LETTERS: FLAWS IN THE SYSTEM

To the editor:

Looking back of the past year at the O.J. Simpson trial, I can see several fatal flaws in the American legal system. The first and foremost is that if your are involved in a political case or even a highly publicized case you might as well not even go trial.

This problem with bringing evidence to the notice of the defense or prosecution within a reasonable time needs to come to an end. Take the carpet fibers from Simpson's Bronco (found at the scene, found in the Bronco and all over the gloves and hat). There weren't allowed in the case, because the defense wasn't told about them in a reasonable amount of time. That was damning evidence. I personally believe that if the jury had been told about them, this verdict would have been whole lot different.

Of course, maybe the problem is with Johnnie Cochran making this trial out to be a case about the unfair treatment of blacks in the Los Angeles area. Sure, they have problems. Sure, we have problems. But aren't all of these trials about the rights of blacks, Hispanics, gays and women just getting a little out of hand? If you have a point or a problem, bring it before a court, and you will get all the publicity you can handle. Or say that "you are trying prosecute me because I'm black, Hispanic, gay or female," and you are set for life.

I also feel that O.J. will make a lot of money because of the books to be written and the publicity he will get because of the trial. I hope someone will take this case to heart and make some much-needed changes to the American legal system.

DENNIS P. O'SHIELDS

Charleston