Have pity - I'm a widower. Can Oscar come too?

[MajGenl.Meade]

12 Nov 2014 The Times (South Africa)PHILANI NOMBEMBE

Dewani gets day off to mourn Hindu ceremony at the spot where her body was found

THE Cape Town High Court will tomorrow adjourn the murder trial of Shrien Dewani by a day — he asked for time off to commemorate the death of his wife, Anni.

Dewani’s advocate, Francois van Zyl, asked presiding judge Jeanette Traverso if his client could be excused and she agreed.

Dewani is accused of paying taxi shuttle operator Zola Tongo to arrange Anni’s murder in a feigned hijacking.

[Big RR]

I don't know the case or SA law, but if they have a presumption of innocence and he has not been found guilty of anything yet he should be granted this courtesy (absent some other type of risk). Accused murderers here often attend the funerals or wakes (or are permitted private funeral home visits) of loved ones they are accused of killing (and some are even exonerated).

[BoSoxGal]

I'm with you on the presumption of innocence thing, Big RR, but I don't want our foreign friends getting the idea that the US criminal justice system is compassionate or humane.

The only murder suspects who get to attend funerals/memorials are those who can afford bail and those not yet under suspicion at the time of the funeral/memorial.

I won't swear that it's never happened, but I'd be very surprised if murder trials are very often suspended in the US for such a reason.

[Big RR]

I would think it's pretty rare, but I do think in some states murder suspects can get bail and remain free during trial. Would the trial allow a day off for some sort of religious ceremony? Probably not, but possibly. I just don't see it as an outrage.

[Long Run]

I would think it's pretty rare,

See it on TV crime shows all the time.

[MajGenl.Meade]

He's going to get away with it too. If he'd been moslem he could have just "I divorce you" and that's that. But the SA prosecutors office (SAPoff) has made a dog's dinner out of the case already, which is par for the course.