Applesanity said:The guy holding the paper is Laci Peterson's stepdad, Ron Grantski. What a sick, twisted person. Gloating and celebrating over the death of yet another human being, no mater how despicable. What if TFL members gloated after killing violent intruders in their homes? Killing is something you might one day have to do. But it's not something to derive pleasure from. Jesus Christ.
Reading over the post-jury news conference, we also learned that the jury convicted Scott Peterson because they hated the person he was, and not for any real evidence. Now that is a full blown criticism of the Justice system.
Killing Scott ain't gonna get neither your stepdaughter back, nor any real closure. Revenge is a sick, sick coping mechanism. Jesus is on my side for this issue.
Perceptions can often be enlightening.
You see Grantski as "gloating" and a "sick, twisted person".
What I see is a man who is happy that the justice system, in his eyes, has worked to punish Peterson for his treachery, deceipt and the murder of two people. I see a step-father who is relieved that the man who bludgeoned his step-daughter and drown her alive will no longer be free; and may have to atone for his sins before the Almighty earlier than he expected.
I will tell you that I did celebrate the demise of Lawrence Singleton, a man who, in my opinion, was a waste of oxygen. A brutal rapist, torturer and killer of women, Singleton should never have been released from prison. I will also celebrate when Richard Allen Davis is executed because he, by his record, has shown that he is a violent, predatory, manipulative killer with no regard for his victims, his actions or who gets hurt. Davis confessed to several of his crimes, including the murder of Polly Klass.Gloating and celebrating over the death of yet another human being, no mater how despicable.
It's the very fine, blurry line between justice and revenge. One is an assurance that your society is safe and recompensated for wrondoings. The other is just to get your kicks - to derive pleasure from the suffering of others. We don't have a word for it, but somehow, the Germans do: Schadenfreude.
This is either over-simplified or a gross distortion. I agree with your definition of justice, though it is far too simple. But to imply that the smiling people in the photo are smiling because of "revenge" is either a distorted view or a twisted view of reality. I'd say they are happy that the killer will not escape punishment and they are pleased that the jury performed its function well.
A jury isn't required to like the defendant to any degree during a trial, nor look for redeeming characteristics. Contrary to other statements about the Jury "not liking" Scott Peterson, that was not the sole reason for a guilty verdict. Besides his actions, his explanations and defenses were as leaky as a seive. Members of the jury stated that they felt that Peterson's demeanor--specifically, his lack of emotion, and the phone calls to Amber Frey in the days after Laci's disappearance--indicated that he was guilty. They based their verdict on "hundreds of small 'puzzle pieces' of circumstantial evidence that came out during the trial, from the location of Laci Peterson's body to the myriad of lies her husband told after her disappearance"
On another note regarding this case, on January 10th, 2007, Donna Thomas, a legal researcher and legal advocate, appeared on Sirius Satellite Radio Courttv radio, with host Vinnie Politan. During the program, Thomas stated "I truly believed Scott was completely innocent. However during one of my visits with him at San Quentin, we were discussing evidence and he slipped. On another visit, he made a full confession."
RERICK made an interesting comment about "pulling the switch" himself. I'll leave his motives for others to dissect. As for me, having been fresh off a long investigation involving a father kidnapping his child after trying to kill his wife with a crosscut handsaw when, in 1978, Singleton's armless victim was discovered, I remarked that if they found her assailant and sentenced him to death, I'd volunteer for firing squad -- with my own rifle and ammuniton. The same is true for Richard Allen Davis. This is not about revenge, it's about being mad as hell that these people have the audacity to think they can get away with killing people for their own pleasure or gain.