Buffy's Arrest

[Lyri]

Maybe it's just me, maybe I just don't have enough knowledge of police procedures or the justice system, or whatever, but am I the only one who thought that Buffy's arrest for murder in 'Becoming PT2' was way out of line?

I mean, the cops had no evidence other than Buffy kneeling next to Kendra's body. No murder weapon, no blood on Buffy or anywhere near her, nothing suggests that Buffy was the one who killed Kendra.

So what gives?

 

[white avenger]

I think that they were acting on Snyder's word for what happened, and Buffy would have, if she had gone to the Police Station for processing, been charged with something minor like trespassing on school property after hours and merely held suspicion of involvement in everything else. Any lawyer worthy of the title should have been able to get her all the charges except trespass dropped almost immediately after questioning. As you say, there's nothing for them to go on except her being at the scene when the police arrived. Snyder's accusation would be filed for further investigation, but lacking any sort of evidence, nothing would be likely to come of it.

 

[janas]

I think the main accusers against Buffy are the two policemen. They view her in the scene of the crime when Buffy barges into the library and kneels by Kendra.
Shortly after the principal Snyder sees her again at the crime scene, with a sword in his hand. This makes Buffy the number one suspect, and I think that the testimony of Snyder matters a lot.

 

[brinkster130]

Out of line, yes. But, WA is correct, B probably would have been arrested and charged with something minor while the police continued the investigation to see if a murder charge would hold.

 

[Lyri]

In 'Dead Man's Party', it's mention that Buffy is 'no longer wanted' for murder and she's been 'cleared of all charges'. So she WAS wanted for murder, with no evidence other than Snyder's word apparently and the fact that she was found kneeling next to a dead person.

Sunnydale PD really IS deeply stupid.

 

[tkts]

"Wanted for" in this context just means that they were looking for her as a suspect.

Though technically she DID resist a police officer by running away. I'm not sure why a prosecutor would just let that go without even getting a chance to talk to her.