[Vision2020] Whitewash

[Art Deco]

Below is a Daily News article wherein PA William Thompson attempts to justify the plea bargain in the Parks Kill and Burn case.

Thompson argues that because Judge Brudie disallowed evidence of domestic violence occurring two years ago, Thompson was left without evidence of premeditation.


What a whitewash!!!

What happened two years ago may be evidence of Parks' propensity to use violence against his victim, but how is it evidence of premeditation of the actual murder that took place? Two years later?  What a disgusting prevaricator Thompson is!

There were/are other ways to attempt to discover evidence of premeditation, both by interviewing, careful investigation, and forensic analysis, for example: 

Was the victim asleep when the strangulation began?
Was an accelerant used in the arson?  If so, when and where was it purchased?
Was there evidence that the victim intended to leave the murderer?
Etc.
Etc.

Note:  'Sgt. James Fry, the investigating Moscow Police Department officer for the case, also was present during the mediation.  He said the plea agreement "was the best deal for the evidence that we had at the time..."

Very interesting.

Thompson's explanation for his cop out, (one of many in serious felony cases), is about as believable as his claim that "he was unaware of any public criticism from local residents in relation to the agreement."  

Thompson's career as a PA after the departure of Robin Eckmann is nauseating display of ineptitude, lack of energetic diligence, taking the path of least resistance, and catering to special friends and interests in my opinion.

I said it elsewhere:  If you want to commit murder with the least consequences (if any), do it in Latah County and have Judge Brudie hear the case.

I cannot look at a photo of Sarah Parks [http://media.klewtv.com/images/Sarah_Parks_Gfx_KLEW.jpg]
without feeling deep sadness for her, her friends and family, and feeling great anger towards her cowardly murderer and the criminal justice system which has failed us all again, and especially failed past, present, future victims of domestic violence.

Wayne A. Fox
1009 Karen Lane
PO Box 9421
Moscow, ID  83843

waf at moscow.com
208 882-7975

___________________________________________

Prosecutor defends Parks case plea deal
By Christina Lords Daily News Staff Writer

Posted on: Thursday, April 01, 2010


The prosecution's inability to use evidence relating to Silas Parks' criminal background played an integral role in a plea agreement reached between Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson and Parks' attorneys, Thompson said Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Parks, 26, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter charges for killing his wife, Sarah Parks, and their unborn daughter, Lilly Ann Parks, on June 24. 

He also pleaded guilty to one count of first degree arson for setting their Moscow apartment on fire the day of the killings.

Second District Court Judge Jeff M. Brudie last week denied the prosecution's motion to admit evidence relating to Parks' 2006 domestic violence case.

Parks was initially charged with domestic battery in the 2006 case, but the charge was later amended to disturbing the peace.

Brudie wrote in his opinion that "the court is simply unable to find that the 2006 domestic battery charge is relevant" to the June 24 murder case. Any evidence related to that case would not have been admissible at trial.

"We were told none of the evidence in relation to (Parks') conduct could be used," Thompson said. "Those were important decisions for us to have from court to be able to assess, then, what we were going to be able to go (with) at trial."

Thompson said with Parks' character evidence from the 2006 case, he had a provable case for premeditated homicide.

Without that evidence, "there would be no background information to put his conduct into context in terms of premediation [sic]," he said.

Thompson said the cost to Latah County to conduct a murder trial was not considered while making the plea agreement.

"It was never a factor," he said. "Cost is never a factor in a case like this."

Thompson said he was unaware of any public criticism from local residents in relation to the agreement. 

"He's pleaded guilty to homicide," he said. "Anyone who doesn't understand that just doesn't understand what has occurred and what the crime is. ... (Parks) is facing the prospect of a substantial sentence."

People need to remember the statutes applied to voluntary manslaughter and maximum prison sentences that apply to the case are decided by the Idaho Legislature and not the prosecuting attorney, Thompson said.

"This is a horrible crime, particularly because it was completed by arson, but that doesn't change the facts," he said. "We have to apply the facts to the law."

Parks' plea agreement was finalized during a mediation hearing with Nez Perce County Magistrate Judge Kent J. Merica on Tuesday.

Thompson said the mediation took the majority of the day, and Merica met with the prosecution and defense separately.

Parks and his attorneys, D. Ray Barker and Charles E. Kovis, met with Merica around 10 a.m. Tuesday.

Barker said while he didn't feel comfortable discussing certain aspects of the plea agreement, he did say he thought the agreement was fair.

"I think it's fair because there is no evidence of any homicide other than manslaughter," he said. 

Sarah Parks' mother was on a conference call from Alabama as a representative of the family for the prosecution's portion of the mediation, Thompson said.

"The biggest thing the family wants to know, and rightfully so, is what happened, what really happened," he said. "That is part of the (plea) agreement." 

Thompson said the sentencing range Parks is facing - up to 40 years in prison for the three charges - was "actually more than what Sarah's family was asking for themselves."

Sgt. James Fry, the investigating Moscow Police Department officer for the case, also was present during the mediation.

He said the plea agreement "was the best deal for the evidence that we had at the time," Fry said.

Christina Lords can be reached at (208) 882-5561, ext. 301, or by e-mail to clords at dnews.com.
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