A Time to Kill Analysis

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A Time to Kill Analysis A Time To Kill is an excellent example of a trial by jury, and criminal action. The case begins when a little girl is sent to the store to pick up a few items. On her way home, two men named Billy Ray Cobb and Pete Willard pick her up and perform one of the most heinous rapes of a child ever recorded. The little girl finds her way home, and evidence heard from her lead the law enforcement to the identity of the offenders. The mother. Gwen, brother actually asks for an immediate removal of the suspects from that county for their own protection. The sheriff, Ozzie Walls, believes he can protect the accused and proceeds to the arraignment. Carl Lee, the father of the child, is out of his mind with grief and hate. Before the arraignment is even begun, Carl Lee shows up at the courthouse and opens fire. Influenced by the tremendous pain of his loss, he slays the two accused of the crime and injures one police officer. This was a passionate retribution, and Carl Lee is then charged with two counts of murder in the first degree. Unfortunately, Carl Lee is trapped in a world where justice is not the focus and skin color is the issue. Since, Carl Lee can not afford an attorney of his choice, he is assigned the young and ambitious Jake Brigance. Jake does believe that even in this world, he can receive a fair trial. This begins the social outcry, as black and white, poor and privileged become passionate about their stance in this very volatile situation. What is the most amazing is the way the trial unfolded, and even the injured police officer admits that he would have acted in the same situation if he were placed in Carl Lee's shoes. What made this such an amazing example of literature and television is the verdict that came of “not guilty” even when a fair trial seemed to be out of reach. This was a
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