Criminal defense attorney Neil Rockind writes a starkly unflattering commentary on the death of Detroit Police Detective James Napier, who died Thursday from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head in a car in Sterling Heights.
Napier, who was assigned to the 12th Precinct, had been a member of the disbanded Detroit Police Narcotics Unit and was under investigation by the FBI and Internal Affairs.
Here's what he says on his blog:
In December 2013, a client of ours was acquitted of cocaine delivery and weapons possession charges. Our defense: a lying narcotics cop lied about him and framed him. My cross examination revealed the cop lied. The jury agreed and acquitted our client. I can think of nothing worse than lying under oath and framing a fellow citizen.
Apparently, Karma agreed. Not only did he lie in our case but this officer was under investigation for corruption, a fact that was not disclosed to us during the criminal trial. Today, this officer took his own life. Here is the story:
A jury and I saved our client’s life. But our client was in despair during the entire ordeal. He lost weight, couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep and was emotionally challenged throughout trying to grapple with spending 5-6 years in prison for a crime that he didn’t commit. He feared for his children and family. But, he persevered. He never once threatened suicide. Not once.
Today, the officer that lied about our client and was willing to send him to prison with perjury took his own life. Despite being a police officer, in the face of corruption charges, he proved weaker than our client. He couldn’t handle the pressures. He was apparently willing to destroy lives but couldn’t handle as his life crumbled around him. Just as he was willing to leave our client in prison, he leaves behind a wife and children. He seems immune to suffering.
How many people were wrongly arrested or convicted due to this officer’s testimony and conduct.
I do not want to dance on his grave. People are suffering due to his actions — some in prison (quite possibly) and others who cared for him, e.g., his family. But it proves a valuable lesson about what you put out there, you get back.
One wonders if he had been truthful, accepted his shortcomings and not been involved in possible corruption, whether the others wouldn’t have suffered as much and whether he’d have been more comfortable with himself, at least enough to live for his children. I don’t know.
My client, who has too much class to dance on the officer’s grave, was stunned at the news. He reminded me that we can’t take joy in someone’s passing and I do not. People are suffering today. He also reminded me that Karma is real and cannot be ignored.
