A Perversion of Justice: A Southern Tragedy of Murder, Lies and Innocence Betrayed (Mass Market Paperback)

~ (Author), Mollye Barrows (Author) "BRANDON BEECHER'S TRAINING AT THE SANTA ROSA Fire Academy had taught him that every house fire held po victims, even if neighbors insisted that no..." (more)
Key Phrases: convicted child molester, judicial building, court security, Ricky Chavis, Terry King, David Rimmer (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Between Innocence and Guilt are a Hundred Shades of Evil

The accused killers were children: 12-year-old Alex King and his brother Derek, one year older, the two youngest defendants ever to stand trial for murder in Florida's history. The boys had already confessed to the brutal slaying of Terry King, their own father, who was beaten to death with a baseball bat on a November night on the outskirts of Pensacola. But in the course of the seemingly open-and-shut legal proceedings, a shadowy third player began to emerge. A convicted pedophile named Rick Chavis had befriended young Alex and was now, bizarrely, going to be tried separately for the same crime; a monstrous human predator who had seen two confused youths as perfect, easy prey.

The explosive case that riveted a nation is now the true crime book of the year -- a shocking, spellbinding account of innocence destroyed, blood spilled, and ... A Perversion of Justice.

About the Author

Kathryn Medico lives in South Florida and teaches writing classes.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Avon; illustrated edition edition (May 25, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060549297
• ISBN-13: 978-0060549299
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #733,956 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book, July 5, 2004

By	Brian E. Oliver (St. Louis, MO) - See all my reviews

Leaving me shocked, disturbed, enraged and at times in tears over the brutal way Alex and Derek were treated, I really think we should all applaud the step Kathryn Medico and Mollye Barrows have taken in writing this book. There is no doubt in my mind that a Perversion of Justice occurred from the very beginning and I am personally horrified that we live in a society where a prosecutor can take a man to trial for murder and not even try to get a conviction and I'm further horrified that a young child can be forced to testify in open court and in handcuffs at the murder trial of a man accused of molesting him.

Regardless of who committed this crime, the fact is that the system failed these young boys miserably and it's only time someone take responsibility for fixing this broken system and Mollye and Kathryn's book is a good first start.

I strongly recommend anyone who cares about justice in America to read this book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Persion of Justice, July 3, 2004

By A Customer

I thought this book was fantastic. I am from Pensacola, Fl where this book takes place and have had experience with the way the Investigators handle things down there. I was molested for years by my step father and when I went to press charges at 14, I was treated like the criminal and not believed. Even put into a little trap to see if I was making the story up, or maybe I just liked the attention and wanted the abuse. I think Pensacola needs to stat deciding to care for the children and not their own careers. This book definetly makes you understand how these kids were found guilty, when they were already treated as guilty even before they went to trial.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book I've ever read!, June 21, 2004

By	Mandi Burklow (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida United States) - See all my reviews

Congratulations to Kathryn and Mollye for standing up for what's right even when it seemed that everyone you talked to "just knew" what happened. This book is so revealing, in that it will open the eyes of anyone who reads it to the truth and yet allows the reader to make his/her own conclusion. It simply gives us the facts that no one heard in the trial. Kathryn does an excellent job of explaining everything so that no one is left confused with techniqual court terms. Thank you sooo much Kathryn for this book, and if you do not have a copy of this , I suggest that you run to the bookstore and snatch it up!