Unfortunately, that isn’t what Germans are thinking about Montana at the present. They already are dumbfounded that Pflager’s being an accomplice has been ignored by prosecutors and the press. Sad that our press and Governor need to look to the financial impact to the state when considering how to respond, or whom to charge. Or what the impact of an ugly extradition proceedings and foreign trial with all the accompanying media attention might have on their bottom line.
Of course, we only need to look at the impact of letting the actions of Grizzly football players dictate public relations for the University of Montana to know that no one will ever admit that the huge decline in students and associated budget cuts are a result of prosecutorial misconduct. Why would reactions to a murder trial be any different?
Castle Doctrine? There are real castles in Germany, and none of them are being used to justify the murder of unarmed teenagers, even if they are trespassing. Justice should be swift and merciful.
4&20 blackbirds 
May 10, 2014 at 12:44 pm
Bullock did the right thing by offering condolences to the Dede family. A full apology would be more appropriate but at least he addressed the unconscionable shooting of the exchange student.
What shocks me is the lack of sympathy, condolences, apologies coming from our civic leaders in Missoula. The mayor, county commissioners, police chief, sheriff … really, everyone in a leadership position, should be condemning the shooting. I can think of numerous examples of public outrage at injustice in other communities: Laramie, Wyoming, after the murder of gay student Matthew Shepard or Billings, when citizens by the thousands put menorahs in their windows following a series of antisemitic attacks in the city. In Missoula, not that long ago, hundreds rallied after a lesbian couple’s house was torched.
Where’s the outrage over the murder of Diren Dede?
May 12, 2014 at 9:37 am
Engen’s emotions are vetted by his compaign crew and handlers; his publicist , Ms. Merriam, determined John should wait and see….. Jason Wiener will have an opinion– private over micro-brews– but never in public. Caitlyn Copple blames the shooting on the presence of a penis. David Stromaier will offer up an Episcopelian prayer but is running for office (again) and dare not have real opinions. Peter Talbot—absent from Occupy Missoula protests and No-Monsanto protests–forgets that true outrage not only has an emotional component but also requires one to leave the keyboard and take to the streets (or the microphone at City Council.)