Self-defense claim in murder trial questionable

Published 1:30 am Thursday, December 30, 2021

In our country, unfortunately, it is still possible to cause the death of an innocent, unarmed person and claim self-defense to escape being held responsible. Such is the recent verdict of Everett resident Ryan Leenders who shot and killed 28-year-old William “Tom” Harper (“Jury acquits Everett man in deadly shooting at Everett party,” The Herald, Dec. 24). Mr. Harper was a previously unknown neighbor who had been invited to a party taking place at Mr. Leenders’ residence. Luckily for Leenders, Harper might have possessed a large vape pen in the front pocket of his hoodie that Leenders used for his claim of self-defense. Tom Harper’s life was cut short at only 28 years of age through absolutely no fault of his own, while his killer is absolutely free. In this case, justice was blind, deaf and silent.

Judith Lowell

Everett