian Laundrie is innocent—-(until proven guilty).

The golden thread that runs through English and American jurisprudence as our system’s core foundational premise is: the presumption of innocence. (See: John (1st Viscount)  Sankey,1935, in: Wilmington vs DDP ) 

In our juridical system, we are innocent until proven guilty “beyond a reasonable doubt”. 

In the Gabby Petito disappearance and “homicide” case, the nation has fallen prey to a form of mob rule, where prosecution and conviction takes place  in the press, with judgement based on innuendo supported with few or no facts.  Where only a supposition of guilt, leads to a public “trial” by press release..  What is known, at this time, proves nothing about Laundrie’s guilt or innocence. .

Brian has had a warrant issued for his arrest based on very flimsy charges— his possible use of a credit card that is presumed to be the property of Gabby Petito.   But the card’s  ownership and it’s past usage is unknown. It may have been a joint card shared by the couple.  

This person being chased by the FBI, local police, bounty hunters, who is sniffed out by bloodhounds, and has a bounty placed on his capture, has not been convicted of any crime—- and he is very much still presumed innocent. Attempts at arresting him must take into account that fact. The FBI and local police are not tracking down a fleeing convict, escaped criminal or convicted felon, but a citizen who is wanted for questioning, and the use of a credit card that might be his own. Nothing else. 

 

We are still a nation of laws, that protect us all from hysterical mob rule. If we ignore these our most sacred laws  we are all stripped of their protections and we descend into the jungle of injustice and chaos.