Trial in Death of Child
Re “Oxnard Parents Get Long Terms in Child’s Death,” Feb. 28.
Judge James Cloninger made a serious error of judgment in not allowing the trial of Gabriela Hernandez to be heard separately, given all we know about active versus passive abusers and the transracial, cross-cultural aspects of child abuse.
While both of Joselin’s parents must take full responsibility for their actions or inaction, so must the public employees and agencies that played a role in little Joselin’s demise.
Judge Cloninger’s failure to hear testimony from all involved in the case, including expert witnesses, skews the judicial process and suggests that a rush to judgment to get the case adjudicated was the judge’s real priority.
The end result is that both defendants were denied their Constitutional right to a fair and impartial trial.
It was not a very good day for little Joselin at the birthday party. It was not a very good day in the lives of Gabriela and Rogelio Hernandez at their sentencing hearing and, sadly, not a very good day for justice.
ROBERT WOODSON
Santa Barbara
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