A LIKELY STORY: MURDER TRIALS ARE TRICKY THINGS, AREN'T THEY?

With all the intrigue and intensity of an episode of the fantastically written "Law & Order," the murder trial of Steven Shelby begins today.

For those of you who groaned as you pulled the yellow card from your mail box last week, I am ethically forbidden to taint your impartiality by going over the details which may sway your vote to convict or acquit.

But after the aforementioned potential jurors are whittled away to active ones, they will become sequestered and hopefully media immune. The rest of you will get the scoop in the morning by those of us who make our meager livings by keeping track of such things. We pass the savings on to you.

While murder always makes headlines, the circumstances behind this trial hold special excitement and interest. Even though reporters are genetically fascinated by this sort of news, I try to remember that this was brought about by the murder of a human being and this trial is justice at work.

While the intent is to keep it in perspective, I can't help thinking this trial will be way cool.

NOTE: Italicize "way" in previous paragraph

In addition to a potentially damned good story, this trial is offering a lot of firsts. Along with Mr. Shelby, this will be the first time I have been to a murder trial. I've always held a special fascination for the law and I consider this trial more a learning experience for me than just a chance to continue earning a check. Don't misread me, the wife likes the checks and requires one to let me in the house.

The trial's a first for this newspaper, too. We have gotten permission from the court to be able to take a photograph from inside the courtroom while the trial is in process. Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle said he doesn't think that's ever happened in this county before.

My managing editor said it's funny what you can get when you ask.

With the honor of being the first photographer allowed inside a courtroom with his camera, Don, our crime photo artiste extraordinaire, has the additional task of not irritating the judge into never letting us do it again. This may prove difficult; news photographers and irritation go hand in hand.

Murder trials are tricky things, aren't they?

Which reminds of me of a good book I'm reading. Until the ridiculous verdict, O.J. Simpson's murder trial wasn't especially interesting to me, even at the time. But, at the recommendation of our county prosecutor, I'm reading "Outraged: The Five Reasons O.J. Simpson Got Away With Murder."

It was written by Vincent Bugliosi, one of this country's most successful prosecutors, including the prosecution of Charles Manson.

"Vincent Bugliosi?" my wife asked when I bought it. "When did the guy who used to play in all those 1930 horror movies go to law school?"

No one can accuse my wife of not having a sense of humor, though she could be convicted of having a BAD one.

The book describes in great detail how the prosecution could easily have gotten a guilty verdict if they only had played their cards right.

I agree but don't have the time or inclination to debate here. Suffice to say that the fact that Mr. Simpson is not on working on an appeal right now is especially offensive.

It is proof that our justice system, while one of the best in the world, is not without flaws.

Let's hope today's trial isn't another exception that proves the rule.

~Scott Moyers is a staff writer for the Southeast Missourian.