Resentencing for Koon and Powell

Re “Court Orders Longer Sentences for Koon, Powell,” Aug. 20:

Resentencing of Los Angeles Police Department Officers Stacey Koon and Laurence Powell, ordered by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, is Russian-style justice dispensed in America. Remember all those years we ridiculed the crude, undemocratic system of justice in Russia? We’re doing it now.

The first trial by jury found them innocent. Unsatisfied, the feds demanded another trial. What happened to double jeopardy? Next time they were found guilty and sentenced to 30 months. Serving one year of the sentence, the feds step in again and demanded the trial judge resentence them to a longer term. If this is not Russian-style justice in the U.S., what do you call it?

Strange. Rodney King walks away with $3 million--more than he’d earn in 30 lifetimes--two police officers do hard time, the two intent on killing Denny with a large paving block walked free. Why don’t the feds demand a new trial?

Is this the democracy for which I spent four years in World War II and two in the Korean War? A useless sacrifice.

BYRON DILLON

Downey

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Yes, Virginia, there is justice in these United States. It is a shame that it must sometimes be delayed until right-minded authorities can rein in someone like U.S. Judge John G. Davies who, for one long moment, reinforced the unfortunate belief that even in the sanctity of a federal court justice is linked to color.

Now, we owe it to those esteemed justices of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to dare to believe, at least for another long moment, that Americans have indeed forged humanity’s fairest system. For the renewal of that belief, thanks again to the 9th Circuit. We can only hope after this refresher course in Americanism, that even Judge Davies will now finally “get it.”

RICHARD W. CRAIGO

Los Angeles

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I think the proposed extension of the sentences of Koon and Powell is cruel and unusual punishment and I hope the American Civil Liberties Union will take up this case.

Koon and Powell were unjustly convicted under double jeopardy and now the Clinton crowd continues to play politics with this latest proposal to further deny them their civil rights under our judicial system.

I think this is a case where the ACLU could show that it really is concerned with the civil rights of all citizens.

JEAN LaPLANT

Los Angeles