Letter of the Day (Dec. 8): Legal system

A lesson for all in sad tale about woman who was drugged.

December 9, 2012 at 12:38AM
300 dpi Rick Nease color illustration of child's transparent body overwhelmed by large, red, downcast woman's face. Detroit Free Press 2007<p> betrayal illustration ricky holland tragedy red love hurt pain forgiveness mentor fear mother remorse death child missing children disappearance crime shame sadness adoption murder adoption, FEA, krtfamily family, krtfeatures features, krtsocialissue social issue, parent 02000000, 14000000, CLJ, krtcrime crime, krtnational national, krtsocial social issue
300 dpi Rick Nease color illustration of child's transparent body overwhelmed by large, red, downcast woman's face. Detroit Free Press 2007 betrayal illustration ricky holland tragedy red love hurt pain forgiveness mentor fear mother remorse death child missing children disappearance crime shame sadness adoption murder adoption, FEA, krtfamily family, krtfeatures features, krtsocialissue social issue, parent 02000000, 14000000, CLJ, krtcrime crime, krtnational national, krtsocial social issue, SOI, krtdiversity diversity, youth, 14006001, 14006002, 02001001, 02008000, CRI, homicide murder, krtjustice justice, trial, 2007, krt2007, krt, mctillustration, de contributor coddington nease kresnak mct mct2007, de contributed (Randy Salas — MCT/Detroit Free Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

I had three reactions to Jon Tevlin's column on the dismissal of charges against Nancy Fletcher, the Minneapolis woman who believes she stabbed a friend because somebody put a drug that can fuel aggression in her beer ("When the legal system takes too long to make the right call," Dec. 4).

First, this was an odd case that prosecutors pursued with a vengeance, seemingly refusing to look at the facts that supported Fletcher's account. Second, it seems to be a classic example of "blaming the victim," which apparently happens too often in the legal system. Finally, we all need to be careful about who we accept a drink from when in a tavern. It might help us avoid the same unfortunate situation.

CARLENE DEAN, OSAKIS, MINN.

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