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Walter Dean Myers 'Monster': The Fair Trial Of Steve Harmon

588 Words3 Pages

“Justice was given: The fair trial of Steve Harmon” by Yoni Hello, my name is Yoni and I am writing to talk about how Steve Harmon’s trial is portrayed in the novel, “Monster” by Walter Dean Myers. After closely reading the trial’s ups and downs, I can truly say that Steve Harmon received a fair trial. Despite all of the conflicts, the highs and lows in such a serious case, the process for the young man met legal standards. Firstly, it is important to recognize that Steve Harmon is a very competent and educated defense attorney who knows the ins and outs of the legal system. His defense attorney, Kathy O’Brien, represented Steve just like she would anyone else. Kathy O’Brien gave Steve great advice during the trial, reminding him multiple times that he is innocent until proven guilty, not the other way around. Since she knew he wasn’t used to the legal system she even gave him tips on what and what not to do on trial, an example is when she said, “You don’t turn around and wave to any of your friends”. Being given a lawyer willing to fight for your rights is the first step in having a good trial. …show more content…

As the trial ended, O’Brien effectively defended Steve to the best of her ability while highlighting the flaws, inconsistencies, and biases the prosecution gave. For example, when cross-examining Osvaldo Cruz, O’Brien tried hinting at his criminal past when she stated, “You weren’t afraid to beat up your girlfriend, but you were afraid of Bobo, is that right? This line of questioning was important as it gave the jury a clearer understanding of the witness’s reliability. This shows signs of a fair trial as there wasn’t bias, and Kathy O’Brien was willing to defend him at all

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