posted on May 3, 2004 09:52:45 PM new
Should the police make him watch The Passion again ?
'THE PASSION' UNLEASHED
Repentant viewer still pleads not guilty
Man turned self in after seeing Gibson film, admitted to murder
Though accused murderer Dan Leach turned himself in to Texas authorities after seeing "The Passion of the Christ," today he pleaded not guilty to killing his girlfriend.
According to the Houston Chronicle, the family of victim Ashley Nicole Wilson, 19, were surprised by his plea.
"We were most disappointed this morning," father Dan Wilson told the paper. "He has admitted his guilt. That's what's upsetting to us as a family."
Ashley's mother was equally dismayed.
"I was in shock. I was, like, 'What did he say? Not guilty?"' mother Renee Coulter told reporters after the hearing.
"If he wants to do the right thing then he needs to plead guilty and he needs to get on with it. You know, this is just tearing us apart," she said.
As WorldNetDaily reported, Leach stood in front of his church congregation in early March to confess he had "done something wrong." Without giving details, Leach told the church "he was going to be on a journey for some time, and asked everyone to pray for him for strength," according to Fort Bend County Detective Michael Kubricht.
The detectives said Leach was moved to confess after viewing the Mel Gibson's blockbuster "The Passion of the Christ."
Though Wilson's death was ruled a suicide, two months after the incident, Leach walked into the Fort Bend County's Sheriff's Department and told investigators he'd killed Wilson because she was pregnant with his child and he did not want to have anything to do with her or the baby, the Houston paper reported.
Leach's attorney, Ralph Gonzalez, says his client's not guilty plea was entered to avoid waiving certain rights "at the time." The lawyer claims Leach is sorry about what happened.
Although Leach thought Wilson was pregnant at the time of her death, the Chronicle reports an autopsy showed no evidence she was carrying a child.
Leach, 21, explained why he confessed to authorities in an interview with KTRH radio.
"Being guilty, I knew that I couldn't repent to God for it and be forgiven spiritually without going to the law," he said. "And I believe that it was my responsibility – in order to be saved on the day of judgment – to come forward and make myself subject to it."
Leach is scheduled to go to trial on murder charges in August.
posted on May 4, 2004 05:01:30 AM newThough Wilson's death was ruled a suicide
No, he needs to go to prison for being stupid if nothing else.
AIN'T LIFE GRAND...
It's too bad that their blindness can't see they are killing more soldiers than President Bush ever has... Protest Loud and Proud! Your fellow taliban and insurgents are rejoicing at the support...
posted on May 4, 2004 10:50:01 AM new
I have a feeling that he really didn't commit any murder. He just got "caught up" in all the publicity over the religious ferver of the movie.
