Tattooed Neo-Nazi to Get Costly Makeover at Florida Trial

John Ditullio will be standing trial for murder in Florida this week. He'll also be the subject of an expensive makeover, and the government is footing the bill.

According to foxnews.com, Ditullio is charged with the first degree murder and attempted murder in the brutal stabbing of two neighbors in 2006. The 23-year old Neo-Nazi sports several tattoos on both sides of his neck as well as across his face. The defense contends that leaving the tattoos visible during trial will likely prejudice the jury, and a judge has ruled that the court will expend up to $150 daily for a professional makeup artist to cover the offensive tattoos before court is in session.

"When you have offensive tattoos people are going to judge you. It wouldn't be fair to judge him because the trial should be about the facts, not about tattoos," said defense attorney Bjorn Brunvand.

It's fact that several of the tattoos were added after his arrest. It's fact that John Ditullio is proud of his Neo-Nazi connections. Why should the taxpayers have to bear the cost of covering up what he is so blatantly flaunting?

Unfortunately, prejudice is still with us, even in the 21st century. The color of a man's skin, or even his place of worship still spur some to preconceived notions about the character of the person within. Why then do we not attempt to conceal a person's color or ethnic background to ensure the jury is not biased at trial?

Because that notion is ludicrous. To do so would denounce who that person is, just as covering up the Neo-Nazi tattoos in a Florida courtroom are an attempt to deny who John Ditullio is.

Potential jurors are screened prior to selection and are asked whether they believe they can participate in a trial without prejudice. Both defense and prosecution have the right to object to any number of things brought up at trial by the other party, and if sustained, any mention of that particular thing is stricken from the record with the jury being counseled to disregard.

If there isn't enough evidence to support John Ditullio's conviction of the murder and attempted murder charges, he could have 'guilty' tattooed on his forehead and it shouldn't make a difference. Likewise, if he is innocent, no amount of ink, Neo-Nazi or otherwise, should be a factor in the outcome of the trial.

If Ditullio wants to cover up the tattoos, let him do so - at his own expense. I don't think the court pays for a new suit to make any other defendant look presentable, so this tattoo cover-up in Florida could set a precedent in the government footing the bill for altering a suspect's appearance at trial in other ways.

Does the defense have so little to support his client's innocence that he has to resort to having a makeup artist do his job?

I rest my case.

Sources:

http://www.foxnews.com
http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/local/makeup-covers-offensive-tattoos-120509