Hostage Crisis in Beverly Hills
The only difference between the “shoot-out at the O.K. Corral” and the “shoot-out at the Rodeo Dr. Corral” is the time element. The U.S. marshal, Wyatt Earp, and his deputies dispatched the “bad guys to their happy hunting grounds” in a relatively few minutes. The Beverly Hills police and sheriff’s deputies took more than 13 hours with disastrous results--three hostages dead and two wounded.
The culprit, a 22-year old drop-out from reality, was slightly wounded and will no doubt recover to stand trial for murder one with special circumstances. If convicted, he will be subject to execution. Of course, first the Court of Appeals must confirm the verdict and then the California Supreme Court must review the case. After that the defendant can go to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The estimated elapsed time? About 10 years. Cost? Well over $1 million.
SAMUEL S. SHERWIN
Los Angeles
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