Tuesday, 5 March 2019

THE INNOCENT MAN. By John Grisham






This type of work is necessary so that the world at large can learn how sick the legal system can be! (specifically America in this work; how much more elsewhere). I am reminded of an acquaintance of mine here in west Africa who spent over half a year in jail just because he was ‘suspected’ of stealing something he knew nothing about! Reading this book, the mind boggles!! How can kids eg have their whole lives ruined – spent in jail/death row after being forced and coerced to confess to crimes they know nothing about? How many countless ‘criminals’ have been killed or sentenced to life imprisonment before DNA evidence unequivocally exonerated them later on? What price the life of hapless denizens when law enforcement agents are bent on convicting them at all costs? Such is the case here with the spotlight brilliantly beamed on the life – the vicissitudes - of an Innocent Man who nevertheless suffered horribly, accused of a heinous crime that he did not commit. And what about his long-suffering (pious) Mother, and Sisters? What about their vicarious and direct suffering? And yet through it all, the stigma of being accused and CONVICTED of (a) crime would always be there with members of the community, even relatives, shunning and snubbing such people even long after they have been exonerated. It is so sad. Why is the world often so unfair?
-         Henry Ozogula

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