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<DIV><FONT size=2>Below is a <EM>Daily News</EM> article wherein PA William
Thompson attempts to justify the plea bargain in the Parks Kill and Burn
case.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Thompson argues that because Judge Brudie disallowed evidence
of domestic violence occurring two years ago, Thompson was left without evidence
of premeditation.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>What a whitewash!!!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>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!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>There were/are other ways to attempt to discover evidence of
premeditation, both by interviewing, careful investigation, and forensic
analysis, for example: </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Was the victim asleep when the strangulation
began?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Was an accelerant used in the arson? If so, when and
where was it purchased?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Was there evidence that the victim intended to leave the
murderer?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Etc.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Etc.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>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
<STRONG><FONT color=#ff0000>at the time</FONT></STRONG>..."</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Very interesting.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Thompson's explanation for his cop out, (one of many in
serious felony cases), is about as believable as his claim that "<FONT
color=#0000ff>he was unaware of any public criticism from local residents in
relation to the agreement</FONT>." </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>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.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>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.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>I cannot look at a photo of Sarah Parks [</FONT><FONT
size=2><A
href="http://media.klewtv.com/images/Sarah_Parks_Gfx_KLEW.jpg">http://media.klewtv.com/images/Sarah_Parks_Gfx_KLEW.jpg</A></FONT><FONT
size=2>]</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>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.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Wayne A. Fox<BR>1009 Karen Lane<BR>PO Box 9421<BR>Moscow,
ID 83843</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><A href="mailto:waf@moscow.com">waf@moscow.com</A><BR>208
882-7975</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>___________________________________________</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>
<H1>Prosecutor defends Parks case plea deal</H1>
<P id=byline>By Christina Lords Daily News Staff Writer</P>
<P id=storydate>Posted on: Thursday, April 01, 2010</P></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=storybody>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.</P>
<P class=storybody>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. </P>
<P class=storybody>He also pleaded guilty to one count of first degree arson for
setting their Moscow apartment on fire the day of the killings.</P>
<P class=storybody>Second District Court Judge Jeff M. Brudie last week denied
the prosecution's motion to admit evidence relating to Parks' 2006 domestic
violence case.</P>
<P class=storybody>Parks was initially charged with domestic battery in the 2006
case, but the charge was later amended to disturbing the peace.</P>
<P class=storybody>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.</P>
<P class=storybody>"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."</P>
<P class=storybody>Thompson said with Parks' character evidence from the 2006
case, he had a provable case for premeditated homicide.</P>
<P class=storybody>Without that evidence, "there would be no background
information to put his conduct into context in terms of premediation <FONT
color=#0000ff>[sic]</FONT>," he said.</P>
<P class=storybody>Thompson said the cost to Latah County to conduct a murder
trial was not considered while making the plea agreement.</P>
<P class=storybody>"It was never a factor," he said. "Cost is never a factor in
a case like this."</P>
<P class=storybody>Thompson said he was unaware of any public criticism from
local residents in relation to the agreement. </P>
<P class=storybody>"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."</P>
<P class=storybody>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.</P>
<P class=storybody>"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."</P>
<P class=storybody>Parks' plea agreement was finalized during a mediation
hearing with Nez Perce County Magistrate Judge Kent J. Merica on Tuesday.</P>
<P class=storybody>Thompson said the mediation took the majority of the day, and
Merica met with the prosecution and defense separately.</P>
<P class=storybody>Parks and his attorneys, D. Ray Barker and Charles E. Kovis,
met with Merica around 10 a.m. Tuesday.</P>
<P class=storybody>Barker said while he didn't feel comfortable discussing
certain aspects of the plea agreement, he did say he thought the agreement was
fair.</P>
<P class=storybody>"I think it's fair because there is no evidence of any
homicide other than manslaughter," he said. </P>
<P class=storybody>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.</P>
<P class=storybody>"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." </P>
<P class=storybody>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."</P>
<P class=storybody>Sgt. James Fry, the investigating Moscow Police Department
officer for the case, also was present during the mediation.</P>
<P class=storybody>He said the plea agreement "was the best deal for the
evidence that we had at the time," Fry said.</P>
<P class=storybody><STRONG>Christina Lords</STRONG> can be reached at (208)
882-5561, ext. 301, or by e-mail to <A href="mailto:clords@dnews.com"
rel=external>clords@dnews.com</A>.</P></DIV></BODY></HTML>