Phila. D.A. Says Bail System is "Broken"

Decrying the massive number of fugitives from justice in Philadelphia, District Attorney Seth Williams said yesterday that the city's "broken" bail system amounted to a second assault on crime victims.

Speaking at a Senate subcommittee hearing, Williams said Philadelphia defendants had learned to "defeat the system" by failing to show up for court, wearing down witnesses and causing cases to collapse in large numbers each year.

"When defendants are fugitives and fail to appear, it revictimizes our victims," he said. "They don't get their cup of justice filled."

As The Inquirer reported last month, Philadelphia has almost 47,000 long-term fugitives, one of the nation's highest tallies.

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Lawyer Has Tantrum After Client's Bail Not Lowered

A defense lawyer went ballistic at the Criminal Justice Center yesterday after a judge initially refused to lower his client's bail or change his sentence in a contempt case.

According to observers, the attorney, Adam J. Rodgers, threw a pen and his leather bag, pushed or hurled a chair, and raised a chair over his head, then slammed it down.

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Bail Increased $4.75 Million for Teen

A Philadelphia judge yesterday increased from $250,000 to $5 million the bail for Andre Butler, the 16-year-old Mantua youth charged with third-degree murder and related crimes for allegedly driving the stolen car that killed a police officer.

Municipal Court Judge Patrick F. Dugan granted a request by defense attorney Brian F. Humble to postpone Butler's preliminary hearing until Dec. 3. But on his own initiative, Dugan ordered the increase in the youth's bail, Assistant District Attorney John Doyle said.