Weller should serve time

Re “No prison for Weller, no closure for others,” Nov. 21

No time for George Weller. Nice to know injustice is alive and well in Los Angeles. As an L.A. County deputy public defender, the disparity in treatment of minorities has long been known to those in the system, and now it’s obvious to the public at large.

The judge says Weller is too old and sickly for prison, and it would be burdensome for taxpayers to foot his prison medical bills. Translation: middle-class, old white guy has a bad day, kills a few people, give the guy some slack.

In contrast, elderly indigent minorities afflicted with AIDS, cancer and the like who commit such nonviolent offenses as drug and theft crimes routinely get no breaks and go to prison. Court-appointed defense attorneys seek the same kind of mercy as Weller received, but those pleas are generally rejected. The typical retort from judges and prosecutors, “Your client is undeserving, and don’t worry, prison will give your client the treatment he needs.” And those are for the cases in which elderly, minority defendants have not even hurt anyone, let alone killed scores.

DAVID MARSH

Los Angeles

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Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Johnson thinks more of Weller’s health and age than of the victims of Weller’s crime. Five years’ probation for taking 10 lives and injuring several others? No way! Typical liberal judge thinking of the welfare of a criminal rather than the welfare of the families of victims. Weller comes off as arrogant and unmoved. Again justice is not served.

JOE HENDRICKSON

Rancho Cucamonga

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The brother of one of Weller’s victims stated that the sentence was fair and that it would be different if Weller had been 25 or 30 years old. I don’t understand this thinking. Does punishment for crimes differ depending on the age of the defendant, or are all subject to the same treatment, regardless of our age, gender or ethnicity?

BILL REMY

Walnut