Mark Fuhrman

Re “Fuhrman Enters Plea of No Contest to Perjury,” Oct. 3: Retired Det. Mark Fuhrman has suffered enough. The $200 fine and three years probation are indeed nominal. What is not without significance, however, is the last two years of his life. His remarks were put under a scrutiny that 95% of the citizens in the U.S. could not bear up under if all of our casual conversations were to be held up to the microscopic glare of the public at a later date. There’s a strong likelihood that, white and black alike, we’d all be guilty of uttering a derogatory or unkind remark about our fellow human beings over the last 10 years.

Perjury in this instance is tied into what he said on the stand having a material effect on the Simpson murders. Using the “N-word” had nothing to do with the bloody glove Fuhrman found at Rockingham, that so obviously was not planted, despite the jury’s willingness to believe the trial of the century was about racism rather than homicide.

Fuhrman’s reputation has been smeared. His years of LAPD service, where on a weekly basis he was helpful to victims, have been ignored.

JODY CLARK

Los Angeles

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Last month my terrified, 78-year-old uncle plea-bargained on a shoplifting charge. He got 160 days community service, a $978 fine, three years probation and was told to stay away from the store permanently. He was advised not to take the deal, since he had exited the store with the merchandise in his hand, was heavily medicated and since he had never been in any kind of trouble in his life.

Fuhrman plea-bargained his perjury charge and was given a $200 fine and three years probation. Whatever happened to the “and justice for all” part?

JULIE ANN HOFFMANN

Riverside

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I find it disgusting that a sworn police officer can lie on the stand in a capital case and get away with only a meaningless probation and tiny fine. The criminal justice system is broken--can it be fixed?

RICHARD W. POWNELL

Hacienda Heights