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Another Editorial
Rapist treated better than burglar (Printed in Star Bulletin 1/31/07)Once again I question our justice system. I saw on the news the parole hearing of John Freudenburg, the "Manoa rapist" who terrorized the community with a string of crimes consisting of rape, sodomy and burglary, and who also confessed to these crimes (Star-Bulletin, Jan. 26).
My brother Shaun Rodrigues is serving a 12 out of 20-year sentence for a home invasion robbery he did not commit.
My question is: Who decides which inmates are more of a threat to others, e.g. the public or the parole board? I watched as this man was led into the parole hearing room uncuffed. Yet my brother had to sit there shackled and handcuffed as if he were a physical threat to the members of the board and anyone within his reach. He did not commit the crime he was convicted of, yet was made to look as though he was some kind of animal that needed to be restrained. Yet Mr. Freudenburg came in to his hearing with some sense of freedom, at least more of that feeling, than Shaun did.
Again I am left baffled.
Kelly H. Rodrigues
Honolulu
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