Letters

Haye's Hell

Robbed by the system:What a story -- how a life can be disrupted, possibly broken, through the incompetence (or worse -- intentional behavior) of the system ["Truth and Consequences," by George Flynn, August 26].

Who makes this incompetent investigator pay -- shouldn't his freedom be taken away? Why should Desmond Haye be struggling financially -- isn't a system that unjustly and incompetently robs someone of their "life's infrastructure" (i.e., family, livelihood, reputation, etc.) be made to pay? This man and his family are of a heroic nature; sadly, they will more than likely be interpreted as losers in this culture.

There, but for the grace of God and the color of my skin, go I.

Chris Hill
Houston

Ill feeling:Well written and compelling. It sickened me to read what happened to this young man.

Phil Anderson
Houston

Where's the outrage?Desmond Haye was fortunate in finally being appointed a competent and conscientious lawyer, who then hired an excellent investigator, but his real luck was in having a prosecutor willing to dismiss the case.

Many Harris County juries would have convicted him, dismissing the botched non-investigation as "defensive rabbit trails and smoke screens," just as one disregarded George Rodriguez's employer alibi and others over the years have ignored mountains of contradictory evidence in their haste to convict. Jurors, prosecutors and police continue to place unfounded faith in eyewitness identifications, especially when HPD refuses to educate its officers on the avoidance of improperly suggestive identification procedures. Too often, jurors slavishly buy into the prosecutor's urging to "not reward this criminal because our police officers are overworked," and goose-step to a guilty verdict.

We can now add the deaths of Alfredia Jones and Charles Clark to the long list of crimes that could have been avoided if law enforcement did not stubbornly refuse to open its minds and eyes to alternative theories and evidence. This will probably become an even more common occurrence, as the system increasingly declines to prosecute or investigate actual perpetrators after the innocence of original targets is proved.

Where is the community outrage over this innocent man being jailed for almost a year? I guess this pales in comparison to those who have been wrongfully jailed for decades.

Shawna L. Reagin
Houston

Deserving of help:How could this happen in America? Will this young man's name be cleared? Where is state Senator Rodney Ellis? This family still is in need of additional help.

Thank the Lord for you, the judge, Randy Cunningham and attorney Denise Crawford.

Mary Thomas
Houston

More, please:Excellent story. Are you going to follow up on the detective who failed to detect and probably cost the police officer his life?

Also, why didn't this story get coverage in the other local news outlets?

Charles M. Kinsey
Pearland

Crowning Blow

No joke: You have got to be kidding!

Having a son suffer through the shenanigans at Jones, I knew of the maternal protection in place ["Promoting Failure," Hair Balls, September 2]. However, I find it baffling to reconcile the regal process of divine accession to the throne in a country that rejected the trappings of royalty.

Jack Stewart
Houston

Hitting the Head

Not lovin' that oven:You've probably been told by now that cabecita means "little head," but maybe it's not a literal term ["Transcendent Tacos," by Robb Walsh, August 26]. Kind of like "sweetbreads." In any case, I'm sure the calabacita tacos are scrumptious nonetheless, and I must go experience them soon.

Our brood went on a Saturday- morning outing to one of our favorite cafes: Croissant Brioche in the Village. Much to our dismay, it was closed. The owner John spotted our pressed noses on the front glass and came out to offer us (along with anyone else who cared to smear the glass) free ham-and-cheese croissants. The reason it was closed, John said, was that the brick oven was hopelessly broken, and he had sent for some craftsmen from Spain to come and rebuild one. That's dedication! Maybe there's a story there, or maybe everyone sends for European laborers. I dunno, but I gotta go get my salami-sandwich fix soon, to make sure the baguettes haven't revolted.

We enjoy your reviews very much.

Rosa Maria Guerrero
Houston

Houston's H2-Oh

Out of Africa:I have just come back from a summer trip in Uganda, Africa. Before I left, I purchased a very cool $90 water filter from REI because if you drink the water in Africa, it could kill you.

The water in Houston tastes heavenly and you don't have to push it through a filter before your meal. Thanks for the article ["The Pushers," by Robb Walsh, August 19].

Sol Campbell
Houston