Today is a hard day.
Four years ago next month, my brother's (ex) best friend committed a crime. My brother knew about it and refused to rat his friend out, and throughout a series of events, the guilty party, along with his two accomplices, decided to band together and place the blame on my innocent brother.
I don't know how, with a reliable alibi and proof that he was not even in the area, it went to trial. But it did. I don't know how, with multiple conflicting stories from every person testifying against him, he got a guilty verdict. The judge made it clear she was making an example out of him, so perhaps in her (and the community's) desire to see justice in this crime, they were able to look past the evidence and convict an innocent person.
Before all this, like most of the public, I believed the justice system did good and the truth always prevails, but now I know that is not the case. Our family, specifically my brother, are living a nightmare and we have no control over the situation. There is nothing we can do but hope for a miracle.
Despite the crime being non-violent and no persons being harmed and an EXCELLENT pre-sentencing report that recommended he serve his sentence in the community rather than in jail (not to mention following all the conditions of his bail for the past FOUR years while his trial was put off over and over again), he received jail time.
He is supposed to serve ninety days in a remand center, but due to overcrowding, my innocent brother, who is the most kind, compassionate, loyal, caring person you could ever wish to meet, will be bussed to a maximum security jail where he will be forced to spend his time with hardened criminals, people who have done serious harm to others, who have killed other people or done things so unimaginable we think they only happen on TV.
Today is the day that happens.
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