Montgomery County District Attorney and Republican candidate for Montgomery County commissioner, Bruce Castor, is quoted in Times / Chronicle, commenting on case under investigation. He speculates on the motive, with the words "I would not be surprised if..." I'm not a lawyer and don't follow trials very closely but I'm not sure that is something he should be doing. If the DA's office decides to go with another tact in the case, what affect would his public theorizing have? His conclusions are the ones I would be likely to arrive at myself, knowing only what I have read, but unless he has definitive proof or is certain this will be the prosecutor's case, maybe he shouldn't be voicing an opinion to the press. (See "Murder charges pending for teen," by Margaret Gibbons 9/19)
The assistant district attorney that Castor says will be handling the case was far more circumspect when talking with the Inquirer "Symbol of hope mired in tragedy," by Larry King, Martha Woodall, and Jeff Gammage 9/18):
Risa Ferman, Montgomery County's first assistant district attorney, said yesterday that she could not speculate on what might have sparked the assault on the child. "We'll be in a better position to answer that once we've completed the investigation," she said.
Is the investigation complete? If not, why is the district attorney speculating? It is a heinous crime and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent, but in the courtroom, not in the papers.
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I'm guessing Castor's comments could lead to a change of venue request by the defense, if nothing else, based on prejudicial pre-trial publicity.
I'm pretty sure the DA prosecuting this case can't be too pleased with Castor's public comments.
Those are the sort of things I was wondering about, too. You think he'd know better....
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