No justice, no peace of mind

Casey Anthony.

Do we yet have another O.J. Simpson-like case in which someone who is obviously guilty walks free, to the dismay of so many?

The little that we do know as fact is confounding at best. The mother does not report her child missing for a month; that in and of itself is unimaginable. When it finally is reported, she relates that the child was abducted by a housekeeper who does not exist, then it somehow becomes her wealthy boyfriend who abducted the child — until it becomes clear that he did not exist.

Let us not forget the duct tape found around the baby. How do you explain that in the context of an accidental death? And since when do we put duct tape on our babies? Placing all these facts together stretches the limits of credibility to think this woman is innocent, which is why her lawyers wouldn't allow her to testify. Casey Anthony's hands were obviously unclean, and they were hiding it, but then again, that is what they were paid for. The jury had, but did not exercise, an option of returning a conviction less than first-degree murder. No justice for the child, and the mother must live the rest of her life with her conscience never at peace.

Yes, the judicial system worked. She faced her accuser and, by a jury of her peers, Casey Anthony was acquitted. But is that enough? Should we as a society just go about our normal lives in the wake of such tragedy? But if we should not, then who among us should stand up and say, “Something’s not right here”?

We live in a world full of gray; I get that. Casey Anthony murders her 2-year-old daughter — by accidental drowning or whatever fantasy you may choose to assign to the unquestionable death of this innocent life — and is found not guilty. Only in America.