"Son of Sam" Suing Over Photos, Letters

1010 WINS ^ | Jan 30, 2006 5:18 pm US/Eastern

[Calpernia]

Judge tells lawyer to hold Son of Sam killer's property for now

NEW YORK (AP) _ Items that belonged to David Berkowitz, the imprisoned Son of Sam killer who terrorized New York for 13 months in the 1970s, were assigned to a lawyer for safekeeping on Monday until a judge decides who owns them now.

Berkowitz, serving six 25-years-to-life sentences for killing six people and wounding seven others in 1976 and 1977, said in a lawsuit that he loaned the documents, letters, photos and other items to his former lawyer Hugo R. Harmatz and now wants them back.

Harmatz has said he was willing to return some of the items but considered others gifts that are now his property that he intends to keep. He filed a motion in Manhattan's state Supreme Court asking dismissal of Berkowitz' lawsuit.

The Son of Sam killer listened by speakerphone from the Sullivan Correctional Facility in Fallsburg, N.Y., during a hearing on the motion before Justice Sherry Klein Heitler. He greeted the judge at the start and thanked her when it was over.

Berkowitz' current lawyer, Michael D. Heller, asked the judge to force Harmatz to return the items, which he said Harmatz had kept for his ``own salacious, selfish and scandalous purposes'' and ``to sensationalize and market Mr. Berkowitz' life.''

Told by Heller that Harmatz still had the disputed items, the judge told Harmatz' lawyer, Kevin Conway, to take charge of them for safekeeping. She reserved decision on Harmatz' dismissal motion.

Berkowitz sued Harmatz in June 2005, saying in court papers that he let the lawyer use the items as props for a youthful offender program the lawyer said he was developing.

However, Berkowitz said in court papers, he learned after giving Harmatz the items that the lawyer intended to use them to document a book he was writing that exploited his relationship with the killer.

Harmatz, who practices criminal law in northern New Jersey, said he used the materials he got from Berkowitz to write a book entitled ``Dear David.'' He said that when he first contacted Berkowitz he was clear about what he intended to do.

``When I was served with (court) papers, it came as a complete surprise to me,'' Harmatz said.

He said he believes Berkowitz was just trying to get attention.

[bybybill]

He should get his stuff back the day he has served all his sentences

[Calpernia]

I was more shocked he was alive. I assumed, for no particular reason, that he had the death penalty and was gone by now.

Guess that just doesn't happen anymore.

[visualops]

to sensationalize and market Mr. Berkowitz' life

Yeah..Mr. Berkowitz was just the quiet guy next door until this mean lawyer started abusing his stuff!

Gimme a break! As someone who lived in Manhattan during the Son of Sam killing spree, and it was pretty dang scary, I don't see that Mr. Berkowitz has much to whine about.

[Ticonderoga34]

Why is this man still alive?

This is what happens when there is no death penalty. You get punks like this hanging around, being punks.

[oceanview]

death penalty? in new york state, not a chance. even though its on the books now, it will never be used.

[Calpernia]

bump

[Albion Wilde]

I heard an hour-long and most surprising interview with David Berkowitz on a Christian radio station. It seems he has undergone a conversion experience, and has been doing a number of things to try to atone for his crimes, including writing letters of remorse and apology to the families of his victims, and working on repentance with other prisoners.

He also said, IIRC, that he shouldn't get out of prison, because he thought his crimes warranted a life term. I have to say I was really surprised, and could find nothing to make me immediately suspect that it was an act, since he doesn't appear to want out of prison.

[Calpernia]

I still want him strapped in Ole Sparky.

[nickcarraway]

It's not that I'm siding with Berkowitz, but I don't think this lawyer deserves to have this stuff and use it for sick purposes.

[Rebelbase]

Newman: Okay, here it is.

Kramer: Good. (To Earl) Here's my collateral.

Earl: So it's a mailbag, so what?

Newman: So what? Do you know whose mailbag that is?

Earl: (Reading) David Berkowitz.

Newman: Son of Sam. The worst mass murderer the post office ever produced.

Earl: Where did you get this?

Newman: I took over his route. And boy, were there a lot of dogs on that route.

Earl: Any of 'em talk to you?

Newman: Just to tell me to keep off the snacks!

[MotleyGirl70]

Lol. Good one Rebelbase.

[Zack Nguyen]

I've heard the same thing. Thanks for sharing that. While he must serve his sentence in an earthly court, he (and anyone) can be forgiven for eternity.

[kennedy]

Sell it all on eBay and divide the proceeds among the families of his victims. Berkowitz and his lawyer should not get a cent.

[lesser_satan]

Fragile Frankie: "Is this Seinfeld's van? Seinfeld's van? Seinfeld's van?!"
Rhisa: "Wait. What's he saying?"
George: "I think he's saying 'Son of Sam'! Oh, my God!"
Rhisa: "No, they caught him."
George, running out and away from the van: "I knew it wasn't Berkowitz!"

[Calpernia]

I remember that one!

bump

[Calpernia]

LOL!

Bump

[lesser_satan]

Elaine: He's not idiotic. He's the Wiz. And nobody beats him. Nobody......

[the_daug]

Victims

# unknown female, Christmas eve, 1975, Stabbed from behind. Never reported, female survived.

# Michelle Forman, 15, Christmas eve, 1975, Stabbed from behind. Female survived.

# Jody Valenti, 19, July 29, 1976, Shot in the thigh. Female survived.

# Donna Lauria, 18, July 29, 1976, Shot in the neck. Female killed.

# Carl Denaro, 18, October 23, 1976, Shot in back of his head. Male survived.

# Donna DeMasi,16. November 26, 1976. Shot between neck and shoulder. Female survived.

# Joanne Lomino,18. November 26, 1976. Shot in lower spine. Female survive, paralyzed for life.

# Christine Freund, 26. January 29, 1977. Shot in temple and neck. Female killed.

# Virginia Voskerichian, 21. March 8, 1977. Shot in mouth. Female killed instantly.

# Alexander Esau, 20. April 16, 1977. Shot in the head. Male killed.

# Valentina Suriani, 18. April 16, 1977. Shot in the head. Female killed.

# Sal Lupo. June 25, 1977. Shot in the arm. Male survived.

# Judy Placido, 17. June 25, 1977. Shot in the neck, shoulder, and temple. Female survived.

# Stacy Moskowitz, 20. July 30, 1977. Shot in the head. Female killed.

# Robert Violante, 20. July 30, 1977. Shot in the face. Male survived. Permenantly blinded.

[lesser_satan]

Interesting. I didn't know he stabbed any of his victims, I thought he shot them all.