Roth’s broken logic
Roth’s broken logic
Concerned and troubled by the outcome of the Alexander Gambsky case? We should be.
Prosecutor Mitch Roth obtained a murder charge against Alexander Gambsky because he thought he could prove that Gambsky killed his wife beyond a reasonable doubt.
Despite this, Roth made an agreement with Gambsky that allowed Gambsky to plead no contest to the reduced charge of manslaughter. The result of Roth’s agreement is that Gambsky did not admit guilt for the killing of his wife, nor was Gambsky convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Why did Roth reduce the charge against Gambsky if Roth truly thought that Gambsky killed his wife and that he could prove it?
Consider this question in light of the fact that Gambsky could potentially be released in as little as six years under Roth’s plea agreement.
Roth has previously stated that with Gambsky’s manslaughter plea, there would be no appeal. There being “no appeal” should never be the reason to reduce the charge against an offender. If this was indeed a sound reason, a prosecutor would never go to trial. A prosecutor would reduce the charge(s) in every single case because any conviction based upon a trial is ripe for an appeal. Additionally, if you believe in your case and you follow the law, why should a prosecutor worry about an appeal?
Without sound reasons for Roth’s plea agreement, we should be concerned and troubled.
Michael Kagami
Keaau
Kept off first base
Your article, “Kenoi looking for new blood” (Tribune-Herald, March 3), notes that there are 25 to 30 vacant seats on Hawaii County boards and commissions.
These vacancies exist “due in part to a shortage of volunteers willing to step up,” politicians claim.
Well, this sounds pretty plausible: Apathetic citizens who could not care less about giving back to the community. Oh, what a guilt trip this could be.
But here is my accounting of all of this.
I wrote a letter in mid-November to councilman-elect Aaron Chung, District 2 council member. I expressed an interest in volunteering for any county board or commission for which there was an opening. I said that I would consider any opening. Just let me know. Regrettably, I did not hear back from Chung, nor did he even take the time to acknowledge receipt of my letter.
But, I tried.
Last month, I called the legislative office of my state senator, Gil Kahele. I was inquiring about the application process for the vacancy on the state water commission. Sen. Kahele’s representative said she would investigate the application process and get back to me so that I could begin applying for this volunteer position. My phone has yet to ring with someone from Sen. Kahele’s office on the other end.
I tried again.
So, contrary to what the news piece purports, there are citizens, like me, who are willing to volunteer, but it is our elected officials and politicians who, through their inaction and indifference, short-circuit the process and prevent the numerous vacancies on commissions and boards from being filled.
Like Ernest Thayer’s poem, “Casey at the Bat,” I, too, stepped up to the plate, but I never could reach first base because our elected officials wouldn’t pitch the ball to me.
Richard Dinges
Hilo