Originally posted by: yllus
Originally posted by: DonVito
Veddy interesting. I remember reading in detail about the case, years ago, and there was persuasive evidence to indicate that an outsider had committed the crime. That being said, I do still think there was some untoward conduct (perhaps molestation) going on involving the parents and JonBenet, particularly since they initially lawyered up and refused to cooperate with the investigation.
That's kind of a surprising statement coming from you. I admit to forgetting whether you spend your time doing defense or prosecution, but wouldn't you advise all clients to refuse to say a single word to the authorities without a lawyer present?
I certainly would (and, BTW, I have been both a prosecutor and defense attorney), but that doesn't mean there's nothing incriminating about it from a common-sense standpoint (though it can't be used against them in court). Any normal parent with nothing to hide, IMO, would cooperate in the investigation of their young daughter's attempted kidnapping and murder.
Put yourself in their shoes for a moment: someone breaks into your house, tries to abduct your daughter (going as far as to leave several draft ransom notes in the trash), kills her, and leaves her in the basement. You know neither you, your spouse, nor a member of your family is involved. Wouldn't you cooperate with the authorities, in the interest of preventing more child murders? Frankly, even as an attorney, I think any decent human being would.
OTOH, if you knew that you or a member of your family was involved in the murder or had been molesting her, you might well lawyer up.