Double Trouble
The Judicial System Failed
RECEIVED Tue., June 26, 2007
Dear Editor,
On March 23 of this year, Adam Raymond was hit head-on and killed while riding his bicycle near Dripping Springs ["Naked City," News, June 22]. Earlier this month, the Hays County grand jury failed to indict Bradley Danz, the driver of the vehicle that killed Raymond. This was in spite of overwhelming evidence that Danz was clearly negligent in his actions. By not granting an indictment, the grand jury essentially tried Danz and found him innocent, which is not their job. While I appreciate the service of the citizens of this community sitting on the grand jury, I cannot disagree strongly enough with their decision. It is inconceivable that more than 600 citizens signed a petition asking for this case to be aggressively prosecuted to the full extent of the law, and yet there were not nine individuals out of 12 who felt compelled to see this case go to trial. Our system has failed. It failed a young bride who is now a widow. It failed a baby boy who is now without a father. It failed countless others who were privileged to call Adam Raymond a family member or a friend. It failed this community. It is hard to fathom that one fabulous human being is gone, and the individual responsible for his death goes free without consequences for his actions. How would anyone else feel if this happened to someone they loved?
On March 23 of this year, Adam Raymond was hit head-on and killed while riding his bicycle near Dripping Springs ["Naked City," News, June 22]. Earlier this month, the Hays County grand jury failed to indict Bradley Danz, the driver of the vehicle that killed Raymond. This was in spite of overwhelming evidence that Danz was clearly negligent in his actions. By not granting an indictment, the grand jury essentially tried Danz and found him innocent, which is not their job. While I appreciate the service of the citizens of this community sitting on the grand jury, I cannot disagree strongly enough with their decision. It is inconceivable that more than 600 citizens signed a petition asking for this case to be aggressively prosecuted to the full extent of the law, and yet there were not nine individuals out of 12 who felt compelled to see this case go to trial. Our system has failed. It failed a young bride who is now a widow. It failed a baby boy who is now without a father. It failed countless others who were privileged to call Adam Raymond a family member or a friend. It failed this community. It is hard to fathom that one fabulous human being is gone, and the individual responsible for his death goes free without consequences for his actions. How would anyone else feel if this happened to someone they loved?
Lori McNabb