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To: Devil_Anse
My point exactly. I wonder why his own family didn't go to his funeral. Doesn't sound like they want anything to do with him, dead or alive.

Mr. Mitchell teaches a course at the prison. Bless his idealistic heart. I'm sure there are some career criminals who do turn their lives around. I've never met any of them, but I am perhaps cynical, having made the acquaintance of too many of them.

Sure, career criminals are sometimes accused of involvement in crimes they do not commit. They also commit lots of crimes for which they do not get caught. Although they should not serve time for that which they did not do, it does not follow that a wrongful accusation transforms them into law-abiding citizens.

Please, don't get anyone started on whether the police officer Ricci shot was hurt. If anyone says it was the cop's fault, I think I will throw up, and I don't want to ruin my keyboard.

My keyboard will also suffer if anyone says that Ricci was kind to the pregnant woman because he let her lie down.

I'm afraid I'm of the "leopards don't change their spots" persuasion. Whether Ricci was involved in Smart case or not, and I think he was, his recent past proves beyond doubt that he had not changed one whit.

Ricci was a violent sociopath, IMO.
338 posted on 09/28/2002 8:43:20 AM PDT by cookiedough
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To: cookiedough
Doesn't sound like [the rest of Ricci's family] want anything to do with him...

Sure doesn't!

Phase One: Young man charged with serious crime. (Also beginning drug problem.) Charge begins in juvenile court, so the parent/custodian is forced to come to court and participate.

Phase Two: Young man now over legal age, no longer a minor. Charged with serious crime. Grandma, the young man's girlfriend, the girlfriend's mother, and two elderly aunts are present in court to do anything they can. Young man casts them tearful glances at times. Mysteriously, neither the young man's father nor mother is present. Don't hear much about them, maybe that's part of why the young guy is so screwed up. Grandma is scrambling to raise money for bail, and the young man asks her what is taking so long. (This is a description of a real scenario which took place in criminal court a couple weeks ago.)

Phase Three: Man, no longer young, charged with crime. Wife comes to court, maybe brings one of her relatives with her. Is ready to vouch for him if necessary. Hoping lawyer can get bond reduced so she can hock everything she and all her relatives own to bring her man home on bond.

Phase Four: He's at it again. Wife may or may not be able to make it, she has to go to work; their relationship is on the rocks, but they were trying to make it work, and she knows her little boys adore their dad.

Phase Five: He's done time by now. This time a girlfriend might show up. He would only have her come if he were sure his ex wouldn't be there; don't want any fighting outside in the hall. No relatives are interested b/c they are sick and tired of being hit up for loans, or being stolen from, so he can get drug money. Or tired of losing their real estate or cash when the man failed to appear for court and the bond was forfeited.

Phase Six: Man goes in and out of courtroom in his practiced jailhouse shuffle. Lawyer asks him what relative's name they can put down as a reference on some form. He can't think of anyone. His grandmother or other relative he'd been staying with has told him never to come back unless he makes sure not to use drugs ever again, and proves it. (One crack addict I know asked to put down her "wife's" name as the reference. She had many relatives, none wanted anything to do with her.)

Phase Seven: Man charged with serious crime. No one is there except a kindly AA or NA counselor, maybe, or a chaplain from a prison ministry.

Phase Eight: Man in court again for serious crime. No one in the "audience."

As they use drugs over and over, and get in trouble over and over, even their family finally gets fed up. If contacted, they say apologetically, yes, I know I'm his nearest kin, but I told him what he'd have to do if he ever wanted to come around my place again, and he hasn't even tried to do it.

345 posted on 09/28/2002 10:11:57 AM PDT by Devil_Anse
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To: cookiedough
Hey, that's it, Cookiedough! Ricci was kind to the pregnant woman b/c he let her lie down!!

ROFL!!!

After all, a person wouldn't want her feet swelling just before she took a shot to the head.
349 posted on 09/28/2002 10:51:06 AM PDT by Devil_Anse
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