All of Riverside County was incensed to hear of the attempt on the life of two police officers on Friday, Aug. 21. We all abhor violence, of course, and many of us have a heightened respect and appreciation for police officers.
In a situation like this, it's natural to want closure. That may be why some people greeted the news that the three San Bernardino men accused of shooting the officers pleaded not guilty to the murder charges against them on Wednesday, Aug. 27.
While we share in the community's desire for justice, we also caution against jumping to conclusions for the following reasons:
- All defendants, no matter how severe or shocking the crime of which they are accused, are innocent until they are proven guilty.
- Many circumstances of the fateful night have still not been determined with much certainty. One of the reasons we have trials is to prove what can be proven and eliminate conjecture, opinion or embellishment.
- Justice isn't a knee-jerk concept. To achieve a true sense that justice has been done, we need to carefully sort through all the facts and evidence in a given situation and let the accused have his or her say. It can be a time-consuming process, and we know that can cause impatience, but it is vitally important all the same.
If you think you need to speak to a criminal defense attorney, please know you can contact us at any time. From our office near the Southwest Justice Center, we help people from Hemet, Corona, Winchester, Temecula, Murrieta, Menifee, Wildomar, Perris, Banning and other Riverside County communities.