Community Corner

Patch Readers Decry Rousso's Lawyer's Tactics

Though some defend the right to a good defense, few show sympathy for Highland Park teen whose actions resulted in death of a five-year-old.

A number of people defended the efforts of Doug Zeit, Rousso’s attorney, as part of the legal process but there was little expression of sympathy for Rousso or the potential consequences facing her after the car she was driving drove across four lanes of Central Avenue on Labor Day, 2012, killing Jaclyn Santos-Sacramento, then 5.

“While one cannot claim that our legal system is always just, one would hope that the poor little 5 year old that so needlessly lost her life and her parents that will suffer for life will at least have the person responsible for her death put away,” Forest Barbieri wrote. “It would indeed be an insult to the family, the community and society in general if Carly is to walk away from this like it did not happen or that the life of a 5 year old is so easily taken without consequences.”

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Reader Bob Bernstein expresses criticism for both Rousso and some of the readers who are quick to condemn Zeit’s tactics. He calls the American justice system the world’s best and does not want to see anyone’s right to due process of law abridged.

“This is not about a privileged teen ager killing an innocent child without malice,” Bernstein wrote. “This is a pure tragedy in our community that involves complex issues about a sick person. Rousso will pay for the rest of her life for her consequences but to condemn her, her legal team and our justice system is just out right wrong and against our constitution.”

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Reader Walter White put it in simple terms. “It's always funny to see people get mad at defense attorneys for doing their job,” he wrote.

Donna Oberg wrote on Deerfield Patch Zeit may be doing his job but criticized him too. “She (Rousso) killed a child because she wanted to be high,” Oberg wrote. “What about Jaclyn's right to live. Shame on her, her parents for not teaching her any better and well, the lawyer is doing his job but shame on him as well.”

Though Zeit did not provide the media a copy of his motion or supporting memorandum when he filed them in court Wednesday, Patch has since obtained a copy. Zeit did not tell Judge James Bouras he was seeking a partial, not complete, dismissal.

“I’m filing a motion to dismiss and supporting memorandum with a courtesy copy for your honor,” Zeit said to Bouras in Lake County Criminal Court Wednesday.

The motion asks Bouras to dismiss the four counts of aggravated driving under the influence because the law defining substances which can intoxicate a driver does not list diflouroethane and is vague about what unlisted substances do intoxicate.


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