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Your Views: Unfair take by '48 Hours'
Published 12/11/2009 in Commentary : Letters to the Editor
Statement by Dan Monnat and Kurt Kerns, lawyers for Chad and Shannon Floyd, in response to CBS "48 Hours" primetime broadcast:
One year ago, the State of Kansas dismissed all charges against Chad and Shannon Floyd after two laborious trials in a case originally filed by former Attorney General Phill Kline. The prosecutors correctly realized that no jury would convict this innocent couple, and that a third trial would gain nothing and do more harm than good in this small farming community.
The Floyds and many residents of Stanton County had hoped that the dismissal would put an end to the malicious gossip and veil of suspicion that had divided and exhausted their community ever since Michael Golub disappeared. But just when the healing had begun, CBS producers from "48 Hours" came along and re-opened the wound for no greater purpose than the network's own commercial interests.
Chad and Shannon cooperated with law enforcement and answered their questions during the investigation. Chad and Shannon presented their case twice in court, so they had no reason to rehash the ordeal again for the gratification of some ratings-driven reality TV show. Chad and Shannon wished only to put this case behind them and focus on their children, and they asked that CBS leave them, their children and their community alone.
Trial by TV is an insult to the innocent and a sad day for justice. CBS's "48 Hours" program is pure television entertainment -- the more sensationalized, the better. The program's take on the Floyd trial was like its treatment of most cases -- inflammatory and grossly incomplete. In its commercial-filled hour, "48 Hours" could never fairly portray a case that took nearly a month to try in court. But, here, even the private eyes hired by "48 Hours" couldn't agree on what happened. That's a far cry from proof beyond a reasonable doubt and exactly how innocent people get wrongfully convicted.
DAN MONNAT and KURT KERNS,
Wichita
Found 7 comment(s)!
It's Kansas!
It's fricking Kansas. Have you ever been to Kansas....total atrocity of a state...Chad and Shannon innoncent...Pffttt! If you have ever lived in small town America, this type of stuff happens without a doubt!
Posted by: The Reaper on 12/24/2009
Searching wells?
Not much, if anything, was mentioned about search efforts to try and locate Michael's body. Given the short window of time before he was reported missing, it seems probable that if there is a body it would have to be close to the town. Have the wells been searched? There are non-profit teams that do this kind of work, Necrosearch comes to mind, where they utiilize everything from infrared to soil composition, etc. Curious to know the degree to which a recovery effort has been made.
Posted by: David on 12/16/2009
Guilty as Charged
Michael does not have a chance to speak for himself, he is DEAD! If the Floyd's think they are not guilty then they should have nothing to fear by the airing of 48 hours. I would think they would be happy to have the information out there to find the REAL KILLER! And to the lawyers, just because there was a hung jury twice in a town a mile square, does not make the not guilty, it just means that you could not find someone in that town who was not under the thumb of the Floyd's to convict them. Justice will be done eventually. My brother is right, where is the interview with the guy who fixed the front window, there is so much more that could have been put on that show that would convince even more people that they are guilty!
Posted by: Rebecca Kujawa on 12/16/2009
Opinions Vary
I agree with Mr Monnat, there was alot of commercials during the show. If they didn't have as many commercials maybe they could of told more of the story on how they killed Michael and got away with it. Justice wasn't served and two people are now free to do what they want where as Michael has not even had a proper burial and his mother (Debbie Golub) does not have closure. I would of loved to interview the man who fixed the window with the bullet hole in it. I also would love to know why the two are separated, too many lies between them to save the marriage? Everyone is allowed great attorney's and they had them. I knew Michael very well, I am his cousin, and I know he wasn't perfect, but he didn't deserve this. My final words are that when we find his body and the forensic evidence is found we will get the conviction that Michael deserves.
Posted by: George Hildebrandt on 12/14/2009
Are you kidding me?
48 hours was only letting the world know how guilty Chad and Shannon are.
Posted by: Balinda Hildebrandt on 12/14/2009
Poor Floyds
The poor Floyds, having their names dragged through the mud on national tv. I am glad..and I hope every other news program will likewise do an expose on them so that no matter where they run to, the community in which they hide will know that the worse kind of slime lurks amongst them. If they had been tried in any other community, they would now be rotting in jail.
60 Minutes...got a minute?
Posted by: Julie Dailey on 12/14/2009
wow
Open and Shut, pure and simple. Their guilty and I feel sorry for you the attorneys for protecting the guilty. You all disgust me, and someday you will all have to pay for it at the gates of heaven. Hope the Floyds paid you well, and hope you cant sleep at night and your lives are miserable. AMEN
Posted by: David on 12/14/2009
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