Letters to the Editor

Justice for children

Dear Editor,

I would like to hope the good people of Mississippi will never forget TYLER EDMONDS, and the injustice bestowed upon this child, in NOT recieving a FAIR TRIAL, and in hopes this child will get a NEW TRIAL. To try and sentence a 13 yr old boy, to life in prison with possibly parole at 65 is CRUEL and INHUMANE.......To keep under LOCKDOWN 20-23 hrs a day is down right cruel and is a form of CHILD ABUSE!!..........Little sunshine, exercise, or schooling, just a CELL.

A day must come to this child, for truth and justice, to come forth and set this child FREE to go home to his mother where he belongs!!!!

The victims in this case are certainly not forgotten, but Tyler was also, indeed a "victim"!

I just hope Mississippi will never forget TYLER EDMONDS and so many other "children", that may get caught up in the so called "justice" system"

When will authorities "wake up" to the fact that "children" are children, and "adults" are adults?????


Marty LaCross
Enterprise, Al
JUSTICE FOR CHILDREN

Imprisioned Children

Dear Editor:

On reading the Editorial written by Mr JP Ozborn and the follow-up by Ms Marty Le Crosse, I am absolutely delighted that a publication of any kind has stepped up to the plate and made some attempt at highlighting the plight of young Tyler Edmonds of West Point MS. Thank you so much.

Let me introduce myself. My name is Dan Riordan and I am an anti-child abuse campaigner based in the Southeast Coast of Ireland. When I first learned of the USA's failing laws, especially the laws that govern children, I was absolutely bumbfounded and shocked. God knows, I still am over a year down the road. I immediately joined forces with Ms LeCrosse and Mr Ozborn on Kids In Court and other advocacy sites, then starting my own at IMPRISONEDCHILDREN.COM I became a friend to young Tyler via letters and I must be honest in saying that I have never had the opportunity of knowing such a wonderful, caring young person.

In Ireland, when a juvenile commits a crime such as Murder, they are tried as juveniles in a Juvenile section of our Circuit Court System, and sentenced to a Juvenile facility for a maximum period (until they reach 18 years of age, where they are then either released or transfered to an adult prison). I am sure that should my fellow Irish mean who immigrated to the United States during the Famine had known the attrocities awaiting their children and grandchildren, they would most likely have gone in the opposite direction, or even may have struggled through the hardship here at home.

The case of Tyler Edmonds warrents concern on how Judge Kitchens handled it. Questions need to be asked of this judge, and I have every bit of confidence that Mr Ozborn will be the ideal candidate for this job. The one issue that stays in my mind, and I refuse to ask Tyler this in our letters, Why was this child convicted when there was no scientific evidence to prove that he had held a gun? There are no reports stating that the weapon used to kill Mr Fulgham was ever found. The fact that Judge Kitchens refused to allow a professional in juvenile false testimony to take the stand, whilst allowing a non-certified crime-scene examiner to give evidence is certainly something that is of concern. To put it straight, Editor, the trial was unfair, the judge was biast and the jury was led astray. Maybe the reason for the judge to deny young Edmonds a retrial was to cover up his mistakes? Mistakes that has cost an innocent boy his childhood - the most important days of anybody's life. All Tyler wants is a chance to be heard fairly and without corruption by a currupt judge and corrupt system. Would it be too difficult for the State of Mississippi to allow this boy this opportunity?

I too am a former inmate of a State Facility for children, where I was placed for 18 months because of a medical problem and for refusing to attend school. I was 12 years old. Luckily for me, I was there at a time when the Irish Government was just waking up to the realities of State Sanctioned Child Abuse, which is the very problem that faces many of America's youngsters today.

If the people of Mississippi were to wake up to these realities, maybe children like Tyler Edmonds could be spared their childhood too.

Judge Kitchens stands for election this November. The good people of Mississippi have now got the chance to make the right decision to protect their children and to save Tyler Edmonds. Vote Kitchens Out!

Thanks again.

Kindest Regards,

Dan Riordan

Barbour does not care about the poor people of Mississippi 

Haley Barbour is a sly sneaky governor in Mississippi.

I went to Iuka, Ms. at the bank that had a ribbon cutting ceremony. I had an opportunity to ask Gov. Barbour why he cut 65,000 people off medicaid . . . of course it's the same answer AS QUOTED IN THE NEWSPAPER . . . to save the state some monies......After trying to question the man . . . with Haleys response that the medicaid change would help the people . . . I said ok . . . Now if I went to the hospital, who is responsible for the 20% additional pay that medicare does not cover . . . Hmm. He responded by saying . . . You are. I asked, how could that help the people?

With the owner of the bank standing beside Barbour . . . Kelly Segars started asking me questions. That gave Haley Barbour an opportunity to talk to this other couple . . . And then Haley turned around and said . . . I have someone that can answer your question. Haley went and got another man.

Ok. The other man came over and said . . . If you have any qustions, please go to the court house, they can answer any questions you have . . . of course I didnt follow up.

I despise Haley Barbour . . . he does not care about the poor people of MIssissippi.........the only thing he cares about is putting big monies in his pocket . . . and the Mississippians supplying him with everything from a raise to a new jet.......

Donna Mcneil
Glen, Ms.