Posted on 06/03/2005 6:31:50 PM PDT by Libloather
New York's 'Son of Sam' Killer Sues Lawyer
By SAMUEL MAULL, Associated press Writer
58 minutes ago
NEW YORK - David Berkowitz, the imprisoned "Son of Sam" killer who terrorized New York City for 13 months in 1976 and 1977, filed a lawsuit Friday to force the return of personal property that he says his former lawyer is planning to sell.
Berkowitz, serving six 25-years-to-life sentences for killing six people and wounding seven others, says in court papers he agreed to let lawyer Hugo R. Harmatz use the items as props for a youthful offender program the lawyer said he was developing.
The personal items include Berkowitz' typewriter, which the killer says he authenticated at Harmatz' request by personally signing and dating a label on the machine before giving it and other items to Harmatz in 2002.
Berkowitz' court papers say other items include letters from Neysa Moskowitz, mother of one of his victims, Stacy Moskowitz; school and prison records; photos and memorabilia of family and friends; Bar Mitzvah pictures; and his last will and testament.
Soon after Berkowitz gave Harmatz the items, court papers say, Harmatz "shockingly revealed" his true intended use of the property to support and document a book he was writing that exploited his relationship with Berkowitz.
The lawsuit also says Berkowitz was unaware that "upon information and belief, (Harmatz) planned to offer said typewriter and other personal items belonging to (Berkowitz) for sale at public auction."
On Dec. 2, 2004, court papers say, Harmatz told Berkowitz that his book, entitled "Dear David," would say the items had been gifts to him from the imprisoned killer. Berkowitz is incarcerated at the Sullivan Correctional Facility in Fallsburg, N.Y.
Harmatz, who had volunteered to act as Berkowitz' legal counsel, court papers say, refused to return Berkowitz' property and "has taken the plaintiff's life and memories hostage" for "his own selfish, salacious, scandalous and greedy purposes."
Berkowitz' lawsuit asks the court to declare that he is the owner of all the property he says he turned over to Harmatz, and to order the lawyer to return it.
Berkowitz' lawyer, Michael D. Heller, did not returns calls for comment.
Harmatz, who has an address and telephone number in Colts Neck, N.J., could not be reached and did not returns calls for comment.
Berkowitz, 51, shot his victims with a .44 caliber revolver, usually while they sat in cars. He was arrested in the summer of 1977. His nickname came from a note, left at a crime scene, reading: "I am a monster. I am the Son of Sam."
All I know is if there is a collector who wants to buy Berkowitz' Bar Mitzvah pictures, they should be thrown in jail immediately, forget about due process.
Clearly NY needs to expand its "Son of Sam" law to include the lawyers.
In the meantime, true justice will be achieved in this case if the litigation drives them both to poverty.
I agree.
Believe it or not, Berkowitz is now reformed and appears to be a real deal Christian.
I doubt that the ambulance chaser has a soul.
Isn't that what Berkowitz did to the the families of his victims?
Don't know that much about him frankly. But so far it doesn't sound like he was planning on selling his stuff for profit (I know he can't legally.) I would say the lawyer trying to profit off the crimes is just as sick.
I read a very interesting book where they said David Berkowitz was not in it alone, and wasn't even the main killer. Berkowitz says the same, although I don't know what his word is worth, despite his conversion.
He does take responsibility for some of the murders, just not all of them.
David Berkowitz's home page. Very Interesting reading.
http://forgivenforlife.com/
Focus on the Family has played interviews between a psycholigist from FOTF and Berkowitz and based upon my hearing of those interviews I believe Berkowitz is my brother in Christ.
I grew up in Brooklyn, and in the summer between 7th and 8th grade, the scene of Berkowitz' last victims occurred down the block from our house, about 200 feet away. It was late, but we heard the shots and thought they were fireworks. THe neighborhood was scared, especially with all the blood on the street and lamp post. Long story short, there were strong rumors in the neighborhood that the Mafia was involved in solving this case because that was considered their street. I can recall seeing obvious Mafia guys patrolling the streets every night until Berkowitz was caught, and there were rumours that the mob gave the key tip.
I heard the interview as well and agree. You'll find his testimony at the link in post #9.
Yeah, that's what they all say.
LOL! You know, I'm not a fan of Spike Lee, but "Summer of Sam" was a pretty good movie though. There's a scene in which Berkowitz kills the dog and the dog suddenly walks in the room again as if nothing happens. Really creepy.
Side with the serial killer. Berkowitz supposedly found jailhouse religion some time ago and, apparently, is trying to do right. His lawyer is, well, a lawyer.
They should send him a mounted dogs head. Preferablely one of those little yappy ones, that says, "go f yourself", repeatedly in an endless loop.
LOL
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