Apr 99

Views expressed are those of the authors, not necessarily of the AFSC.

Victim Impact-"to turn our rage"

Cecil and Shirley Rice's daughter Cathy and her two small sons, Benjamin and Ryan, were murdered by the boy's father Peter Contos. Contos, who had married another woman during the period he was dating Cathy Rice and after he had fathered Benjamin, feared that Rice might disclose their relationship, jeopardizing his career and his marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Rice presented their Victim Impact Statement to the Middlesex, Massachusetts County Court Feb. 6, 1999.

After thanking the judge, the police, and the prosecutors with compassion and great dignity, the Rices turned to the defense attorney: "Mr. Hrones you had a very difficult job to do, but you did it. It was important to us that Mr. Contos should get as good a defense as possible. We wanted to be sure Mr. Contos was the guilty party, and we wanted to be sure that justice was not circumvented by an inadequate defense. Yours was not a popular task, but we are glad you did it....However, Mr. Hrones, it is inexcusable that you maligned Cathy in the press and in some of your remarks in the court.... Saying this was a case of fatal attraction or that his mistress made him do it seeks to reduce or excuse the guilt and responsibility of Peter Contos by blaming Cathy. This is not simply a viable but unpopular defense, as some have suggested, it is gratuitously malevolent and simply adds to and supports the horrendous behavior of your client....So, sir, while we understand that your task was difficult, and are grateful that you took it on and did it as well as the evidence would allow, we ask that you never again malign a woman victim in the press or in the court to defend any alleged criminal, however deserving or innocent."

The Rices speak of the many affected by their daughter's and grandsons' deaths-a list almost lyrical, almost Homeric-and conclude thus: "Lastly, we have a wish that may or may not fit into the legal framework. Besides asking for the maximum sentence that the law allows, we ask that the court require Mr. Contos to make reparation to society, as we believe all who act criminally should. If we thought Mr. Contos' death would bring back our children, we would recommend you slay him now. However, his death cannot bring them back. Reparation will not bring them back either, but it can shape the future. It may bring some usefulness out of a wasted, benighted life, and add value and perpetuity to the lives of our family who died before their time.

"So, we ask that while in prison, we require Mr. Contos to work gainfully, earning a specified sum of money each year. And we ask that we require him, after paying taxes, to give that money to an organization or organizations, which we, with the court, will specify, that work for the understanding and treatment of children and families, especially those subjected to violence. Further, if the court is unable to act on this immediately because no adequate laws exist to permit it, then we ask this court to recommend that the Massachusetts Legislature create such a law and make it retroactive to include Mr. Contos.

"If we do this, we can marry punishment to reparation, making it productive, and not just momentarily satisfying. We can turn our understandable rage, disgust and thirst for revenge and for blood, into seeds for the future. And Mr. Contos can make expiation to the family and to the society he so fiendishly raped. Surely, if we can apply such principles to nations that wage aggressive war on other nations, it is the least we can do to require it of citizens who behave in the same way. Thank you."