"Wis. woman didn’t mean to kill mother, fetus, lawyer says" by Dinesh Ramde | Associated Press, September 19, 2012
MILWAUKEE — A woman accused of killing a pregnant Milwaukee woman and trying to steal her full-term fetus never meant for the mother or her unborn child to die, a defense attorney said Tuesday.
In opening statements, defense lawyer Debra Patterson acknowledged that evidence shows her client, 34-year-old Annette Morales-Rodriguez, found a young woman in the late stages of pregnancy and used a blade to slice out the fetus. But Patterson said the key legal question was whether Morales-Rodriguez intended to kill 23-year-old Maritza Ramirez-Cruz or her unborn son.
‘‘We submit to you that Annette engaged in criminally reckless conduct, but she did not intend to kill Maritza,’’ Patterson said.
Morales-Rodriguez has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree intentional homicide, including homicide of an unborn child. A conviction on either count carries a mandatory life sentence, although a judge could allow for the possibility of parole. Wisconsin does not have the death penalty.
Last week, her lawyers switched from an insanity defense after a court-appointed doctor did not find evidence to support such a plea.
In his opening statement, prosecutor Mark Williams sketched a grisly summary that he said explained how Ramirez-Cruz died in 2011. He told jurors they would see video footage of the defendant and victim together, first at a community center that provides social services to Hispanics and later at a drugstore. He also promised to play a 90-minute videotape of the defendant’s statement to police, in which he says she provided details that matched what police later found.
--more--"
Related: The Quick Way to Have a Baby in Wisconsin
"Wis. woman convicted in fetal-abduction deaths" by Dinesh Ramde | Associated Press, September 21, 2012
MILWAUKEE — A Milwaukee woman was convicted Thursday of killing a pregnant woman last year and trying to steal her full-term fetus.
A jury of six men and six women deliberated for about an hour before convicting Annette Morales-Rodriguez, 34, of first-degree intentional homicide in the October 2011 deaths of the mother and fetus. She faces a mandatory life sentence when she is sentenced Dec. 14, although a judge could allow for the possibility of parole. Wisconsin doesn’t have the death penalty.
Prosecutors said Morales-Rodriguez faked a pregnancy, panicked as her supposed due date approached, and then lured 23-year-old Maritza Ramirez-Cruz to her house. There, she attacked her and used an X-Acto knife to cut the fetus out.
Ramirez-Cruz died of blood loss and asphyxiation, and her fetus, a boy, died as a result of her death, authorities say.
Morales-Rodriguez’s defense attorneys didn’t deny the attack but argued that she didn’t intend for anyone to die.
Morales-Rodriguez did not testify during the trial.
--more--"
Also see: Life sentence in fatal Wisconsin fetus theft case
Can't even relax in Wisconsin:
"Wis. gunman’s wife had told court he terrorized her; She was among 3 women killed in spa shooting" by Dinesh Ramde | Associated Press, October 23, 2012
MILWAUKEE — A Wisconsin woman whose husband killed her and two others Sunday at the spa where she worked said he threatened to throw acid in her face and jealously terrorized her ‘‘every waking moment,’’ according to court documents.
Authorities say Radcliffe Franklin Haughton, 45, killed three women, including his 42-year-old wife, Zina Haughton, and wounded four others before turning the gun on himself....
In a written request for a restraining order filed Oct. 8, Zina Haughton said her husband was convinced she was cheating on him and that aside from the acid threat he also vowed to burn her and her family with gas. He said he would kill her if she ever left him or called the police, according to the court papers....
Haughton was arrested earlier this month for slashing his wife’s tires....
That's never a good sign.
--more--"
Related: Gunman kills 3, wounds 4 at Wisconsin spa
"Wisconsin lawmakers criticize police in spa shooting" by Carrie Antlfinger | Associated Press, November 02, 2012
MILWAUKEE — Wisconsin legislators sent a letter to a suburban police chief accusing his department of allowing a man who fatally shot his wife and two others at a spa to elude accountability in his past run-ins with the agency....
The letter, signed by 10 Democrats and two Republicans, accuses the department of not upholding Wisconsin’s mandatory arrest law in domestic violence cases on two occasions when they believe Radcliffe Haughton should have been arrested. The letter also criticizes Chief Steven Rinzel for blaming the victim for not cooperating with police. Messages left for Rinzel and town officials were not immediately returned.
Once again, the authorities prevent nothing.
--more--"
"Husband charged for killing wife, a Wisconsin police officer" by Dinesh Ramde | Associated Press, December 28, 2012
MILWAUKEE — An Iraq war veteran told detectives that he stalked his wife for several days while she was patrolling the streets of the Milwaukee suburb where she was a police officer, then ambushed her in the early hours of Christmas Eve and killed her, according to prosecutors.
Ben Gabriel Sebena, 30, was charged Thursday with first-degree intentional homicide in the death of his wife, Jennifer Sebena, who was found dead in front of Wauwatosa’s fire station by fellow officers. She had been shot five times in the head.
Ben Sebena made a court appearance Thursday, and a court commissioner ordered the decorated Marine Corps veteran held on $1 million cash bond. Sebena wasn’t required to enter a plea, and his attorney, Michael Steinle, didn’t immediately respond to a message seeking comment....
The investigation began when Ben Sebena called police Monday about 6:30 a.m. asking them to check on his wife’s well-being.
Less than three weeks before she died, Jennifer Sebena told a colleague that her husband had acted violently toward her and put a gun to her head, prosecutors said.
--more--"
Also see:
FBI releases files on Stalin’s daughter
Also see: Sikh Shooter Censorship
Heaven help us.
"Atheist group sues over religious electioneering" by Scott Bauer | Associated Press, November 16, 2012
MADISON, Wis. — A federal lawsuit filed by a Wisconsin-based group representing atheists and agnostics argues that the Internal Revenue Service is violating the Constitution by allowing tax-exempt churches and religious organizations to get involved in political campaigns.
The Freedom from Religion Foundation argues that churches and other religious organizations have become increasingly more involved in political campaigns, ‘‘blatantly and deliberately flaunting the electioneering restrictions.’’
They have been doing it for years.
--more--"
Not in that way.
"Wis. demonstrators keep up the beat" by Dinesh Ramde | Associated Press, November 29, 2012
MADISON, Wis. — Madison has a long tradition of public protests, from a famous civil rights march in 1969 to violent clashes with police during the Vietnam era. More recently, Governor Scott Walker’s law to strip most public employees of their union rights drew massive protests in 2011 and sparked an effort to oust the governor earlier this year. He survived a recall election in June.
That's the kind of help we need.
Related: Wisconsin Recall Recall
But the Solidarity Singers won’t accept defeat.
Their efforts might seem puzzling. Protests generally persist only as long as there’s a chance to bring change. It can be hard to sustain that energy when there’s no clear goal or realistic chance of success.
Especially when the corporate, agenda-pushing media ignores you.
That’s what happened with the Occupy movement, which grew out of anger at Wall Street and a financial system perceived to favor the richest 1 percent. The movement grew too large too quickly for organizers to keep up. Without leaders or specific demands, it eroded into an amorphous protest against everything wrong with the world and eventually fell apart....
They had specific demands, but I'm tired of pointing out the endless distortions and shit that my monied mouthpiece constantly spews. One reason among many that I just don't listen to them anymore. I read, I see it, I file it where it ought to go, and I move on knowing my newspaper has nothing to do with reality.
Anywhere from 25 to 50 people — usually a handful of students joined by mostly middle-aged or retired people — still gather every day to sing protest songs for an hour.
Which is great, but giving up an hour just doesn't get it done. The PtB know you will be leaving. You need to Occupy to get things done, or at least force the government to act like the fascists they have become.
Police initially reacted with a hands-off approach, arresting only a handful of belligerent protesters loosely associated with the group. However, the new Capitol police chief has begun cracking down by issuing scores of citations to group leaders, largely for failure to obtain a permit....
And here they are out there defending your collective bargain rights!
And you cops wonder why you are hated.
--more--"
Related: Occupy Now Controlled Opposition
