Indictment of 4 Officers
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It seems that the four Los Angeles policemen involved in the Rodney King affair are bound to be punished, one way or another (“U.S. Files Civil Rights Charges Against 4 Officers in King Case,” Aug. 6). First, there was the state prosecution, the outcome of which did not satisfy the mob. Now, the politically inspired federal prosecution, after insults and threats against the Ventura County jurors and the riots after their verdict have warned all future jurors to convict.
In the unlikely event of a federal acquittal, maybe the policemen could be prosecuted by some other government under the doctrine of universal jurisdiction that was announced in the Demjanjuk and other cases, whereby every nation has jurisdiction to punish alleged human rights violations committed anywhere. For example, in order to satisfy the mob, the policemen could be extradited to Ghana for trial.
RICHARD A. PERKINS
Los Angeles
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