Thread: WRONG PLACE, WRONG TIME

In 1995 Gene Hein appeared on my CNBC show to talk about his 18-year-old son, who was serving a life sentence with no chance of parole—even though he hadn't killed or robbed anyone. What had Brandon Hein done?



On May 22 of that year, in Agoura Hills, Calif., Brandon and three friends went to buy marijuana from two boys operating out of a backyard fort; Brandon and his friends were drunk. An argument ensued, and one of the friends wound up stabbing one of the boys from the fort, who bled to death.



At trial, the prosecution didn't claim that Brandon had killed anyone. But it did convince a jury that he and his friends had intended to commit robbery, even though most of the boys knew each other, no one wore disguises, and nothing was stolen. According to the felony-murder rule, all participants in a felony can be held equally culpable, including those who did no harm, possessed no weapon, and didn't intend to hurt anyone. Brandon got the same punishment as the boy who committed the murder. (One explanation: the murdered boy's dad was a police officer, and after the Simpson acquittal and the hung jury in the Menendez case—both of which occurred in the same judicial venue—the prosecution desperately wanted a conviction.)



As the years have gone by, I've become friends with Brandon's father, mother, and stepmother. I've tried to get elected officials to take up Brandon's cause, but I've had little luck—no one wants to look soft on crime. A few months ago I met with Attorney General Eric Holder. He was sympathetic but promised nothing.



Brandon is now 32. Earlier this year, after he'd served 14 years, his sentence was commuted to 29 years to life with a chance of parole. In California, one must serve 85 percent of a sentence before becoming parole-eligible. That means Brandon must serve more than 24½ years before being considered—another decade. Among Western nations, only the U.S. retains the felony-murder rule, though Michigan, Kentucky, and Hawaii have dropped it. It's a disgrace—and if the Obama administration is talking about reforming drug-sentencing laws, it should consider abolishing the felony-murder rule on the grounds of cruel and unusual punishment.



Gene told me once that, back in 1995, when they got to court, Brandon's attorney told Gene, "The prosecution may ask for the death penalty." This is a boy who, at 18, got drunk and got into a fight, and he'll be 42 before he gets a chance to reclaim his life.







http://www.newsweek.com/id/212159

At least this story has made the MSM.

That's a start.

Here's a petition link if anyone wants to sign.

Thanks for the heads up Sparta!



Free Brandon Hein

[quote name='Inkslinger' date='03 December 2009 - 02:02 PM' timestamp='1259877773' post='72216']

At least this story has made the MSM.

That's a start.

Here's a petition link if anyone wants to sign.

Thanks for the heads up Sparta!



Free Brandon Hein

[/quote]

I'm 4457

Thanks for the petition ink, I'm going to spread it around.

Further proof our justice system is a joke.

[quote name='Ronin Tetsuro' date='03 December 2009 - 05:56 PM' timestamp='1259880967' post='72287']

Further proof our justice system is a joke.

[/quote]



No it isn't. Our justice system is wonderful and works quite nicely. All this proves is that our justice system is not perfect, but none are.

[quote name='Ronin Tetsuro' date='03 December 2009 - 05:56 PM' timestamp='1259880967' post='72287']

Further proof our justice system is a joke.

[/quote]

Good to see you back Ronin..



And what you typed is what I signed on the petition..

[quote name='TennesseeRain' date='03 December 2009 - 06:04 PM' timestamp='1259881493' post='72293']

No it isn't. Our justice system is wonderful and works quite nicely. All this proves is that our justice system is not perfect, but none are.

[/quote]

Our local court systems are nothing but a scam for money. You stand accused in front of a judge who plays cards with your accuser, yea that sounds just lovely. I love the game they make you play with the prosecutor. You wait in line and kiss ass so His Grace can plea your speeding tickets down to a charge you did not committ, that you go admit you Did do in front of a court of law. So in the end you lied to a judge and paid extra in fines so that you can circumvent DMV or Insurance pts. What's that called again..? Oh justice..

Where's Huckabee when you need him?