Murder or Motherhood

North Carolina residents are having a difficult time confronting the issue of sex offenders and the “Jessica Lunsford Act“. Here is something else for them to think about.

In her decision to keep Allison Quets incarcerated for “abducting” her twins, the judge earlier this year made this statement concerning her decision to refuse bond.

“I don’t feel there’s anything I could do to fashion a set of conditions that she wouldn’t act against those impulses,” Judge Flanagan said.

Why does she remain in jail while others with more serious charges are free? In the case of Allison Quets, U.S. District Court Judge Louise Flanagan ruled she will remain in custody in North Carolina, charged with international parental kidnapping.

The citizens of North Carolina may want to beware. In neighboring Tennessee, a mother convicted of Voluntary Manslaughter yesterday has been and will remain free on bond until her upcoming May sentencing. Mary Winkler was accused of shooting her husband in the back while he slept in March 2006. She then fled the state with her children. It is possible she could spend less time in prison for her crime then Allison Quets will simply awaiting trial.

SELMER, TN — The jury returned with a verdict in the Mary Winkler trial. She has been found guilty of Voluntary Manslaughter…

Under U.S. law, Voluntary Manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of 10 years, but in Tennessee, the law is only three to six years. There is also a chance of parole after serving 30% of the sentence.

“I feel the verdict was just,” says Steve Farese, Winkler’s attorney.

An often used defense, it is easier to empathize with an alleged abused wife then to understand the actions of a mother suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) which we don’t.

You can take part in a research study at “The Depravity Scale” designed to provide standards for Judges and juries both across the United States and in other countries. It will decide that a crime is “depraved,” “heinous,” or “horrible” so they can assign more severe sentences.

Note: Acts of Murder qualify …. “International” Child Abduction does not.

Related Post: Murder and motherhood (continued)

Update 06-08-07

Mary Winkler was sentenced to 3 years but will be confined for 210 days after being found guilty of shooting her Church of Christ preacher husband, Matthew in the back while he slept.

The sentence includes credit for the five months she’s been in jail since her husband’s death, plus the possibility of up to 60 days in mental health treatment. The rest of the term will be served on supervised probation.