This is a really sad story on so many levels:
Essie Billingslea, the Level 3 sex offender accused of breaking into an Arlington home and raping a woman at knifepoint last weekend, was released from prison two years ago after a jury decided he would not be likely to rape again. Now one of those jurors is speaking out about the decision.
The Boston Herald reported that the juror, who chose to remain anonymous over concerns about his safety, heard the news out of Arlington and was hoping it was a different person, adding that he felt “terrible” and that the jury “failed.” He even went so far as to suggest that “maybe he fooled us.” He also said he is frustrated that the Department of Corrections did not make a stronger case for keeping Billingslea behind bars.
Now not only is this a sad case that a woman was violated on so many levels by somebody who WAS behind bars and released, this does seem like a case where the justice system was working. He was sentenced to indefinite treatment in a mental hospital for his crimes, but he petitioned for a jury trial. He obviously snowed them, and that’s to be expected, as monsters like this don’t live long if they can’t put on a charming facade.
It’s also sad that at least one jury member see the blood on his hands. Now in many of these cases tagged “bad justice”, I’m arguing for reform of a system that has become too lax to those who have proven to be a danger. In this case I just see this as an innate flaw to any system. Judges are just one person, and they are fallible humans like anybody else. To petition to be judged by a jury of your peers is about the best form of justice we have, as you are at the mercy of MULTIPLE people to make your case.
In this case he fooled them, and another woman has been raped. Now my only regret is while he has proven himself to be a broken human being who will never be safe while unsupervised, we can’t do the right thing and execute him with respect and dignity. In stead the state will simply make him a danger ONLY to mental health staffers, guards, and other patients of the mental facility.
Whatever you feel about the death penalty, can you really say THAT sentence is right?
There is nothing wrong with the death penalty, it does what it was designed , by God, to do, it takes creeps out of society, sets an example, and stands the offender in front of their maker where true justice will be served. Frankly, if it was carried out swiftly, without endless appeals, it would send a strong signal, and free up a good deal of time and money.
If one worries over the one innocent man who might get sent home, they neither understand the sure mercies of God, or the death sentence we are all under.