November 20th, 2008
Opening arguments in Drew case
The opening argument in the Lori Drew case may hint at just how difficult it will be to keep the case focused on the actual charges of computer fraud and misuse, rather than Drew’s liability for the suicide of Megan Meier.
The New York Times reports federal prosecutor Tom O’Brien’s opening speech like this:
Drew had “hatched a plan in order to prey on the psyche of a vulnerable 13-year-old.” The goal, Mr. O’Brien said, was “to embarrass her, to humiliate her, to make fun of her and to hurt her.” Ms. Drew knew of Megan’s history of depression and attention-deficit disorder, he said, because Ms. Drew had given Megan her medicine when she vacationed with the Drew family.
But Drew’s attorney attempted to depict Drew as a mom vaguely aware of the Internet but keenly aware that Megan was taunting her daughter, Sarah Drew.
“There are two sides to every story,” said Dean Steward, Ms. Drew’s lawyer, who depicted Megan as a fickle friend who had taunted Sarah Drew by spreading “horrible” rumors about her. Mr. Steward implored jurors to remember that “this is a computer abuse and fraud case, not a homicide case.”
