Violent crimes such as murder have a tendency to be followed very closely by the Memphis media and the public. Every news show usually leads with the violent crime of the day. For this reason, those who are accused of such crimes can face an uphill battle in court.
A series of shootings in Clarksdale that began this past Sunday morning has killed one person and injured five more. A 36-year old man was killed and his passenger was injured when they were shot on Sunday morning at the 100 block of Adams Avenue. The injured man was taken to the hospital and the other man was pronounced dead at the scene. Later, just before 11pm, a man was shot in the foot in the 700 block of Catalpa Street. That man was taken to the hospital. Around 11:15 in an apartment complex on the 600 block of Ritchie Street two men were found outside who had been shot. And inside the apartment complex a 7-year old boy was injured from the gunfire. All three of the victims were taken to the hospital where they are expected to recover. There are no suspects for any of these shootings currently in custody and police are asking for the public’s help in identifying the shooter or shooters.
Because of the media and public attention that violent crimes tend to receive, those who are charged with such crimes may feel that the whole world is against them. Consulting with a legal professional skilled in criminal law can help these defendants tell their side of the story. The attorney can conduct an independent investigation into what happened, including forensic testing, blood spatter analysis, medical record review, etc., anything that can poke a hole in the prosecutor’s case. It’s important for defendants to take the homicide charges seriously as being convicted of such acts can lead to a long prison sentence.
Violent crimes in the Memphis area garner quite a bit of media attention. But the accused should remember that they are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, not the court of public opinion. Being prepared with a defense is critical in reducing or avoiding the charges.
Source: WMCTV, “Clarksdale shootings kill 1, injure 5, including child,” Karen Bray, March 31, 2014
