Letter: Justice demands closer look at Williams case

Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2001 | 8:58 a.m.

Regarding the Jessica Williams trial, I have driven by the scene of the accident many times where the six teens lost their lives. There is not much of a shoulder on the road and the traffic zips by at 75-85 mph.

It could have been a Firestone tire incident or a sleepy trucker that ran onto that shoulder, a heart attack victim, or even a person sneezing. The fact is, and everyone knows it, is that no one, especially children, should ever have been on that shoulder. Also, there were no signs to slow traffic or flagmen, which is common for construction crews. Don't children deserve the same protection? Furthermore, if these children cannot get regular jobs at such ages, why were they permitted to "work" for the county?

Many credible witnesses have now testified that Williams did not show any signs of impairment, and that justifies why they did not feel the need to administer a field sobriety test.

The blood-level law is clearly flawed. A law to be considered might be to videotape field sobriety testing and make it mandatory. Many of us have all seen impaired drunks videotaped for TV shows like "Cops." That is convincing evidence of impairment.

Yes, it is a sad and highly emotional case. But if you or I were in similar circumstances, I think most would want an attorney such as John Watkins fighting hard for our constitutional rights and to expose the flaws of the law.

For those who want true justice, take off the blinders and look at the big picture.

AL DI CICCO