Picture a courtroom scenario, the accused and his family members have eyes on the jury foreman who is about to announce the verdict. The accused knows he is guilty, but is hoping for luck to come his way through the jury’s decision. The foreman speaks: “Guilty”.
A word? No, a sentence. Not just for the defendant, but also for his family and friends.
The verdict was somewhat expected, even inevitable, but there was still the hope of a not guilty verdict. For family and friends, now begins the time of adjusting, grieving and refocusing; organising access visits and provisions for the new prisoner. Then comes the waiting out of the sentence, but now with a different hope, this time of early parole. In the meantime, how will the rent get paid? How can visits be managed with two young children and a two-hour trip on public transport? There is anger at the defendant for being so thoughtless, so stupid. There may be despair at the enormity of what lies ahead for those on the outside. This is a sentence for many because of the actions of one.
Picture another, similar courtroom scenario, the accused hardly daring to breathe as he awaits the verdict. This man is innocent. He originally trusted the system, but to his horror, has experienced that an innocent man is not guaranteed a just trial and a correct verdict. He has been judged by the media, which has in turn influenced the public, and perhaps even the jury, with their damning, emotive, public pleasing banners and headlines. He and his family and friends have had to endure misquotes, opinions, and personal harassment from the media, even after the judge addressed the media personnel and ordered them to stop. This man, rather than having........