Charge creates a psychological double jeopardy

To the editor:

Having read the article by Scott Moyers about the prosecution of April McDonald, I must express my outrage and complete amazement.

As the McDonald family has already suffered a traumatic shock from which they may never recover, this is certainly a case of psychological double jeopardy.

The prosecuting attorney, Morley Swingle, claims he is merely following the law. However, we are all aware that the power to charge or not to charge people is entirely arbitrary and is increasingly divorced from the principle of obtaining justice.

This family and April herself have already been condemned by themselves and must carry out a life sentence of grief.

What else can the legal authorities want except to prove that they have the ultimate power over our lives? After all, are they representing the victim or themselves?

EMILY MELLIES

Cape Girardeau