LETTERS

To the Editor:

I would like to thank the Las Vegas Weekly and Joshua Longobardy for the recent article on the retrial of Kirstin Blaise Lobato ["The Trial," October 12]. While I do not agree with all the opinions expressed in the article, I appreciate that for once someone tried to tell the whole story and was willing to take the time to investigate fully before putting pen to paper.

I hate having to be the one to point out the elephant in the living room, but the frightening reality of the Kirstin Blaise Lobato verdict is that it verifies the complete and utter absence of respect for "truth" in our justice system and fully exposes Metro, the DA's office and the courts as liars, cheats and kidnappers.

Coincidence does not a guilty person make, and the awful truth of the matter is that coincidence is what was used to prosecute Blaise Lobato since there is not any evidence against her. I urge everyone to investigate this case. Do your own research and ask your own questions. Be warned, though, that you will be forever changed and will never again feel safe, because once you are in possession of all the facts, you will know utterly and irrevocably that an innocent person has been convicted not once, but twice, of a crime she could not possibly have committed.

The unfortunate fallout of discovering the truth in this case will lead you down a dark road of total disillusionment. You will discover how far the truly guilty parties (Metro, the DA's office and the court) will go to protect their own asses when they make a mistake. From the total lack of a competent and complete police investigation (including Metro refusing to test evidence until the defense brought it to the attention of the court and the Judge ordered that it be tested—evidence that exonerated Ms. Lobato) to the attitude of the prosecuting attorneys that they are on a mission to convict regardless of the evidence that she did not perpetrate the crime, this whole case is about CYA (cover your ass).

Before I became aware of this case five years ago, I truly believed that the truth would ultimately win. We teach our children to tell the truth and to be honest because that is the right way to live. What we do not teach them is that in the legal world no one seems to care one iota about the truth. Truth takes a faraway back seat to winning at all costs, no matter whose life is ruined in the process, and lying, cheating and hiding the truth are all acceptable methods of ensuring your victory. ...

When something like this occurs, the effect is total lack of respect for the agencies that caused it, and the natural tendency is to paint everyone with the same brush. The recent Gibbons/Mazzeo debacle only reinforces my feelings. Hopefully, the taxpayers of Las Vegas have had enough of the corruption and will call for a Federal investigation into the entire department.

If our newly elected officials are serious about ethics reform, that would be a good place to start ... The remedy is for those involved to admit they were wrong, do the right thing, take the steps necessary to make whole the person who was wronged and ensure it does not happen again to someone else.

Justice is not served when an innocent person is convicted of a crime. The real murderers of Duran Bailey are still at large. Now, don't you all feel safe?

Just keep ignoring that elephant in the living room and maybe it'll just go away, but heed my warning: The next innocent person to be convicted of a crime could be you—or one of your children—if within the police department and legal community there continues to exist a culture that ignores the truth.

Dear Josh Bell,

Just read your review of The Fountain after seeing it. I think you hit it pretty much on the nose. One of the best reviews I've read in a while. You pretty much captured exactly how I felt about the movie.

Dear Josh Bell,

I like your style—your heart. Though I have not yet seen this flick [One Night With the King, October 12], I agree with you about Christian movies, Josh Bell. Also you talk to God like I like to; you are very real. I was so thrilled when this movie was first advertised, as I was being called to be an Esther and not think of escape from a certain situation. Then I saw the clips on TV. Well, if the message is correct, I'll go to the library or rent it if I must. Thank you for your honest response. I join you in your prayer.

I was quite disappointed that Tessa Hafen did not win her race.

As best I remember Jon Porter did not try to contact me even once. How can he know how to vote if he's not asking the people who live in his district?

I know that part of the problem is that Congressional Districts are simply too large. No one has enough time to find out how the majority of 600,000 people want their Representative to vote. Still, if you're not willing to accept that the people are your boss, then no elective office is the right job.

I strongly believe that it is time to make both Congressional Districts much smaller. The people have a right to better know who their Senators and Representatives really are.