http://www.abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/story?id=3259558&page=1
Please copy and paste.
What the hell has gone wrong with our justice system?
How in the world does this woman get away with this?
I guess the "abused woman" defense works very well, especially when it is combined with a clean-cut, innocent-looking face.
I tell you what! If Matthew had shot Mary in the back while she slept, he'd be doing a hell of a lot more than time served plus 60 days mental help.
I'm willing to admit she may have been abused, but all I've heard about is that he wanted her to dress up like a tart to have sex.
Well, hell.
That is SO abusive!
Did she ever report any abuse? Did she ever display any bruises? Abrasions?
I can imagine that it is difficult for a southern preacher's wife to get help in an uncomfortable marriage, but I KNOW there are ways out that don't involve a shotgun!
As Sharon Rocha said in the sentencing phase of the Scott Peterson trial, "Divorce is always an option."
Did she think God would punish her for leaving Matthew? I got news for you, Mary; now He's really pissed!
Thing is, I'm worried about a lot more of these cases. I can visualize women saying, "210 days? Damn! I can do that on one foot, with my hands tied behind my back! Honey? Would you load the gun for me?"
For all of us who LEFT the bastard, and DIDN'T shoot him in the back, I think she should have been given life!
End Rant.
Ronni, this truly was a strange case. I followed it closely (off and on...there wasn't enough presented to really hold your interest for long at a time). I grew up in this area. Anyway, I'm convinced Mary was abused, probably from day one. She was mousey and plain and he was handsome, eloquent...you get the picture. As a side note, just LOOKING at his father made my skin crawl. He made several comments about a woman's "place" ....gag. BUT, all that said, the lady deserved life. You don't shoot someone in the back. You leave. She had family, she had a job. There had to be someone she could have turned to. So leaving/divorce would be "shameful" but not shooting someone in the back?? Punishment time served plus a little mental help??? Heaven help us all.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, Carol.
ReplyDeleteI think her family probably wouldn't have been very supportive of her, either, but still...
I know we are all different and all come to the 'table' with different strengths and resources. But geez louise, how could anyone EVER think that taking someone's life, apart from self-defense or defending the life of another, is an acceptable solution to ANYTHING. Oh, and we didn't mention unplugging the phone. I know, I know, we don't KNOW that she was the one who did that......I'm just sayin'......
ReplyDeleteAnd all those guys who are always saying that men get stiffer sentences for killing their wives than women do for killing their husbands just got a whole new batch of ammo for their mysogynistic maunderings! Yuck, poo, nasty!
ReplyDeleteI think it was she who unplugged the phone. I think she planned the would thing. I think the tought took form in her little pea brain, and she said, "that's it. I'm gonna kill him." and she did.
Having had serious thoughts of making my ex-husband a Late-husband while he slept, I would feel a bit hypocritical saying "I don't know how she could do that".
ReplyDeleteMaybe, the thought that I would spend the rest of my life in prison is the reason I didn't. But, that, is probably the point. She is not spending her life in prison, is she?
Believe me, I was alone in a foreign Country with a new baby and *desperate*. Men, be warned, DON'T transfer your anger from the mother to the baby. You could end up dead.
One phone call to my parents and he stopped his crap. They were on their way to Vancouver and he sh*t himself. Thankfully, he stopped the abuse, too.
Just wanted to say...it would have been easy. Real easy. In my state of mind.
Exactly my point. It would have been easy for me, too. I fantasized about it a lot.
ReplyDeleteBut I didn't. And you didn't. We found some other way.