Two things bother me about the news coverage I'm watching about the arrest of two men in the sniper investigation. I just heard Robert Novak on CNN ask the questions, "Can these men get a fair trial? Who cares?" I always thought the concept of a "fair trial" was as much for society's benefit as that of the accused. I mean, isn't it in our interest to make sure the folks who are convicted are actually guilty? Sometimes, I think people get so eager to see crimes punished that they feel arresting the wrong person is almost as good as arresting the right one.
Secondly: Newspeople are telling us that John Allen Muhammad is probably the sniper who murdered ten innocent people and that he was so crazed at one point that his wife had to get a permanent restraining order to keep him away from her. They're also telling us that the other suspect, John Lee Malvo, was linked by fingerprints to a murder and robbery at a liquor store. Okay…but the news people also keep referring to them as "these gentlemen," as in, "authorities believe they have a strong case against these gentlemen."
I don't know for sure that the two suspects in custody committed the murders. But I'm pretty sure they aren't "gentlemen."