A crime, but not murder

I rarely side with criminals.

If they did the crime, they should do the time — and lots of it. I’m sorry if they had a tough life, but that’s tough. It doesn’t excuse horrible things like murder or rape.

Keep in mind that their victims usually suffer a “life sentence” from the crime. They never forget about it, they are never able to put away the fear or horror they felt.

But a former crook named William Barnes is getting a raw deal in Philadelphia, even though he did a despicable thing.

Four decades ago, he shot a rookie cop during a burglary. Officer Walter T. Barclay didn’t die, but he was paralyzed from the legs down.

That’s rough. It makes me sick to think of that brave lawman going through life in a wheelchair because of a dirtbag like Barnes.

But Barnes did serve 15 years for attempted murder, and that’s about what shooters get for that rap.

The problem is that former officer Barclay died two weeks ago. The medical examiner ruled that his death was due to the gunshot wound he got back in 1966. Now the D.A. wants to charge Barnes for murder.

Sorry, no sale. Forty-one years is too long of a time to lapse between shooting and death.

What Barnes did way back then was a crime. But it wasn’t murder then, and it shouldn’t be now.

The D.A. should drop the charges. Barnes is 71. He will face a different kind of judgment soon.