"Cowardly Lion Liar Syndrome" Within Law Enforcement
Let's see. A trained US Marshall murders his wife and is found guilty of manslaughter, the most the bozo can serve is 13 years. I realize know one knows what takes place behind closed doors. But, when any law enforcement officer has murdered another person, child, wife. girlfriend and then declares "she came after me" or I was protecting myself" it's nothing more than smoke and mirrors. I call it the "cowardly liar lion" syndrome. The events in these cases are suspect. And yet, tragedy, after tradegy, a cop, if he doesn't take his own life cook's up one hell of a story. This is one of those situations. Today, a jury today found a U.S. deputy marshal guilty of voluntary manslaughter for fatally shooting his wife July 4, 2005, and it will return to court tomorrow to recommend a sentence.
John Ludwig, 52, of Ashburn, was charged with first-degree murder and using a firearm in the commission of a felony for fatally shooting his wife Karen Ludwig, 38, in the couple’s bedroom. The jury also found Ludwig guilty of using a firearm in the commission of a felony, which carried a mandatory three-year prison term. The voluntary manslaughter charge carries a maximum of 10 years in prison, so the maximum sentence Ludwig can get is 13 years in prison.
Prosecutor Robert Vernail told jurors Ludwig was a cold-blooded killer who premeditated the murder with malicious intent.
Ludwig’s attorney, Alex Levay, said his client was acting in self-defense after Karen pointed a gun at her husband during a heated argument. There is no proof, but because the man's attorney planted a reasonable doubt in the bozo's defense his finding by the jury was not premeditated murder.
By finding Ludwig guilty of voluntary manslaughter, the jury had to believe that Ludwig killed his wife intentionally, but in the heat of passion.
Levay and Vernail would not comment until after the jury recommended its sentence, which is expected to conclude tomorrow.
