Outrageous Abuse Of Power-Interviewing 8 Year Old Suspect

      There is a terrible abuse of power, allegedly, in the investigation of a double murder case in Arizona.  A young 8 year old child was being interviewed by the police in the murder case of his father and a houseguest/friend of the father who were shot and killed. The interview was recorded; thank God, because it shows the leading questions being asked by the officers; as well as the answers given by the child.

      This is outrageous; children are very easily led by those in authority.  This child was a potential witness and was being interviewed as such.  The officers allegedly said to the child, what if we had someone who ‘saw’ something?  Then, when a series of questions was put to the child and he was led to say that he ‘might’ have shot the gun that day, then he might have shot his father, then he might have shot the friend…before long he was shooting the gun that day and he didn’t know…if maybe he shot his father.  You see what i am saying…this line of questioning was done without an adult advocate for the child being present.

       There was no attorney in the room who represented the child…there was no parent present (father was killed…but the child had a mother who lived out of state) there was no friend or clergy present…no teacher…no person who could stop the interview when it allegedly (and in my opinion was) turned into coersion to get the child to confess to murder.  This is an 8 year old child.  Clearly, he was anxious, fearful and wanting to give them answers…he was wanting to be pleasing to the authority figures in the room so that the questions would stop.  Whether he is guilty of murder or not…this is not how questioning should have been conducted.

        Even if it is true that this child committed murder (it would indeed be a terrible thing)…the case will probably be thrown out because the ‘evidence on tape’ was done without the child being read his rights/and in lieu of not being able to comprehend his miranda rights (or to have anyone unbiased explain it to him)…there was no adult advocate present to prevent him from implicating himself in the taped ‘confession’.  What if this child confessed to a crime that he did not commit?

        This is a huge problem in our court system.  People who conduct police interviews with children, or with people who are disabled/special needs….should be required to have special training.  It is very easy to lead a person to ‘confess’ to a crime when they are being questioned by a person who is viewed as an authority figure when they are at a disadvantage intellectually (disabled) or if they are not of an age of understanding…a young minor child.

          This case will have long term repercussions in the legal system; as it should.  It was an outrageous abuse of power and the impact on police procedures should be addressed.  What do you think of this situation?  You can watch part of this interview on cnn.  http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/11/19/boy.confession.tactics/index.html#cnnSTCVideo

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Taking Sides…Protecting Your Child Or Finding The Truth About Caylee

       Today, two news updates on a little girl named Caylee who has been missing in Florida.  Her mother is suspected of knowingly causing harm to her child or at the very least neglecting her and putting her in harm’s way…and refusing to divulge Caylee’s whereabouts.  It was announced that a child’s dress was found near the airport; it is being sent away for testing…presumably DNA testing to see if the dress belonged to Caylee.  The other development today, Caylee’s grandfather, George Anthony, testified before the grand jury who is investigating Caylee’s disappearance.

        Everyone has been asking Caylee’s mother Casey Anthony where is Caylee.  She has told a multitude of stories.  So far, none of those stories has led to where Caylee is.  There has been evidence of a cadaver in the trunk of the car that Casey Anthony was driving.  There is a neighbor who allegedly said that Casey borrowed a shovel.  There are the lies upon lies from Casey..that lead to nowhere.  Casey accused a woman that she doesn’t know of kidnapping Caylee…Casey said that the woman was her nanny and lived in an apartment that turned out to be unoccupied.  Casey had never met the woman.  There is evidence that Casey Anthony investigated websites on chloroform and on missing children.  There is sufficient reason to suspect that Caylee’s mother at the very least knows what happened to her child…if in fact, she didn’t cause harm to the child herself.

         Casey’s father allegedly testified before the grand jury against his daughter today.  Casey and her child Caylee lived with the grandparents before Caylee became missing.  Casey’s own brother said that she told him at one point that she hadn’t even seen Caylee in 31 days, at the beginning of the investigation.  That is telling, when a parent appears unconcerned about the well-being of their only child.

           It is a terrible thing to have to take a side against your own child…even if it is an adult child.   The thing is, at one time, it appeared that the grandmother confronted Casey about her suspicions…then seemed to backtrack according to media accounts.  Then she appeared to justify the smell in the trunk of the car as old pizza smells.  You have to wonder, how does the testimony today affect Casey’s parents marriage.   I wonder if the whole family is in agreement about what has to be done.  If they too suspect Casey in little Caylee’s disappearance.  However, if they question Casey; and it is in protection of their grandchild…i think it is painful; but, morally correct.  The adult child can make their own decisions…get themselves out of harm’s way…but a child does not have that option.  A child is dependent upon their adult caregivers to protect them. 

         I feel horribly for those in Caylee’s family who very likely feel torn inside…choosing to side with the police in the suspicion of their own daughter (or sister) in the disappearance of their grandchild.  However, Casey has brought this upon herself by not telling the truth and acting disconnected from the one person in the whole wide world that she should be most natually connected with…her own child.  Caylee is a beautiful child.  She deserves to be found.  She deserves to live a life of a carefree child…wallowing in the love and affection of her grandparents, friends and neighbors.  Do you think Caylee is alive?  If not, do you think she will ever be found? 

Breaking news:  There has been an indictment today in the case.  The nineteen member grand jury has sealed the indictment, until the person is arrested.  Casey Anthony’s lawyer said if his client is the person that has been indicted…she will turn herself in.  Little Caylee has been missing since the middle of June.  Even more news….It definately was Casey Anthony that was indicted.  She is being charged with…aggravated child abuse, providing false information to the police-authorities, and aggravated manslaughter.

  Casey’s lawyer says that she may represent herself with an advisor…representing herself allows her to have money to have state investigators to work on the case.  That seems unfair to me; unless, she is innocent of the charges…but…public opinion seems to find that improbable.  Casey’s father said at the time of his granddaughter’s disappearance…Casey was acting unusual.  Casey’s lawyer allegedly says that when they are allowed to speak everyone will understand.  Haven’t the authorities offered up plenty of opportunities for Casey and her lawyer to speak?  Sometimes i don’t understand the criminal justice system.

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Should People With Multiple Felony Charges Keep Their Law Licenses?

          What are your thoughts on a person who has worked hard to earn a law license; who then, down the road faced multiple felony charges against them?  Should they be able to retain their law license, while the legal process weaves itself through the system, if they agree to some kind of a deal with a prosecutor?

          I mean,  i am not in any way associated with the legal system, but the way i understand it; lawyers are officers of the court.  As officers of the court, aren’t they obligated to uphold the law?   I thought as officers of the court they were held to a higher standard of behavior or conduct.   If they do in fact violate the law, should they then be allowed to practice the law in the future or should they be disbarred?   Would anyone actually use the services of a lawyer who had been charged with multiple felonies, even if they were not prosecuted because they accepted a deal instead of being convicted?

        I ask, because there is some speculation that behind the scenes wrangling, in Michigan of the Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick case, in some reporting or comments that i have read are suggesting that he may be holding out on making some kind of deal; that would allow him to keep his law license and maybe even avoid jail time. 

         I don’t know if that is possible with 10 felony charges against him at the moment; although, i read that there was a plea deal offered to him and his legal team last week friday.  The offer was, to have one of the felony assault charges against him dropped; if, he were to agree to resign before Sept 3.   So far, no resignation has been announced; although, there has been plenty of pressure applied by a variety of people through the media.  This whole political mess is making history…but, it is a sad history for the state Michigan and for the future of one of the largest cities in Michigan.

         For those readers who have not been following this case, Sept 3 is when Govenor Jennifer Granholm will be conducting a hearing on whether Mayor Kilpatrick should be removed from his position for misconduct.   What do you think on this issue? 

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It Is Not Going To Be That Easy!

       A week ago we were all horrified to learn of a young 22 year old man who was stabbed to death while he slept on a greyhoud bus that was traveling through Canada.  This young man did nothing wrong and yet, he was vicously stabbed over and over again; and then, sorry for having to say this…was beheaded by his attacker.  The attacker, Vince Weiguang Li, then ate parts of the body.  That is a violation of mind, body and spirit and is hard to understand how someone could act so normal and be so unbalanced.

         As all of this was happening, the other bus occupants left the bus for their safety.  An officer reported seeing some of the horrifying actions of Vince Li.  He was arrested and has gone before a judge who asked him if he wanted a lawyer.  He supposedly shook his head and said, “Please Kill Me”.

          Killing him would be all too easy.  Yes, I am sure there are many who wish that to be his punnishment.  Even if that is the end result, it is not going to be that easy.  There will be a process for Li that takes time.  You don’t request death and it is done instantly through legal proceedings.  It is not going to be that easy for Li.  He will have a long time to relive the horror that he perpetrated.  Over and over again, he will be tortured by memories of what he did. 

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Josef, An Emotionally Broken Man-Why Should We Care?

        Josef Fritzl aged 73 is supposedly, “an emotionally broken man”, according to his  lawyer, Rudolf Mayer.  Josef came to be known to the world, last week, as the twisted father from Austria.   He admitted to imprisoning his 18 year old daughter for 24 years so that he could sexually assault her; in his specially designed dungeon, in secret rooms, underneath the home that he shared with his daughter Elisabeth’s mother.

         The man allegedly kept his daughter on a leash like an animal in that basement for the first nine months or so.  Then, over the 24 years, he fathered 7 children with her.  One of those children died days after birth and he put it’s body into the furnace.  He “allowed”  3 of the children to be raised by himself and the grandmother; she believed her daughter ran off to join a cult when she was 18 and couldn’t care for the children.

         The man was convicted of raping another woman when Elisabeth was about to be born.  He served time for that offense about 18 months.  After that time…he had been planning this dungeon with evil intent.

          The lawyer claims that Josef is an emotionally broken man…and many would say, why should we care?  We should care because this man is someone who could be studied to deconstruct the mind of someone so hideously mis-wired as to do this kind of harm to his own flesh and blood.  We can learn alot from the workings of his mind; so that we could hopefully prevent this kind of tragedy from ever happening to another human being.

         If they let this man off from serving the rest of his days in a prison somewhere because of his “brokeness” then, there is no justice.  He has destroyed the lives of so many people.  Elisabeth and her children will forever struggle just to heal from this scarring of their minds and bodies.  Josef does not deserve to live out his remaining time on earth in a mental hospital. 

         We should care that he is broken only out of respect for those lives that he tried to destroy and control.  They deserve to know that he is serving his time in a prison that he cannot escape from…just as he sentenced them when he was in control.   I pray that somehow…they are able to heal enough to have some joy in life. 

         I must say that i am inspired by Elisabeth’s courage to survive all of those years.  To care for her children the best that she could.  Even now, she helped the authorities by going back into that place where he kept her imprisoned to help them to know more about this horror she lived for 24 years.  May God bless her and the family.

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Forced to Wed at 8 Years Old

         Ok…i can’t do it.  I can’t read the news i just read and keep quiet.  I was made aware of a young 8 year old girl who was forced to wed in Yemen.  She was forced to become a bride to a 30 year old man, by her father.  

          The young girl’s name is Nojoud Nasser.  Her father told her that she must marry this man or she would be raped; and, no one would help her.  She refused and he beat her.  She was not able to stop the marriage.  This was not a joyous occasion; she did not wish this marriage. 

           After two months of marriage and being chased around the man’s home and abused…Nojoud escaped.  She was able to find her way to a courthouse, where by the grace of God, she was able to get a lawyer, named Shatha Nasser, to help her.  May God bless Shatha Nasser and the work she is doing to help young girls like Nojoud.

           Someone annoymously donated the money needed to pay her dowry, and her divorce fee, to end her marriage.  She is probably the youngest divorced person at the age of 8.  Nojoud is now living with her uncle.  She plans to return to school; however, will she be able to go back to being just a young innocent girl?  No…and that is the problem…she will have to spend a lifetime healing the emotional wounds. 

            I understand that different cultures have different customs…but, forcing a child into marriage is not right.  Here in America, we are going through a difficult time trying to figure out who was abused and coeorced into marriage in the recent raid on a Fundalmentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints sect who practice polygamy with women under the age of 18, allegedly.  Around the world these things happen, but when they do…it is our responsibility to stand up and say it is not only wrong…but, we will take measures to protect those who cannot protect themselves.

            It is inhuman to treat young girls as if they are adult women.  They should never be forced to get married and have adult relations with a man.  It is cruel.  Children should be allowed to have a childhood.  I can not understand a parent, who would not only condone this type of marriage; but, also force a young child to be married, knowing that the child would be forced into a sexual relationship.

            It is time that some human rights organizations get involved in protecting the rights of children when it is understood that some cultures allow this type of treatment. Organizations such as Human Rights Watch have goals in place to help children who are being mistreated.  http://www.hrw.org/children/about.htm

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Trusting Your Instincts

       I have a friend who i am very proud of.  About 6 months ago her mother died.  She had been placed in a nursing home due to falling and breaking her hip at her own home.  Shortly after being placed in the nursing home…she was dropped and injured.  The family members moved her to a new facility but, it was too late.

         Most nursing homes are good ones.  They care for their patients and they do it lovingly.  Family members are encouraged to be part of the environment.  They are included in the treatment, care and decision making regarding their loved one.  Most nursing homes treat family with respect.  Most people who get into the medical profession do it with pride and passion; they care deeply for those who come to them in need.

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