Thank you very much for keeping me informed. I appreciate it a lot.

Your friend,
John

tmidgett wrote:Anyone who cares to attend the court proceedings should consider it, in my view. A presence on behalf of the victims can help, as long as it is respectful of the process, of course.

I will be there - I live a mile from the courthouse and a half mile from the accident site.

A friend wrote me this morning with this news:

Jeannette was formally indicted yesterday - I talked with a Skokie detective (at a Portillo's... don't ask). Arraignment still looks to be tomorrow at the Skokie courthouse. - from Matt 08/04/05

Here's my quick recap of today's activity for those interested.

The actual court part was pretty brief. Basically a continuence to August 23, when she'll actually be arraigned (ie she'll be entering a plea on that date).

It was a pretty surreal scene, especially since my previous courtroom experience has been limited to watching episodes of "Law & Order".

Anyway, we sat through a couple of Mickey Mouse cases that took about 15 minutes.

Then they announced her.

You could feel the air leave the room. Everyone took a deep breath.

And then the judge put the brakes on before she even entered the room. Apparently some other judge was supposed to hear the case, so he stayed the motion until that judge could arrive. At least, that's what happened as best as we could tell. Couldn't really hear anything. Unlike on my beloved "Law & Order", this room wasn't mic'd and no one was booming like Jack McCoy.

Anyway, sat through a couple more Mickey Mouse cases.

Then they announced her again. Another collective breath.

Deputies seemed to appear out of nowhere. It was obvious this was no mere traffic citation being discussed.

She was escorted in. She was on cruches. A gaggle of lawyers gathered round. Was hard to sort out who was whom, and we really couldn't hear what was being said.

Best as we could tell, some paperwork was exchanged, and the case was continued. She is to remain in custody.

Next appearance is slated for Tuesday, August 23 at 9:30 am. They announced the courtroom number as well, but it escapes me at the moment. 200-something, I believe.

Thanks again for your continued support. It means a lot.

Goddamnit, I'm crying again. Thanks for the updates..... This is surreal.

I don't know what to say, but this has not left my mind.

edit: this was a clumsy sentiment, I know. I just got home from The Hungry Brain, Michael's favorite bar............

Security video tape from St. Francis Hospital in Evanston evidence was formally introduced. Apparently she was taken there after the ambulance. I don't want to speculate what is on the tapes but the state introduced it, so it must be more for the prosecution than the defense. I could be wrong.

hey

here are details about tomorrow's arraignment of jeanette sliwinski

[url=http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory=&searchtab=home&address=5600+old+orchard+road&city=skokie&state=il&zipcode=]skokie courthouse
5600 old orchard road[/url]

tuesday, 23 aug 2005

the arraignment is scheduled for 9.30am in room 206

a bunch of us will be there

thanks everyone

tim

BadComrade wrote:
After I posted a long diatribe in response to some of the stupid things people that know (and don't know) her left on the board, the guy that wrote this story made a post asking for anyone that knew her to contact him. Guess he didn't care about the actual victims. His email address is still up on that blog if you care to mail him.


The only thing I learned from his "reporting" was that 2 of them weren't killed "instantly", which I did not like finding out through his style of "reporting"...

I just wrote an email to stephano esposito, the person who wrote the article. I thanked him for writing a feature about the event, I explained why I appreciated it (I do and I don't appreciate it, honestly, please read on), and I urged him to write a follow up featuring John, Michael, and Doug. I explained how easy the research would be, and sent a link to www.dougjohnmichael.com which was the site that I felt had the most links regarding all 3 guys. I also CC'd the following individuals, and I ask you to do the same:

sesposito at suntimes dot com = writer of said article
cledbetter at suntimes dot com = features editor
aweathersbee at suntimes dot com = deputy features editor
ddouglas at suntimes dot com = deputy features editor
lemerick at suntimes dot com = sunday showcase editor

She gets a feature on the cover of the Sun Times - albeit not necessarily flattering at times - which makes the case more about her and less about the victims. Giant color pictures of the troubled twenty-something and an investigated background of the blond model's life vs. small headshots and duplicated, fragmentary information about the slain (How many times will I reread that Michael just bought a place on the South side? We fucking know already! Johnathan Ben-Ivsy was quoted in the article as saying, "John adorded children". If any of you were at Glick's funeral, you know for a fact that that can't be all that Johnathan was quoted as saying! These men were not valued by snippets.). This type of article, whether it's meant to or not (I would think not, but regardless...), distances the case from the victims and makes it more about "what is the fate of such a girl in our modern, civilized society?". It begs one to look at it as a case study entitled, "This woman could be you (or someone you care about)". Now how would you vote if you are average Joe/Jane America?

I'd like to see a feature about their lives. Would it not be interesting to people? I know that a stripper's life is more curious to our Jerry Springer society, but I certainly think it would. I guess I am biased, but I want the playing field to be even, so to speak. In addition to judicial politics, if you've read as much as I have or knew these guys, they (and their families) undoubtedly deserve it.

Anyway, if you can find the time to write the Sun Times, it would be cool.

Also, BadComrade, I had read through that forum a while back, who did you post as? Strange postings there, no?

I will be at court tomorrow.

Already got a response:

Ryan, your comments are much appreciated. As you can imagine, I've had a
lot of feedback on this story - and a lot of criticism. I think your idea
for a story is a terrific one, and I'll certainly pass it along. I'm
assigned to cover the criminal courts here in Cook County. So usually, and
obviously in this case, I'm assigned to profile criminal defendants.
Thanks again.
Stefano.

Regardless, we should still write to him and the others. Here are some columnists to CC:

rroeper at suntimes dot com
sneed at suntimes dot com
marym at suntimes dot com
zwecker at suntimes dot com

Don't know what they usually write about, just found them on suntimes website.


Thanks

electrons wrote:Already got a response:

yeah, considering how the story could have turned out, i think he did fine

it didn't tell me much that i didn't already know. i mean, one look at her in a bikini and a cowboy hat, and you know she's a stripper. it took a friend of ours literally two seconds to figure that out.

but esposito at least made an effort to mention the guys and give some flavor of what they were like. and his coverage of the court proceedings has been the best of any local paper so far. he seems to pay attention to detail more than the others.

i agree that it's not enough, though. and i agree w/ryan that writing to the papers is a fine idea, if you wish to do so. i think there's a lot more to be said about all of those guys. they were truly great people, and the story's not going to go away as long as there is a pending court case.

not looking forward to court tomorrow, but i'll see you there, rr

tm