This week, as I prepared a Relief Society Lesson on Unity (and the barriers we put up), I was delighted to read this piece by Courtney on judging, misjudging, and living it up!
Speaking of that lesson, I pulled from a couple of terrific talks by Cheiko Okazaki and Elaine Jack. I felt such a connection to that General Relief Society Presidency (with Aileen Clyde rounding it out) — they indelibly shaped the way I view this organization. The talks:
“Them and Us,” by Elaine Jack
“Rowing Your Boat” by Chieko Okazaki
Kris writes a wonderful piece on a hospital in the Utah Territory that was founded by the Relief Society and staffed by LDS women doctors. And the Salt Lake Tribune spotlights one of these doctors.
Stake Relief Society president writes a profile of the society for her local paper.
An fifteen-year-old watches the murder of a stepfather who repeatedly raped and molested her. Twenty years later, this LDS mother of five has rebuilt her life. She cooperates fully with investigators . . . and now faces three to six years in prison. Is this a case of justice robbing mercy? Is it justice at all?
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“Before pleading guilty last week to hindering arrest, Cooper, formerly of New Hampshire and now an Evanston resident, had no criminal record. Investigators agree Cooper’s extensive cooperation beginning in 2004 led them to an arrest in the 20-year-old cold case, causing the attorney general’s office to recommend she spend no time in prison for her conviction.
Still, it was not enough. Lynn rejected Cooper’s plea deal and sentenced her to three to six years in the Goffstown women’s prison, saying he had serious doubts that she didn’t play a bigger role in persuading Eric Windhurst to shoot Paquette in Hooksett 21 years ago.”
Ouch.
As to “Paquette family members who testified about the anguish caused by Danny’s unsolved murder asked Lynn to give Cooper the maximum seven-year sentence.” I rather think those family members deserve a sentence instead.
This woman has suffered enough (did you read her husbands comments at the end?). The whole thing makes me heartsick.
Wow! I am sick. I imagine the judge is completely ignorant about the devastating and life-altering effects of being raped and sexually abused repeatedly–much less at age 10. It just seems so wrong and cruel to send her to prison for 3 to 7 years when there is not any proof that she was part of the murder plot. The judge has a hard time believing she wasn’t involved, but the fact is, he has no proof that this was her idea or intention. And she was 15…a 15-year-old abused and frightened child whose own mother didn’t help stop the abuse. What is a prison sentence going to do, other than ruin her and her families lives? The Paquette family is obviously still in major denial about abhorent crimes Danny committed. Very, very sad use of “justice.”
Yup. I’m with you. I really hope the three-judge panel relooks at this sentence.