From the Associated Press:
“Sniper Witness Made Racial Remarks
By JOHN SOLOMON
WASHINGTON (AP) – Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms forensic chemist Edward C. Bender gestures (photo missing) during his testimony in the trial of sniper suspect John Allen Muhammad, at the Virginia Beach Circuit Court in Virginia Beach, Va., on Nov. 5, 2003. Government documents reveal that Bender kept a “sloppy” office that raised concerns of contaminated evidence and has made numerous racially insensitive remarks, according to evidence the government has had for more than a decade. FBI and Justice Department documents obtained by AP detail testimony from colleagues and supervisors that Bender made racist comments that were pervasive enough to raise concerns among at least one colleague about his impartiality in cases.” Copyright 2003 Associated Press.
Contaminated evidence—yes, surely a concern that should have been remedied long ago. But as for the discrimination? I’m sorry, but sometimes I think things are really a case of twisting an otherwise morally correct behaviorial ideal to justify an abuse of the system. Do they ever question witnesses on gender bias? Or on prejudice of any other ethnic group? Or any of the other million reasons why people sometimes don’t like each other? Aside from the man having his own opinion—right or wrong as judged by societal standards, don’t you think that he, as a forensic chemist might really, really harbor more severe prejudice and hatred towards murderers? Oops, can’t let him testify in a murder trial.
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