justice for joseph adetula and his family
Joseph Adetula
was a young man in his prime. He had many dreams and ambitions. He
was a helpful person and often did chores for his parents. Little
did his family expect that
In spite of
the help of the police, the Adetula family has not yet achieved
closure. They cannot get over their grief because their son’s
murderer or murderers are still walking around, free to kill another
person. They have not been brought to justice.
Investigation
by Detective Jeff Felton has shown that Joseph was shot in a drive
by shooting by individuals riding in a gold Cadillac. He was shot
nine times in the upper torso, which resulted in his death. Though
no arrests have been made, the police have had word that there may
have been bad blood between Joseph and his killers.
Another source
of pain for the family is that their request for compensation as the
victim’s family has been denied. The Oklahoma Crime Victims
Compensation Board states that the Adetula family is not qualified
to receive compensation because the victim displayed contributory
conduct by engaging in illegal activity (marijuana possession).
Contributory conduct, according to the Oklahoma Crime Victims
Compensation Board, is any decision or behavior on the victim’s part
that contributed to the situation leading up to the crime. Examples
they say may include intoxication, fighting, using poor judgment and
membership in a gang, among others.
Mr. Dayo
Adetula cannot understand why their petition has been denied. He has
checked the criteria for eligibility and feels that his son did
nothing that disqualifies them. There have been no signs that this
crime was anything other than a bunch of kids senselessly killing
his son. The board has insufficient evidence to deny their claim
because up to now, Joseph’s murderers have not been caught.
The Adetula
family has cooperated with every aspect of the investigation. They
have done everything that the police have asked of them. Their son
did not do anything to deserve being shot. Walking down the street
does not contribute to a crime.
Joseph Adetula
was not part of gang. He was not intoxicated. Nor was he under the
influence of drugs at the time of his death. He did not sell drugs.
In fact, although a small baggie of marijuana was found in his
pocket at the time of his death, Detective Felton says that it
appears consistent with personal use nothing more.
The crime here
is murder, not drug possession. The drug is irrelevant to this
crime. The police themselves have verified that Joseph was not a
drug pusher – he did not have the kind of money a drug dealer would
require. Joseph’s killers are unknown to his family. If they knew,
they’d have had them arrested already.
Joseph is the
victims here. Yet they are made to feel like it is Joseph’s fault.
Where is the justice for Joseph Adetula and his family?
