Peterson lawyers mount defense at murder trial - SFGate

I don't know if I can endure another week of looking at wife murderer Drew Peterson.

His demeanor since his arrest is the most telling evidence pointing to Peterson's guilt. The man stands accused of murdering his second wife Kathleen Salvo after an investigation into her "accidental death"
was prompted by the highly suspicious disappearance of his next wife, Stacy Peterson. And yet this man has exuded a swagger and atypical arrogance of a sociopath. There is not a trace of an innocent man's behavior IE concern; be it over his own predicament nor an appropriate somberness surrounding the death of a  woman he had been married to for years,and had children with.

Mr Peterson, like many psychopaths, doesn't even bother with appearances. So self-assured is he, that he will beat the rap, After all authorities were never able to charge him in what was clearly the murder of  his most recent wife, Stacy Petersom. The Bollingbrook PD either knew he killed his Mrs Salvo and some of the Police dept  were either complicit, in turning the other way at the scene of the "accident": ie a 40 year old woman is found dead in a dry bathtub with a gash on her head and it was declared an accidental death?

Thus the ease in which Peterson discovered he could take a life, aided and abetted by the fact that he was a police officer, the "successful"murder of his salvo emboldened Peterson gave him a sense of invincibility much like a serial murderer feels after he has gotten away with the first murder or sexual assault. ,Many have been interviewed over the years, thier minds picked apart thier psyches poked and prodded and psychiatrists detectives writers alike have all related the fact that serial killers expressed an almost shock and then glee once realizing that they " got away with"thier first murder and fear of being caught dissipated shortly afterwards. They often become more brazen with each murder or sexual asault thereafter and become compacent about covering up thier tracks so to speak.


Peterson lawyers mount defense at murder trial - SFGate

Painless way to Take Action Against Domestic Violence; Donate a used Cell Phone Program

Here is a painless way to help stop domestic violence; The National Coaltion against Domestic Violence is recycling cell phones in order to:

• Fund programming that empowers victims of domestic violence and helps them remain free from abuse

• Support legislation aimed at ending domestic violence

• Give support and resources to organizations across the US working to stop violence in the home



How It Works:

• Roughly 60 percent of cell phones will be refurbished and resold

• The revenue generated from the sale of refurbished phones will be used to support NCADV programs that help end violence in the home

• The remaining cell phones are recycled according to the highest environmental standards



Get a free shipping label (minimum: three phones):



Use this link to order a pre-paid shipping label if you are sending three or more cell phones (accessories, laptops, mp3 players, digital cameras, and video game systems are welcome too).



Want to organize a collection? Order FREE boxes and posters here!
http://www.cellularrecycler.com/ncadv/supportTools.php

Shipping one or two phones? Please use Cellular Recycling's address below as our free UPS labels are structured for shipping three phones or more.



Mailing Address: Cellular Recycler, Attn: NCADV, 4840 Sterling Drive, Unit A, Boulder, CO, 80301 United States



Thank you for your support for our work to make every home a safe one!


Donate a Phone program NCADV

Kindness Moves Mountains

Kindness; something the world needs  more of .   
                                                                                  
Kindness Moves Mountains 

Jurors in Drew Peterson trial expected to ignore disallowed testimony

Drew Peterson’s jury has a lot to forget about him and his ex-wife Kathleen Savio.

There’s the bullet found on the driveway of Savio’s neighbor that the neighbor believed to be a warning from Peterson. There’s also talk of the pathologist who hopped into the tub where Savio died, and the protection order Savio may or may not have considered against her ex-husband. And there’s also the suggestion that Peterson solicited a hit man to kill his third wife for $25,000. All four topics have been improperly introduced by prosecutors during the trial, prompting an annoyed judge to instruct jurors to disregard the statements.

Whether they can do it, however, is impossible to know. In courtrooms across the country, lawyers often wonder whether judges’ orders to ignore testimony are in the best interest of justice or merely call more attention to a forbidden topic.

“There’s no way to tell if jurors can put it out of their minds because there is no way to measure someone’s ability to compartmentalize information,” said Marcellus McRae, a former federal prosecutor. “It’s very hard to do, especially when you’re being instructed to do it again and again and again. It’s like they’re putting a spotlight on the barred testimony, then underlining and then putting it in bold.” Jurors from both of the objection-laced Rod Blagojevich trials acknowledge that it was impossible to forget statements and testimony that they were later told to ignore.

“When it’s stricken, it’s even more memorable,” said Jessica Hubinek, who sat on the panel for Blagojevich’s 2011 retrial, in which he was convicted on corruption charges. “It is a really sneaky tactic to get that information into the jurors’ heads, despite whether you are supposed to (consider) it, because then it is there.”

Stephen Wlodek, a juror in Blagojevich’s first trial, recalled that the defense team in that case, despite being told not to do so, kept dropping references to other audio recordings that had not been allowed in as evidence. When it came to deliberations, Wlodek said those remarks planted seeds of doubt in some jurors’ minds, leading one juror to speculate whether there might be a recording out there proving Blagojevich’s innocence.

“It kind of plays with your mind,” Wlodek said. “People start to question what they have heard or what else could be out there.”

To help cull what could be considered from what could not, some jurors said they would cross out stricken statements in their notebooks. Others would simply not transcribe the comment.

“Even though you know it was said, you don’t use it to weigh the outcome,” Hubinek said. “When it comes to weighing the evidence, guilty or not guilty, you have to really put it to the side, as best you can.”

Stricken statements have become a persistent issue in the Peterson trial, where several gaffes by Will County, Ill., prosecutors have tested Judge Edward Burmila’s temper and prompted him to issue so-called curative instructions to the jury. On several occasions, he has told jurors that the state wrongly introduced irrelevant evidence and asked them to disregard it.

Peterson, 58, is charged with killing Savio, 40, who was found dead in a dry bathtub on March 1, 2004. Officials initially ruled the death an accidental drowning, but after his fourth wife, Stacy Peterson, disappeared three years later, authorities reopened Savio’s case and determined she had been killed.

Peterson has not been charged in Stacy Peterson’s disappearance, though he remains a suspect. He denies wrongdoing in both cases.

Given the largely circumstantial nature of the Savio case, Peterson’s defense attorneys worry the forbidden testimony could creep into deliberations, at least subconsciously. The retired Bolingbrook police sergeant, however, waived his right to a mistrial after one gaffe last week, saying he did not want to go through a second trial.

“It’s impossible for people to wipe something from their minds just because they’ve been asked to do so,” Peterson defense attorney Steve Greenberg said. “You can’t unring a bell once it has been heard.”

A spokesman for Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow declined to comment.

The introduction of barred statements - whether by accident or on purpose - will not necessarily benefit the Peterson prosecutors. Though most of the judge’s reprimands have been done outside the panel’s presence, McRae said jurors can read body language and gauge tension in the room. If they sense state prosecutors are being chastised repeatedly for breaking the rules, they could start to doubt their integrity.

“A prosecutor’s greatest asset is the ability to wear the white hat,” McRae said. “You don’t want to keep flicking dirt on that white hat or else you’re going to make the jury think that the defendant needs to be protected from you.”

In the end, only the jury will decide what role the barred statements will play in their deliberations.

  Morning Sun Article

The Campus SaVE Act: A Critical Step to Ending Violence Against Women

"In an effort to protect their reputations, some schools neglect to properly report incidences of violence. This Act would aim to add additional protections for women by requiring schools to implement a recording process for incidences of dating violence as well as report the findings. In addition, schools would be required to create plans to prevent this violence and educate victims on their rights and resources so women would be better able to address their abuse. I applaud my colleague, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, for her leadership on this issue.




The newly proposed SaVE act is the most essential of all of the enhancements written into the Senate's  proposed VAWA bill.  While there are of course many new provisions incorporated into this years VAWA bill, the SaVE act is has the most potential for saving lives, and reducing violent encounters9 for young women . In addition SaVE helps deconstruct the deadly 'we dont talk about these things openly... ' 

A good deal of the self esteem issues that contribute to a girls vulnerability in wind up in  anabusive relationship, begin to manifest themselves in high school and or college. College women are particularly at risk: most are away from home, separated from parents aunts uncles and other adults might intervene when witnessing the symptoms of a controlling  abusive relationship, before serious violence occurs.


The SaV E act is a no brainer, the bottom line it will save many many lives through its practical applications as well by changing the secrecy that often surrounds abusive relationships and date rape. Had this act been in effect 4 years ago, Yeardley Love might still be alive, as there were multiple incidents of witnessed violence  by her ex boyfriend and murderer George Huegely: One of these episodes involved huegley choking Yeardly at a party, a gaggle of lacrosse players had to intervene prying huegely off  love.

Amazingly, not one person at the party reported the incident.

Under thr new "SaVe act, reporting of any incidents of violence would be mandatory.


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The Campus SaVE Act: A Critical Step to Ending Violence Against Women

Arrest made in 31-year-old murder

The Bridgeport Police have made an arrest in the cold case murder of Estella Branley,who was found strangled thirty one years ago in Seaside Park off Long Island sound.

The FBI crime lab in Quantico loaned their services when DNA was recently un-covered via the cold case file. A match was made with an inmate serving time in Newtown Connecticut he was 21 at the time of the murder.

As one would imagine the family was greatly impacted by years of no arrest being made for Stella violent death. As well  there are always the questions like why and what happened, despite those details often being painful family members need to know. Ms Branleys sister was a detective with the Bridgeport Police at the time of the murder; she stated that she was afraid due to the "victimology"  The police weren't being as proactive as they typically would be, because her sister was black and rumoured to be prostitute.

She stated to the media in 1983 that with a string of similar unsolved murders of women who were also possibly prostituting , she feared police were not making these cases a priority. She pointed out that
one life was as valuable as another and every unsolved murder especially involving sexual assault should recieve the same due diligence from the Police homicide department.

Thankfully we are seeing a change in the old thinking whereby murders of homeless people,drug addicts and
prostitutes routinely recieved less attention from law enforcement. This is not to say that the old prejudicial thinking is a thing of the past; depending on the state and the presiding police dept,one can still  find  a disparity in how some violent crimes are investigated. However it is becoming more and more class and color blind when it comes to solving murder and otherviolent crime. A  human being that suffers a brutal crime whether it be sexual assault, assault or murder deserves diligence and the best resources for solving these crimes.

According to family members miss Branleys mother passed away in 2005 and she has been  extremely affected by her daughters murder and the fact that the murder was unsolved for all of those Years.

While we wish Stella's mother had lived to see the arrest and conviction of her daughters murderer we are heartened that the rest of her family has been given the seeds of healing.

Rest in Peace Stella Branley.


Arrest made in 31-year-old murder

Convicted Bridgeport killer fighting death penalty

Man convicted of murdering ex girlfriend her child and family friend attempts to dodge his death sentence


And so it begins.



The first multi-murderer on death row makes a bid to change his death sentence to life in prison, based solely upon Connecticut's recent "prospective" death penalty repeal, a repeal that happened long after the horrible triple murders that he committed, including shooting a five year old child to death.


We all knew that the so called prospective nature of this repeal was in name only;  a bone thrown to those legislators who were on the fence regarding the repeal, as well an attempt to placate the masses;  68 percent of Connecticut's residents in poll after poll were against abolishment of the death penalty. Most wanted the limitless appeals process that encumbered  our States rarely pursued Death penalty, making it expensive and impractical - rewritten via law. Instead our Judicary committee and the bulk of our house chose to throw the proverbial baby out with the bath water.

Susan Storrey, Connecticut's lead public defender  announced on a televised  public forum on what was then the judiciary committee's  proposed repeal, one of the first things that she and her fellow lawyers-mostly tax paid public defenders) would  set about once the repeal was successful, would be to fight TOOTH AND NAIL to extradite all of the men currently on death row, have their sentences commuted to life in prison and place them into the regular prison population.

 The lawyers would seek to do this using the higher courts with the argument in tow that the death penalty was no longer this state's capital punishment and abolishment the growing societal trend.state by state. This they say is " evidence" of a nationwide shift and thus "prospective or not they suggest nullification of that portion of the law because it is morally and legally wrong to  impose death sentences upon some murderers and not others.

Not taken into account by Storrey and the plethora of like minded Connecticut lawyers,  is the fact that the death penalty was in fact the penalty for capital crimes with egregious aggravating factors, at the time that these crimes were committed, as well the adjudication of those crimes which all included multiple murder,

 I am speaking of the often long arduous trials by jury of the convicted mans peers, which included a separate sentencing portion whose sole purpose was for the jury to weigh the aggravating factor evidence against the defenses mitigating factors evidence" and to procure a fair sentence based upon this, following the court instructed strict  parameters.

Every man who currently sits on Connecticut's death row, including Richard Roszkowski, has gotten there justly, with their rights zealously protected. To now willfully embark upon reversing all of the hard work and efforts of the jury members, the presiding judge, the witnesses, the victims advocates... as well pick open the barely healed scab of the family members pain in the process\-  is obscene, selfish and makes a mockery of any bill passed herein by the Connecticut legislature.
.


* most recent Quninnipiac Poll 2011

Convicted Bridgeport killer fighting death penalty

Connecticut recieves poor grades in Domestic Violence via CCDV Fatality Report.

The report Domestic Violence Report Connecticut 2012 at the nucleus of this article is sadly but a representative slice of an even larger issue concerning the state of Connecticut's lax sentencing for violent offenders - particularly criminals who predate upon women and children.

The poor grades that Connecticut is officially being presented with via this report ( the report falls short of an\ actual admonishment which it deserves politics politics.) stems from several factors The core of all would appear to be apathy mixed with ignorance specifically criminal justice profesionals lack of awareness regarding the "battered women's syndrome" and/ or a refusal to accept/ act upon this well established phenomonon.\.

The battered woman syndrome was first described by Lenore Walker in the 1990's Walker was a pioneer in researching the psychological interplay within abusive relationships, including the "breaking down " process of the victim of chronic partner or domestic abuse. This includes alienation from family friends that the abuser knows do not approve of him and a methodical eroding of the abused woman's self esteem ( even some of the most beautiful women in the world fall prey to this and believe themselves ugly and usewless thanks to the brainwashing of thier sociopath abusers.


The ignorance on behalf of our criminal justiuce profesionals includes a lack of tutorial type of knowledge, as well as a glaring lack of "emotional intelligence"  which seems rampant in this state. These are the profesionals who are involved with the assaults and other crimes that are notorious for being pre-cursors to dating or domestic homicides. The emotional intelligece needed involves a visceral understanding of what motivates the victims to act in ways thast dont immediately make sense to others and it's equally as important as actual education for police prosecutors etc.


Unfortunately this deadly ignorance is on full display in Connectoict Police departments,and too many prosecutors in our Superior courts,  These are men and women who are ultimately responsible for whether an offender walks out of the courthouse with a slap on the wrist ( and an emboldened sense that they can commit serious assault and  walk through the revolving DV docket doors with zero prison time. If they had committed these dame acts of violence or terrorism agasinst a stranger one can be assured that they would recieve a minium of several years prison.


Activists and advocates alike are amazed and horrified to see the archaic and dangerous thinking that too many Connecticut Connecticut criminal justice professionals still embrace which helps propel the lax sentenecing that results in future fatalities and severe assaults which leave the victim maimed for liofe.

 Every time I hear "well, she went back with the guy..or she keeps talking to the guy" or " why didn't/doesnt she leave him the first time he hit/pushed punched her?" I literally cannnot believe that this is 2012 and we live in one of the supposedely most educated states in the country!

The above mentality places the ownice upon the victim, rather than where it belongs- upon the offender; Asking instead "why does he keep hitting and or pushing and or choking her?  As well as morally repugnant it is breaking the law and cavalierly so as its done again and again until someone is finally killed.

Many years ago, with the advent of the VAWA bill in Washington DC policemen and women were supposed to be taught the progressive approach to domestic violence crime, no longer needed the cooperation of the victim of domestic or intimate violence.

The long overdue recognition was that these were indeed crimes against the state and knowing what we have learned about the battered women's syndrome and recalcritant victim -witnesses, the government has seen a majority of female victims who will try to cover up for their assaulting partner, even lying to police and prosecutors when it comes time to adjudicate these cases.

The offender will utilize either threat or the opposite honeymoon phase tactics, cajoling the victim to recant her testimony to police claiming that they started the violence" or even such lunacy as "I hit myself with the iron." (I have actually witnessed that claim at Ga2 court in Bridgeport whereupon the prosecutors dumped the whole case rather than proceeding to trial, going around the victim as it was clear she was emeshed in a battered syndrome and using the evidence at hand- police reports, family testimoney and medical evidence and photos.

This type of flipping or backing out of testifying is why many states have changed the way they arrest and prosecute these crimes. we have learned and grown as a society, yet apparently the criminal justice system within the State of Connecticut, has either never truly accepted the evolution of or it has regressed en masse, for some reason as seen via attitudes and policys, mostly unofficial policies. And people, mostly women - are dying as a result.


The landmark Domestic Violence civil case against the Torrington Police dept. seemed to be a major turning point for our state; finally getting serious with our arrest policies, and even the way Police thought about this type of crime, arresting "domestic" violent offenders as quickly as they would any violent offender - an assailant a rapist or stalker who is a "stranger" to their victim. something had sparked the necessary change. However, our state has been in retrograde for years and the attitudes are permeating too many Connecticut Police departments and too many Superior Courts responsible for sentencing these offenders, before they kill as well as after. Domestic and partner violence is a deadly but stoppable epidemic.


Please read the linked report re Partner violence fatalities in Connecticut by The Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic violence. It is an eye opener and it is also a first step towards getting involved in this life and death issue that touched all of us who have women in our lives that we care about.

Connecticut continues to be one of the worst States for Domestic Violence Sentencing

  

Victims of Colorado Gun Violence names should be our focus

These are the people who were killed in the Colorado movie theater shooting.

I would like to suggest that their names and their lives, as well the names and health of the injured  become the names that as a society we choose to speak of and focus upon.

I say this because like everyone else out there, I  am deluged with the media driven  mantra of this killers name, splashed across every headline, News program and  and the Web, since this man-made tragedy happened.

I understand the almost reflexive need  to understand what kind of human being could wreak this
type of  mass violence upon our brothers and sisters, and why. But what I am speaking of is sensationalism - greedily repeating  this killers name, showing his face which is exactly what he/they excpect and it feeds these losers that committ murderous rampage in order to garner attention and fame that they cannot achieve in any constructive fashion. Hence a big part of " the why?"


I've read some Op-eds opining thier pet stances: Many are saying that Gun control is certainly a big part of this crime and others that resemble it such as columbine shootings.  Others are chastising PEOPLe for this opinion pointing at the "real culprit"  "our  disregard for mental illness," which they assert, the colorado murderer obviously sufferred with."

(  I suppose that writer believes it is easier for us to weed out and forcably treat every mentally ill person rather than make it extremely difficult or impossible for them to buy body armour and semi-automatic weaponry with relative ease.)


I have poured over the information available and once again I must reiterate: personality
 disorders are not mental illnesses.  One look at the killer's match.com page and his photo therein, compared to the over circulated and obviously - affected (for the public the court, media's cameras)  wild eyed crazy person with a 'what am I doing here?" look on his frightened looking countenance... A layman can see a huge disparity in these photos, body language expression everything.


This disparity doesn't mean the killer has multiple personalitys, what it does indicate is a cunning individual, highly manipulative, deceptive  already setting the stage for an insanity defense. He knows that there are legions of  well intentioned suckers, many armed with PHD's, that cannot differentiate schizophrenia from socio-pathology, and not having scads of exposure to the latter, can never truly understand that Sociopaths and other personality disordered people have moral disorder, a lack of conscience, an obsession with self, these are not mental illnesses.


The match.com profile and photo reeks of arrogence and self absorption  narcissism and misogyny, even going so far as to say " would you visit me in prison?"

 Undoubtedly he was is looking for attention and prematurely desiring and counting on that bizarre yet predictable syndrome whereupon otherwise intelligent women take up the causes of  stone cold killers, often even marrying them in prison. At the very least these men often develop a gaggle of empathetic groupee types.  Again pre-meditation and attention mongering.

And our media is aiding and abetting this.


I suggest we do our part to nip all of this in the bud. For starters there should be a ban on this killer's name. This man who dressed himself in full armour, lest he get injured  by police or a gun toting moviegoer in the fray. Let;s stop giving this man and other predators what they hunger for; attention and  ( fleeting) fame.


The lasting legacy belongs to the men and women who died in Aurora Colorado and the many people that acted heroically in the midst of  violence and terror.


The victims in Aurora Colorado. May they all Rest In Peace...




Jonathan T. Blunk, 26

The Navy veteran and father of two pushed his girlfriend under a seat for protection, she told NBC’s “Today” show.

Alexander J. Boik, 18

The recent high school graduate planned to attend Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design in the fall. He enjoyed baseball and pottery, his family said in a statement to Denver’s ABC 7.


Jesse E. Childress, 29

The Air Force staff sergeant was a reservist on active duty at Buckley Air Base a few miles from the theater, serving as a cyber systems operator with the 310 Force Support Squadron, the Air Force said. He was single and had no children.


Gordon W. Cowden, 51

From Centennial, Colo.


Jessica N. Ghawi, 24

The sports journalist and graduate of the University of Texas at San Antonio had recently escaped a mall shooting in Toronto.


John T. Larimer, 27

The Navy petty officer third class with the cyber command of U.S. 10th Fleet was stationed at Buckley Air Base. The Crystal Lake, Ill., native was athletic and excelled in recent volleyball and kickball tournaments at the base, a fellow sailor said.


Matthew R. McQuinn, 27

The recent Denver transplant from Ohio worked at a local Target with his girlfriend, Samantha Yowler, who was injured by the gunman. McQuinn was struck three times as he shielded Yowler from gunshots.


Micayla C. Medek, 23

Medek was a community college student and restaurant worker, according to the Los Angeles Times.


Veronica Moser-Sullivan, 6

The youngest victim of the attack died of her wounds in a hospital. Her mother was listed in critical condition, according to the Associated Press.


Alex M. Sullivan, 27

Sullivan worked at the Century Cinema and was celebrating his 27th birthday at the theater, his cousin said. He was a passionate Colorado Rockies fan and loved cooking and comic books.


Alexander C. Teves, 24

The Phoenix native recently graduated from the University of Denver with a master’s in counseling psychology, according to the school. His girlfriend wrote on Facebook that Teves saved her life in the theater.



Rebbecca Ann Wingo, 32

Wingo was a waitress and mother of two, according to the Denver Post.




Rest in Peace.

Colorado Shooter causes massive trauma and grief in one night of fantasia based sadism/

This heart wrenching random cache of violence has been etched into my mind and my heart for days now.
 I have close family members in this area, which adds the startling reality that had a few minor circumstances simply been tweaked this way or that, I could easily be grieving one of my own, as well as the twelve whose lives were so senselessly taken.

So many images are unshakable: A woman clutching her baby to her bosom, a scratch on her cheek from the mayhem. The smoke had just cleared, yet she was remarkably calm, stunned yet aware enough to feel relief -   her child  was in her arms, both of them whole.

Others were not as fortunate.

A man who had reported to the area school where family members of known movie attendees had been told to gather, was seen desperately looking for his son, who had attended the premiere. His understandable anger turned to utter despair as he found out that his son was among the twelve victims who had lost their lives in the mayhem.

The image of this strong burly man grief stricken as he found out his son was gone, will never leave me.


Apparently there were many acts of heroism that night; one young man, his peaceful friendly face in a family photograph lingering in my minds eye, apparently dove at the armored shooter, in an effort to shield his girlfriend. His girlfriend survived with a bullet wound to her ankle, but the courageous young man, with the easy smile, died of  multiple gunshot  injuries. He was twenty four years old..


Another young man, just out of college, pushed his girlfriend under a theater seat as the shooting began. He too perished at the scene from Gunshot wounds..

And a third young man, quickly lay on top of his girlfriend's body, as the shooting began, not only saving her life in the process, by blocking gunshots that he sustained, but remaining calm enough to assuage her fears in those last moments, according to the crying young girl, he kept whispering " shhh it will be alright ..."

My feelings about these heroic actions, are a juxtaposed mixture of awe, admiration and a deep grief over their reflexive selflessness and courage at such tender ages.

There were many heroes in Colorado that fateful night; some saved  the lives of strangers with quick action, some taking bullets themselves in the process: As more information is gathered more stories will be related and we will honor every one of them..

For now, our prayers for the survivors, some clinging to life in area hospitals, are desperately needed.


Besides reaching out to the survivors and the  families of the victims, through letter and emails.  I always suggest prayer, I have witnessed it's collective power, especially when more than one person gathers to pray for someone's healing.

No matter who your God, or your belief system is , prayer is a pure practice and its power is undeniable - it comes from goodness,compassion and love..

This is not about religion -  it is about humanity and tapping into those qualities that supersede everything that is swirling around our day to day lives,  We quickly see it's meaninglessness when tragedy's like this happen.

Godspeed to every single survivor and thier families.. Rest in Peace brothers and sisters who perished you will forever be heroes all.

Thousands turn out for Raceday to benifit Petit Foundation!

Thousands turn out for road race: wtnh.com

 A great turnout and a huge Success!  Bravo to all participants!  More Photos and Video's to come....

The GE Petit Family Foundation 5k Raceday Sunday!

Last Call Everyone!

Come join the fun Tomorrow, Sunday, July 15th, downtown Plainville for the fifth annual "GE 2012 5k Race-day"!

The Race day has attracted over 5000 people in recent years and this in some of the hottest humid weather we natives have seen in decades! However,, a near- miraculous spirit of charity and communityoutreach have consistently outweighed practical nuisance such as a bit of unseasonable heat.

In fact The 5K" Raceday" has become one of the biggest fund raisering events sponsored for the impressive  Petit Family Foundation , a non profit charity that sole survivor William Petit Jr. formed in the wake of the by now infamous tragic  home invasion that took the lives of his wife Jennifer and his two daughters Hayley and Michaela.

 It is in their honor and thier memory that the foundation was formed and it's mission and subsequent focus culled.  Eleven year old Michaela Petit unwittingly chose the Petit family foundations slogan " Be the change" when it was discovered that her favorite quote that she listed upon her facebook page was
" You must be the change that you wish to see in this world" wise words spoken originally by Mahatma Gandhi. A deep thinker Michaela at the tender age of eleven, clearly an altruistic giving young girl these qualities that her father has proudly injected into the

The 5K Raceday is one of the biggest annual fund raising events for The PFF, they expect over 8,000 participants this year, some seasoned runners train for months while others walk in an aerobic style walk athon, and children partake in a special age appropriate gaggle of races. Then there are a veritable slew of good hearted people who show up early  to volunteer, and dozens of local businesses that donate goods and services.
Many folks come to show their support by simply being there enjoying some food  drink company and the sense of  coming together for a really important cause.

The race will be the same 3.1 mile course as last year, starting at 9:00am on Route 10 in front of McDonald's and finishing in front of the Plainville General Electric facility on Woodford Ave. There is a fitness walk (1.3 mile course) for any non-runners who would like to join in the fun, along with a Kids Fun Run (at 8:30am) which is free for all children 8 and under! There will be tons of food & beverage vendors, a massage tent, and a raffle with 6 incredible prizes including a MacBook Pro Laptop, iPad, and Gas Gift Certificates!


Again this year, the fun will begin the day before the Race, Saturday, July 14th. For those who have registered by the 13th, pre-registration pickup will be available from 12:00pm-4:30pm. Runners and walkers can come to the race site to pick up their bibs and tee shirts on Saturday to avoid common "race day lines".

 Also this year, there will be a pasta dinner from 5:00pm to 8:00pm on Saturday the 14th at the GE grounds! Adult tickets are $5 and children 12 and under are FREE! Live music will be performed and there will be a lot of great door prizes and giveaways!


This event was created in honor of Jennifer Hawke-Petit, Hayley Elizabeth Petit and Michaela Rose Petit.


Note from the Foundation

*All proceeds of the GE 5k Road Race assist the Petit Family Foundation in achieving our mission of: fostering the education of young people, especially women in the sciences; to improve the lives of those affected by chronic illnesses, and to support efforts to protect and help those affected by violence while continuously honoring the precious lives of Jennifer, Hayley and KK.

WE HOPE TO SEE EVERYONE THERE!!

Fore more information or to register online, visit the PFF web site - The Petit Family Road Race

GE 5k Race Benifiting The Petit Family Foundation July 15th!

It's that time of Year again! One of the biggest Petit Family Foundation events ever, and one of the very first fundraisers

held to honor and raise money for this great non-profit organization.

So, whether you're a runner, a walker or just looking to participate in a wonderful charity event,  follow the link below for directions and details, and come on out Saturday July 15th for a great time and an important cause!

Along with the 5K running course which is the focal event, there are heaps of  other activities for both adults and children, including a walk-a thon a special race for kids, lots of great food and most importantly, a buzzing energy of community outreach, positivism and love:

All kinds of folks from every walk of life have come from every corner of the state to take part, and a good many out-of state participants   They share at least one common desire - hoping to make a positive difference in this world, and our community. In the words of Michaela Petit they are  aspiring to " Be The Change" 


ie * You must be the Change that you wish to see in this world" 

        Michaela Petit's Favorite quote upon her Facebook page.

* Proceeds from the event are used by the Petit Family Foundation to help victims of violent crime and those suffering from chronic illness. The Foundation honors the memory of Jennifer Hayley and Michaela Petit carrying forward the legacy of thier kindness, thier activism, and their faith.

The GE 5K Road Race

Plainville Wings & Wheels - Fly-In & Car Show





The First Ever Plainville Wings and Wheels Show benefiting

 The Petit Family Foundation and The Plainville Community Food Pantry!

 



    

The GE 5K Road Race

It's that time of Year again! One of the biggest Petit Family Foundation events ever, and one of the first 

held to honor and raise monies for this great non-profit organization.

So, whether you're a runner, a walker or just looking to participate in a wonderful charity event,  follow the link below for directions and details, and come on out Saturday July 15th for a great time and an important cause!

There are heaps of  activities for both adults and children, lots of food and beverages but most of all, a buzzing energy of community outreach, positivism and faith: All kinds of folks from all over the state and a good many from beyond, all with at least one common desire; trying to make a difference and " Be The Change"

* Proceeds from the event are used by the Petit Family Foundation to help protect victims of violence, people suffering from chronic illness and other fine endeavors. The Foundation honors the memory of Jennifer Hayley and Michaela Petit carrying the legacy of thier kindness activism and faith.

The GE 5K Road Race

Father’s Day & Survivor’s Guilt?

"Witnessing domestic violence can affect children’s future relationships. It can mean that they are more likely to be abusive or abused. Children who grow up in a home where abuse occurs often have trouble connecting with, trusting and engaging with an intimate partner. This can lead to a lifetime of solitude or unhappiness.



Children who witness domestic abuse sometimes internalize the situation and begin to blame themselves for what is happening. They feel that they are the cause of the violence. These children often suffer from intense depression, suicidal tendencies, high anxiety levels and sometimes even develop post traumatic stress disorder.


Some children do the opposite, though, and externalize their home life (Safe Start Center). They can become highly aggressive or unruly, lashing out and misbehaving in other aspects of their life.


Witnessing domestic violence in the home can affect children physiologically, too. The American Academy of Family Physicians reports that children who live in violent households are at a higher risk of developing stomach problems or chronic headaches. They often have trouble focusing and learning in school."

The above italicized text is an excerpt from a linked article from the National Domestic Violence Hotline Website. The NDVH is an incredible resource for both men and women and even teenagers, who may need some guidance in determining if certain behaviors that they are experiencing are in fact abuse - or could lead to abuse.

This is the kind of information that can make the difference between life and death down the line, for a young person new to the world of dating and relationships.

In the meantime, Happy Fathers day to all of you Dads.
You are each so very important in your children's healthy upbringing. Please strive to be loving, healthy male role models, not only for your own children but for every life that your life touches, be it directly or through example.

As this article points out, children see and hear much more than adults realize and they are deeply affected by even threats of abuse in thier own or other peoples households.

May your example be that a man is intolerant of abuse of any kind. And if a man should find himself enmeshed on the rink of abuse or even having having committed abuse, be courageous responsible after the fact, and get the help and counseling that is readily available for men who have issues with violence and anger control.

You will not be demonized if you seek help, this is the first step for the aggressor towards ending the cycl of abuse and violence..

Father’s Day, Survivor’s Guilt

Elderly woman found stabbed in Greenwich driveway

               
Elderly woman found stabbed in Greenwich driveway
         
Tragic, it simply boggles the mind and the heart.

I am wondering if it was a botched robbery or a domestic violence crime.  In either scenario it is heartbreaking when an elderlyy person is harmed,  they are the most vulnerable people in our communities and society, right on par with our children.

As individuals and a society we must truly band together to protect each other, especially those weakest in our neighborhoods and our lives in general.

Fortunately, this woman survived and she will now get the medical and  hopefully - emotional - support that she needs .

More as this sad story unfolds

News and Events at Prudence Crandall Center, Emergency Services for Domestic Violence Victims in Central Connecticut Prudence Crandall Center

The Petit Family Foundation has been very busy lately!

The Cheshire based organization has been hosting and/or involved in a flurry of events in the past three weeks every single one of them benefiting victims of violent crime,among other people in desperate need.

Considering that P.F.F is a relatively young non profit,it has been an enormous success with extremely impressive fund raising results with a flowing stream of community events that run the gamut from wine tastings and ;formal dinners to Motorcycle Rallys and modest fare such as the recent " Arts for Hearts" concert event where philanthropic minded youngsters plucked from the local talent pool, devoted their considerable musical talents for a worthy cause.

Saturday evening will bring the 7th annual Silent No more auction this year hosted by the Petit family foundation who has done considerable work for both Jane Doe no More and the Prudence Crandall Center, an organization that serves those affected by domestic and partner violence.

Within our country's current economic slump, domestic and intimate violence is at an all time high;  money woes can fuel violence in relationships already prone to abuse and may exacerbate and escalate an already simmering situation.

It is these violent relationships that many women are seeking refuge from and unfortunately, too many find themselves without proper resources needed to escape abuse save lives and rebuild those lives.

In an era where as a society we are becoming more aware that victims of violent crime need o much more than simple emergency shelter in order to truly stop the cycle,  heal and hopefully- rebuild lives and selves that are often littered with health issues stemming from the violence which they have suffered as well as very real economic issues that need to be solved for the long term,  via funds for schooling job and career training or retraining child care and of course psychological and emotional counseling that should include positive Somatic touch therapy  for Post Trauma as most victims are suffering from PTSD and many might not even be aware of this.


The bottomline is that victims of violent crime, whether it be it partner domestic or stranger - violence, all require a good deal of help from within their communities, fellow human beings and society,  if they are to  have a solid chance to recover and rebuild. This will take a renewed commitment from individuals as well as privately funded charities such as Jane Doe No more, the Prudence Crandall Center and The Petit Family Foundation. We can not expect the federal or state government to provide what is so clearly needed for healing lives.


This is where charities like the Petit Family Foundation and  all of their hard work and dedication make such a difference in so many people's lives.

Please visit their website link to find out about their mission statement their sister charities and all of the upcoming events, including the Ge 5K Race day just around the corner in mid July - your participation and/ or donations will help give hope and healing to so many.

 Silent No more Auction

Suspect awaits arraignment in '79 Etan Patz case

Etan Patz  was one of the first missing children whose photo and details of disappearance were put on milk cartons and distributed throughout the country and the area where he was last seen alive.  Soon thereafter this became a major successful tool used by police and FBI to gain widespread attention to the plight of thousands of missing children every year in this country.


As a child I remember looking at those children's faces as I ate my breakfast or Dinner, and wondering what happened to them, where are they? And praying that they would be found alive unharmed.

Thoughts of victims of crimes and injustice have pervaded my mind and soul as far back as I can remember, long, long before I became a victim of violent crime myself.


Fortunately and only by chance, I survived the violent crimes against me, but had the situation varied just slightly in one direction or the other, I would not be here today to write these articles. Survivor ship eventually replaced victim hood as I crosses a long painful and often anger filled chasm. Many are not able to advance and are pulled down by the mire of the experience of having been so grievously harmed intentionally by another human being. As well the court and judicial processes that follow crimes such as mine and many others are as or more wounding than the very brutal crimes themselves. The victim looks to the court as society at the time when the crimes against us are to be "righted" and the violent criminals punished.



As is often the case, the actual resolution of violent crime does not include a proportional sentence and in many cases assailants rapists kidnappers leave courthouses via the help of bail bondsman , apathetic prosecutors and a system so prostituted and broken that the victim is always always the one to suffer as a result of these immense failures that stem from an apathy that I personally view as more evil than the crimes themselves.


As Voltaire said so wisely: " Evil exists when Good men do nothing. "



This maddening reality can be viewed every single day in Courthouses across this country, our supposed sacred institutions in charge of administrating justice to violent offenders. However, Connecticut is decidedly one of the worst States at procuring sentences that reflect the severity of the crimes -  this not only results in those victims being re victimized and invalidated by a complacent apathetic and irresponsible system....but a whole new generation of victims  will fall at the hands of the under sentenced offender who is being given the proverbial slap on the wrist.

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As well the revolving door for brutality and crime  sends a message to all predators:, and that message is " it is no big deal to assault rape brutalize kidnap stalk or even murder your fellow man. (or as is most often the case statistically woman or child. 

Surviving my crime and the bloody aftermath of its so called "adjudication" in Bridgeport GA2 court, this slowly began to fuel a commitment to do my part to insure that justice is had for every single victim within my sphere.  Although all human life is equal and precious, like many others have a particular disdain and loathing for those criminals who prey upon children,


There is something so particularly evil about harming a child. It reaches deep into our most basic sense of pain and outrage as witnesses to  fellow human beings easily committing  heinous harm against a child.


I thank God for the dedicated police and detectives who continue to work on cold cases such as this, so many years after other's may have given up. More and more we are seeing these cases solved and the perpetrators of murder rape and abductions caught, tried and sentenced, as we, the ever vigilant, perpetually engaged members of society who care so deeply, ever - watchful, our hearts torn but strong steady and intent upon  seeing through that small piece  of justice finally meted out against those who prey upon our brothers and sisters, all children of God..






Suspect awaits arraignment in '79 Etan Patz case

Farmington Teen's Performance Group To Host Petit Family Fundraiser

An "Arts From The Hearts" Concert fundraiser benefiting the Petit Family Foundation will be held on June 19th at the Farmington Community/Senior Center.

This is actually the second such concert benefit of it's kind honoring the Foundation and the charitable lives of Jennifer, Hayley and Michaela Petit, all of whom were murdered in a tragic home invasion in Cheshire in July 2007.

The two men responsible have finally both been tried and sentenced and they will remain in prison for the rest of their lives. In the meantime both the Petit and hawke extended families are focusing their attention and efforts to the wealth of Good works done by the Petit family foundation created in the wake of the crimes by William Petit Jr wife of Jennifer and father to Hayley and Michaela.


 Dr Petit managed to survive the crimes after suffering serious head injuries. Once a lead endocrinologist in Plainville he now spends his time organizing and running the Family Foundation which has helped serve victims of violent crime including partner violence, as well as people suffering from chronic illness such as Multiple sclerosis which Jennifer Petit was diagnosed with 10 years before her death. 

The Foundation also provides scholarship funds to deserving youngsters in need with a focus on women in the sciences, though not exclusively so..  In the four years since its inception, the Petit Foundation has hosted well over a dozen major events raising an inordinate amount of money that has helped hundreds of persons in need.  Their events have included an annual 5K run that has over 3000 participants from all over the State and beyond, two annual "Rides For Justice",  a motorcycle cross Rally and Fair as well as a Golf  Tournament which has also become an annual event.

The foundation is also involved with less ostentatious projects that cumulatively have raised substantial sums for many worthy charities and causes. Included in the plethora of beneficiaries and sister charities are" Jane Doe no more" a sexual assault support group founded in Connecticut, and the Susan B Anthony Project, which benefits victims of partner and domestic violence. Within this realm of the Foundation  work was a large contribution subsidizing a new much needed Domestic Violence Shelter In New Britian Connecticut!

Visiting the Petit non profits website one can Donate directly or volunteer time and talents. There is a full listing of all of the Petit Family Foundations  endeavours, as well as recipients and awards that the organization has garnered throughout its 5 year history.

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The slow death of the Death Penalty in Connecticut - Nullification or '"Progress"

It is extremely interesting to me that whenever we hear a discussion or debate concerning the death penalty, one of the most common phrases  coming from the lips of death penalty abolitionists is revolves around "the
 value of human life."

Ironically, this reference is never made about the victims of capital murders, bur rather it is consistently made on behalf of the lives of the convicted murderers and rapists that took other peoples lives.

Those men and women either facing a death sentence for committing a series of capital crimes or...inmates languishing on death row as their state paid attorneys obligatorily push appeal after appeal through their respective court systems fighting tooth and nail for the lives of men whop have been convicted of capital murders rapes child abductions torture and more.

In our Connecticut legislature and judiciary committee we hear a great deal about the rights and plights of convicted  murderers and/or rapists who have taken the lives of typically more than one victim in the most violent of ways (certainly in our state of Connecticut nearly every man on death row 14 now was convicted of murdering and or raping at least two or more people, with the exception of one man who murdered a police officer in cold blood)

We  hear over and over again from abolitionists that the death penalty is nothing more than revenge, and revenge of course is  uncivilized and wrong.

Justice is not revenge.

Putting Joshua komisarjevsky and Steven Hayes to a quiet death via lethal injection is most definitely not revenge. Connecticut's death penalty is one in  name only, but in theory it includes the use of a sedative kindly given to the convicted child rapist and murderers, which simply puts them to sleep upon a padded gurney, minutes before a medication is administered that stops their heart.

Bear in mind as well that these two men if they ever were actually given their death sentences, would live for many many years in prison long before those  "sentences" would actually be imposed. Ten to twenty five years to be exact is our countries average -thats 20 years of  breathing eating reading writing drawing and visits with family members as well as phone calls. All things that their victims can no longer enjoy, nor can the victim;s families visit thier loved ones, even through a glass partition

I would wager a guess that Dr William Petit and his family would give anything to simply see his wife and children even one more time albeit with a piece of glass between them for an eternity if that was all he could have.. He and his family do not receive that privilege  It was ripped from them by two men who wanted to rape predate torture control and ultimately murder thier victims to destroy evidence and as a sadistic climax
to their evening of terrorizing an innocent family.

Racial Justice Act Used to Set Aside North Carolina Death Sentence - NYTimes.com

Good article in the NY Times about the National death penalty debate.

"The real purpose is to end the death penalty, to make it so complicated and so expensive that they win by attrition.”

Racial Justice Act Used to Set Aside North Carolina Death Sentence - NYTimes.com

Legislators explain ‘difficult’ vote on death penalty | Greenwich Post

Once again, I reiterate to the people of Connecticut who are against this death penalty repeal: There is something you can do.


Please get involved in the voting process. If You do not understand how certain legislators become legislators - do not be ashamed - find out!


Watch the political careers of the members of the Connecticut Legislature - ie The Ct. Senate and The Ct House of Representatives, the members that voted for this dangerous repeal Bill. Connecticut has a mostly democratic judiciary committee Senate and House of Representatives. Fortunately in the past we've always had a republican Governor to balance out this lopsided state Government. This bi-political balance has worked well for Connecticut in the past, keeping the zealots  from dictating state policy for every liberal issue that comes in front of the house and Senate.



However with the "win" by Democratic nominee Dan Malloy, former lawyer prosecutor and mayor of Stamford now in the Governors Mansion, all matters involving the criminal justice system are in the hands of the overwhelming ultra liberal criminal friendly politicians and well known state figures such as Susan Storey, very vocal DP abolitionist and Connecticut's lead public defender, Mike lawlor former co chair of the CT judiciary committee, media seeker, co-chair and now special attache to the new democratic Governor, as is his long known compatriot ex-Senator McDonald Democrat Stamford we can be assured will continue to become less of a focus of lawmakers as public safety has.


If you are unsure of who your own assembly person is, find out on the CGA website. There is no shame in not understanding how the system works, but there is no excuse for not finding out how it works once we become aware that  essential matters of crime sentencing and public safety will continue to lay in the hands of politicians who are not representing us time and time again. The death penalty issue has been rolling through the legislature for years.. Technically it was Rep Gary Holden Winfield an assemblyman from New Haven's  pet project- In reality there were far more politicians lobbying for the abolishment of the death penalty for a long time.  These same politicians also knew as long as they had a republican Governor, they would never get the death penalty repealed, because like Jodi Rell did, if it managed to get by the largely democratic legislature, it would get vetoed by the Governor.    Poll after Poll after Poll has proven that 63- 69% of the people of this state want the death penalty to remain an optional sentence for capital murder.  Period.
Yet the judiciary committee has time and again brought this bill to the table and voted it in, enabling the bill to make its way to the legislative floor.


All three political bodies, the Judiciary the Conn Senate and the House of Reps all belong to the people of this state. The exception to the voting system is the Judiciary committee, which is mostly comprised of different members of the Senate the house and people who hold higher ranking positions within the criminals justice system - these members are not voted in by we the people but rather they are voted in by their own compatriots within the political framework. Generally speaking most have degrees in law and or some very direct ties to the criminals judicial system in Connecticut.



However even the judiciary members have originated from other positions such as members of the house of reps and state Senators who each cover a different geographic area of Connecticut. The latter are voted into their slots by the people of this state!  This means that they can be voted out as well. If you read the linked article you ll see that a plethora of republicans crossed their parties official position on this Repeal and voted for THE REPEAL.  I have linked to the list of every single member of the Senate as well as the house and their accompanying votes on this bill to repeal the death penalty. Included is the judiciary committee where you will see wome of the names that are already on the lists of either the Senate or House of Representatives.



Bear in mind that the only way to vote someone out of their position in the powerful judiciary committee- and remember folks this is the place where these bill and laws and rescinding of laws originate within our states system- the members must be tracked to their home positions ie mike lawlor former co chair of judiciary was an east haven assemblyman for many terms. He kept getting voted in in east haven as assemblyman and seemingly there was little campaign against him to blast to the world his dangerous and arrogant habit of disregarding what his constituents want insofar as criminal justice matters, and constantly voted against tougher measures for violent offenders and voted for programs such as early release parole- the very same program that freed Joshua komisarjevsky after just 2.5 years in prison out of what a judge ordered to be a 9 yr sentence with 6 yrs special parole ie ankle tracking monitor the whole six years!



So as you can well note, as individuals we do have a modicum of power insofar as voting season. We have even more power collectively when we organize in our given geographic areas and we literally campaign against the legislators and senators who voted for this Repeal that as a people in multiple quinnipiac polls we stated that we were against losing the death penalty in our state. The majority spoke and the majority was ignored.  As in Mike Lawlors case, who is no longer an assemblyman nor judiciary committee co chair, since he went to work directly for Gov Malloy, he as others like him would need to be voted against by his east haven voters, and campaigned against by a large organized citizens lobbying group who can make the entire state aware of just how dangerous Mr Lawlor- or anyone like him fill in the blank- has been in issues of crime and public safety.



With such lobbying against the soft on crime legislators, and concurrently finding grooming and promoting a candidate that does represent tough on crime measures and is willing to vote accordingly.  In the last race for Mr lawlors seat a youngish woman aggressively campaigned against Lawlor but there was not enough specific information about the dangerous power that Mr Lawlor had within the Ct Legislature as well as his enormous influence within the Judiciary committee, where every abolishment bill originated.

gislators explain ‘difficult’ vote on death penalty | Greenwich Post

Connecticut Senate Roll Call( Voting) on The Death Penalty Repeal Bill

The list below is the final "roll call" official voting for each member of the Connecticut Senate in last night's all night session on The Judiciary committee's Bill to Repeal the Connecticut's Death penalty and Replace it with life in prison w/out the chance of parole.  This means the worst of the worst would - be killers rapists and predators from now on, will be going to trial, as their public defenders give it all they've got, hoping to procure a life sentence with the possibility of parole for their murderous clients.


And despite the rhetoric that the legislators who stand to gain the most from this abolition- (lawyers, for it equals money lining their pockets) their will be more murder more rape more "capital crime" which is really a detached way of describing terror  brutality unbelievable suffering for statistically the weakest most vulnerable people of this state - women and children -and elderly.

We have a serious responsibility now: Every single Connecticut citizen must remember which Senators voted for this Dangerous foolhardy Death Penalty Repeal,  come voting season. The same applies to each member of the Connecticutt Judiciary committee, which is comprised largely of attorneys who happen to be our lawmakers, either assemblymen or women or Senators.


For example two republican members of the Judiciary voted for this repeal when it was in its infant stage, where had it not passed it could not proceed to the Senate and the House of Representatives, the latter which of course has always been a shoe in yes vote for all abolition or "repeal" bills for the Death penalty.

Many PEOPLE OF THIS STATE are feeling angry and impotent. You ask what can we do, we, their constituents must vote them out and

I stayed up all night watching the Senators session on TV, and although I'd already heard that Senator Prague and Crisco had flipped their votes back to pro-appeal, I  held out hope for a last minute miracle of sorts.

At the very least I needed to watch the biggest mistake in history ever made by the Connecticut Senate, and the at best, naive uninformed poor  "logic" and  a great deal of pontification from Senators who would have us believe that the Dennison to repeal the death penalty in Connecticut is "the latest trend" in New England states, morally correct, beneficial to victims ie family members of murdered monetarily beneficially to the state (- citing incorrectly that a repeal will save the state money which Ive explained ad nauseum is absolutely incorrect and why)

Senate Bill 280 was passed by the Senate, 20 to 16, at 2:05 a.m. on April 5, 2012



Voting for repeal



Beth Bye of West Hartford



Steven Cassano of Manchester



Eric Coleman of Bloomfield



Joseph Crisco of Woodbridge



Eileen Daily of Westbrook



Bob Duff of Norwalk



John Fonfara of Hartford



Terry Gerratana of New Britain



Edwin Gomes of Bridgeport



Toni Harp of New Haven



Gary LeBeau of East Hartford



Carlo Leone of Stamford



Martin Looney of New Haven



Andrew Maynard of Stonington



Edward Meyer of Guilford



Anthony Musto of Trumbull



Edith Prague of Columbia



Gayle Slossberg of Milford



Andrea Stillman of New London



Donald Williams of Brooklyn







Opposing repeal



Toni Boucher of Wilton



Paul Doyle of Wethersfield



Joan Hartley of Waterbury



John Kissel of Enfield



Leonard Fasano of North Haven



Scott Frantz of Greenwich



Anthony Guglielmo of Stafford



Robert Kane of Watertown



Kevin Kelly of Stratford



Joseph Markley of Southington



John McKinney of Fairfield



Michael McLachlan of Danbury



Andrew Roraback of Goshen



Len Suzio of Meriden



Kevin Witkos of Canton



Jason Welch of Bristol



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Brilliant article about the Connecticut and the Death Penalty

"We, the political family of the victim, although one step removed, in our righteous indignation, our need for justice — we, strangers but fellow citizens, fellow survivors, equally vulnerable to viciousness and terror, feel — yes, feel — continually connected to the slain. Compared to the survivors' grief, immediate and intense, enduring sometimes crippling — our righteous indignation, our rage at the callous or sadistic murderer may seem mere commentary. Their healing takes priority."




The quote above is taken from a brilliant OP-ED piece by author Robert Blecker found in today's Hartford Courant. The timely piece is in support of Connecticut's Death Penalty and against a recent repeal bill that once again is being foisted upon the people of this State who have made it very clear in poll after poll that we want to keep the death penalty as our capital punishment.

 Most of the coverage in the Courant concerning the death penalty issue has been a mere  parroting of the loudest majority opinion within the Connecticut Legislature: This opinion piece is a deviation of what has become the Courants predictably liberal fare. And to be clear, when I use the word "liberal" I am  not referring the Democratic party, I am speaking of a dangerous steadily growing, permissive criminal -friendly attitude towards dangerous violent offenders via related sentencing policies, in a State that has one of the most abysmal criminal justice systems in the country.

In this article, Blecker makes vivid, emotionally charged points regarding the folly of repealing the only Sentence in this state that would- be murderers and rapists actually fear. Even a Death Penalty in theory-only, clearly has the power to drive our public defenders to great lengths in attempts to avoid their clients possibly receiving the sentence in a Jury trial: .

Like Joshua Komisarjevsky and Stevn Hayes's attorney's who knew that their clients were caught dead to rights escaping a murder scene, all such immediate offers to plead guilty in exchange for life in prison, will disappear from the judicial landscape in Connectucut if the Death penalty is removed forever from our prosecutors toolboxes. On the rare occasions when a set of crimes are so heinous that a Connecticut State prosecutor refuses a guilty plea, intent on pursuing a death penalty conviction, ( and we do so conservatively in this state to begin with) we the public have watched these lawyers go to ridiculous lengths, in zealous mad scrambles to avoid a sentence that they claim is " not a deterrent."

If the death penalty is in fact abolished and this repeal is voted in within the Senate, we are guaranteed a sideshow seat as these same public defenders vociferously pursue trials in which they fight tooth and nail (at the states expense once again) against the new " cruel and unusual punishment ": Life in prison without the chance of parole".

This is what lawyers do. They push the limits of whatever parameters exist within the confines of a given "justice" system. Indeed our court systems have been taken hostage by amoral defense attorneys who believe they are bound by  no limits, bent on "winning" no matter the cost in human suffering.

Do our legislators really believe that if the Death Penalty is taken off the table, the Attorneys representing murderers and  predators of every denomination will then reasonably offer their clients up for a life in prison without the c hance of parole? Minus the leverage of even the most impotent death penalty system,(such as Ct has)  even situations where the evidence of guilt is overt and abundant, these capital murder cases will all proceed to trial. The proverbial " nothing to lose " will be the Mantra of every child rapist and/or murderer, kidnapper/ killer, as they navigate the new punishment -free State of Connecticut court system, with their frothing at the mouth lawyers in tow. Trial's equal  money for lawyers. Do the math.


Our legislators would do well to read this incredibly sensitive and indeed brilliant article below and let it truly penetrate. Although the article is rife with insight and wisdom,  two quotes below I found to be especially poignant. 

"Although brutal murderers may enjoy long lives in prison while the memory of their suffering victim decays, many abolitionists, especially devout Christians, maintain their moral equilibrium through faith that justice will be done in the hereafter. This belief consoles them. The need for justice may especially incline victims' survivors to those religious beliefs — seeking as they do, solace in the face of suffering. It would console me to believe that my loved one's brutal murderer will someday face ultimate justice. Our secular society, however, separates church and state. We, the people, commit ourselves to human justice in this world — here, now — as if there will be no hereafter."





Robert Blecker's article on Connecticut's Dangerous push to abolish the Death Penalty