Larry Bumgardner: Not a ‘justice’ system
The March 3 news article “After 23 years, Dudley embraces his freedom” was cause for celebration on one hand but cause for shame on the other.
Our justice system withheld key information from Howard Dudley’s lawyer that would have brought the only testimony against him into serious question. He was offered no prison time for a guilty plea, but Dudley knew he was innocent and so he went to trial.
No prison time versus over 23 years is the option our justice system offers?
Our justice system heard about the clear questions about his conviction from an N&O story in 2005. Eleven years later, a hearing is held that finally frees him. The state of North Carolina fought this exoneration claiming that the recantation of the witness could not be believed.
It is clear to me that our justice system is not truly interested in justice.
Larry Bumgardner
Durham
This story was originally published March 5, 2016 at 1:00 PM with the headline "Larry Bumgardner: Not a ‘justice’ system."