COLUMN

Verdict Reminiscent Of Old Days

By JOSEPH H. BROWN

Published: Oct 21, 2007

Before the trial of seven guards and a nurse in the boot camp death of 14-year-old Martin Lee Anderson even began, I told a friend that none of the defendants would be convicted.

I told him that it would end up being the Florida equivalent of the infamous Rodney King tape, where police officers are seen beating the crap out of a guy but a jury won't convict any of them of the charges prosecutors brought against them.

So I wasn't surprised by the acquittals last weekend. I was surprised, however, at the lengths the defense would go to bring about the jury nullification that took place.

The trial took place in Bay County. While being questioned by a defense attorney, Hillsborough County Medical Examiner Dr. Vernard Adams was asked if he received any political pressure to come up with a different autopsy conclusion than the one reached by his Bay County counterpart, Charles Siebert. Then he was asked where he grew up.

"Maine," said Adams.

"I grew up right here," replied the attorney.

What did Adams' place of birth have to do with his ability to determine Anderson's cause of death? Absolutely nothing, but it reinforced in the minds of the jurors that "outsiders" were coming in stirring up trouble, just as it was done in the South during the heyday of the Civil Rights movement.

Some Justice, At Least

It was this Jim Crow redux that moved state Sen. Arthenia Joyner of Tampa to say that little has changed since she marched for civil rights as a Florida A&M University student 44 years ago.

Well, 44 years ago this case would have never gone to trial, and Anderson's family would not have received millions of dollars from civil suits. So while this verdict is a reminder of the bad old days, a lot has changed.

After the verdict there was, understandably, a lot of anger. There was also, predictably, some histrionics.

Sen. Frederica Wilson of Miami told a crowd of protesters in front of the Capitol that it's "open season on black children in Florida from this day forth."

Well, senator, if it's open season on our children, the perpetrators are likely to be other young blacks. It's too bad that the murders of young men like Cedric "C.J." Mills, the Jefferson High School football star gunned down in front of his home last April, don't touch as sensitive a cord. His killer is still free. How about "no justice, no peace" for him?

No Compensation For Guards

Martin Lee Anderson's legacy will likely be the dismantling of the boot camp system. It took his death for state officials to finally realize it was a terrible, ineffective program.

One thing the state should not do is pick up the tab for the guards' legal fees. State Rep. Jimmy Patronis, R-Panama City, said he will sponsor a bill for the taxpayers to pick up the expenses instead. If such a bill should pass, Gov. Charlie Crist should veto it on arrival.

Maybe the juvenile justice system, not the guards, was the guilty party in this case. One thing for sure is that a young man died in state care, and no individual, or individuals, has been held accountable.

In this case, civil court will have to do, which is better than nothing.

Joseph H. Brown is a Tribune editorial writer.