Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Brownsville Herald Runs Story Describing Priest Accused in 1960 Murder As "Compassionate"

John Feit at time of arrest
The family of teacher and former beauty queen Irene Garza, raped and slain in 1960, now must endure the added pain of an Associated Press article datelined Phoenix, published in the Brownsville Herald two days ago, that describes the accused perpetrator, John Feit, as a man of compassion.  The article, headlined by the Herald, "Former Priest Arrested in Cold Case Known for Compassion," describes Feit as a "regular, humble guy," a man of "humility and compassion."

Feit's brother, Matthias, was also quoted in the article:  
"You can find several hundred people in Phoenix who would say the same thing — a very kind man who helped others," Matthias Feit said.

Elizabeth Deven Hernandez, UTRGV Instructor
KRGV News, Channel 5 also ran a story with counterpoints in an interview with UTRGV Law and Justice Instructor Elizabeth Deven Hernandez.  

If you play the video above the online article, you can hear Hernandez remark:  "When you're talking about this kind of case, the social media, "justice for Irene," what if the physical evidence isn't there?  Is it really justice?"  

She also wants her students to think about the "cost to the city of McAllen" in retrying the case.  "Will he even get a fair trial?" she asks.

The young instructor's concern about McAllen's cost to prosecute may stem from the fact that Hernandez worked for the city in 2004 as a public information officer.  

3 comments:

  1. That is sickening.

    Just because someone chose a religious career track does not necessarily make them a good person. But precisely because this career conveys an expected level of community trust and the ability to manipulate families with shame is why sociopaths choose it.

    Really hope the Catholic dioscese isn't behind this attempt to squelch a trial. The way their institution protected pedophile priests for years too. Come on, that's the opposite of what Jesus would do. Pay to God what is God's and pay to Cesaer what is Cesear's. Meaning no special treatment, followers of Christ are subject to both God's laws and the laws of the land like everyone else, and must pay for his crimes like everyone else. Never too late for justice.

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  2. Clarify, please. Should the news media offer only one point of view? And whose point of view should that be? Or did I miss your point?

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  3. OJ Simpson helped people by giving to charity. Should the media try to find a "balanced" report by highlighting his charity work? Even though two people's throats were slit on his driveway? Newspapers sell more papers by creating fake controversy. Amping up the doubt and suspense leads people to buy the next paper eg spend money to read the next episode of the story. It's an artificial narrative and a technique used by screenwriters. Also known as "conflict sells". Glorifying real-life killers though, is a new low imho.

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