Shorstein Wants To Know Why Brenton Butler Was Prosecuted
JACKSONVILLE – For the first time ever, State Attorney Harry Shorstein is questioning whether his office did something wrong in taking the case of a teenager accused of murder to trial.
"How much we regret what happened to the young man who was prosecuted for a crime he didn't commit," Shorstein (pictured, right) said.
Regret and an apology from Shorstein to Brenton Butler and his family. Now the apology is backed up by a promise from the state's top prosecutor.
"I have asked for a special prosecutor to review our office's decision-making in this case," Shorstein said.
Shorstein admitted that the system that led to Butler's wrongful arrest and charge with the murder of a Georiga woman simply broken down. While Shorstein said that he is not pointing any fingers, he said that the sheriff's office presented him a case that no one would have refused.
"When you have an eyewitness, a signed confession and three law enforcement officers testifying to that confession, I just won't imagine a decision not to prosecute," Shorstein said.
Shorstein admitted that there was a lack of evidence in the Butler case, but stands behind his decision to prosecute considering the confession.
Shorstein said that his office conducted an investigation into allegations that Butler was beaten during his interrogation, but Shortstein said his office did not turn up any evidence to prove that the teen was beaten.
"How much we regret what happened to the young man who was prosecuted for a crime he didn't commit," Shorstein (pictured, right) said.
Regret and an apology from Shorstein to Brenton Butler and his family. Now the apology is backed up by a promise from the state's top prosecutor.
"I have asked for a special prosecutor to review our office's decision-making in this case," Shorstein said.
Shorstein admitted that the system that led to Butler's wrongful arrest and charge with the murder of a Georiga woman simply broken down. While Shorstein said that he is not pointing any fingers, he said that the sheriff's office presented him a case that no one would have refused.
"When you have an eyewitness, a signed confession and three law enforcement officers testifying to that confession, I just won't imagine a decision not to prosecute," Shorstein said.
Shorstein admitted that there was a lack of evidence in the Butler case, but stands behind his decision to prosecute considering the confession.
Shorstein said that his office conducted an investigation into allegations that Butler was beaten during his interrogation, but Shortstein said his office did not turn up any evidence to prove that the teen was beaten.