Beating Case Defendants

Tanenbaum’s inflammatory invective against the possible plea bargain in the Reginald Denny beating case incorrectly states that a plea bargain would immunize the defendants from punishment. A plea bargain would not exonerate the defendants’ wrongdoing, but rather correct an unfair and excessive indictment in order to achieve an appropriate sentence.

Tanenbaum states that “the system has to be at all times fair and effective, resolute and compassionate,” yet the system was not at all fair to those charged in the Denny case. The district attorney acted according to politics when he filed far more serious charges than the incident was worth; far more serious charges than those filed against the officers who beat Rodney King. While the officers in that case were looking at a sentence of seven years at best, the charges filed against the Denny defendants could result in life in prison.

The proposed plea bargain in the Denny case is a commendable attempt by the new district attorney to bring the charges down to a level that is fair and punish the defendants for what they actually did, not scapegoat them in order to enhance the agenda of the politicians.

CATHY DREYFUSS

Los Angeles