Gerald (Duke) McCoy – 12/15/09

This page was last updated on December 15, 2009.

Don’t be so quick to render a verdict; Gerald (Duke) McCoy; Beaver County Times; December 15, 2009. An editor’s note asserts, “The writer is president of Ambridge Council.”

Below is a detailed critique of the letter.

“It was a pleasure to find that our legal system works.”

[RWC] The implication of this comment is the legal system wouldn’t have worked if Mr. Ramaley had been found guilty.

“Former state Rep. Sean Ramaley was found not guilty of all charges. This should show people that being charged with a crime does not mean you are guilty.

“I have always believed in him and am very happy for him and his family. When Ramaley was indicted, he was a young man just starting out in life with a wife and newly born child, of whom he was so proud.

“Then, his life was thrown a curve with devastating allegations of theft and corruption, of which it is now apparent he was innocent. Ramaley can now begin to rebuild his life, and I hope this will be a stepping stone to make him stronger.

[RWC] The primary reason for this critique is to comment on Mr. McCoy’s assertion that a “not guilty” verdict means a defendant is innocent. I also heard similar assertions on various news broadcasts. A not guilty verdict doesn’t mean a person is cleared, exonerated, innocent, et cetera. Not guilty simply means the jury found there was insufficient evidence to convict a person beyond a reasonable doubt. I’m not commenting on Mr. Ramaley’s guilt or innocence, just the language many use to describe the verdict.

“I have supported him since he entered politics and will continue to support him in the future, should he return to public service.

“This should be an example to people who throw their friends under the bus before they are found guilty. Does this sound like something that is now happening in Ambridge? Are they innocent or guilty? Let our legal system decide.”