Dear Family, Friends, and Supporters:
Welcome to my Monthly Message for February 2009
It was a great moment in history last month on the 20th of January 2009 when Barack Obama became our 44th President. As many of you did, I watched his inauguration, and then later that night the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball. As impressive as that was, the part of his election that had the most impact on me was after he knew he had won the election on November 4th 2008. Everybody gathered in Chicago waiting to hear his victory speech. He took the stage and after the applause finally subsided, his first words into the microphone were, “In this defining moment, change has come to America”. Of course, the crowd went crazy with applause. I pulled out my note pad and wrote down what he said. I could really feel the sincere power in his statement, and I thought I might want to quote it someday.
This brings me to four days after President Obama was sworn into office. On January 24th, there was an article written about me in The Berkshire Eagle. The title was quite catchy “O’Laughlin May Get Freed Again”. Although it is not entirely accurate because even though I received a “directed verdict” from the Appeals Court (means you are innocent), I never actually stepped outside as a free man. Regardless, I was delighted that the article did not trash me with lies. Usually, anything written about my case always slams me and then leaves the reader with a feeling of, “well, he deserved what he got”. This time was different. Even though there were some incorrect facts in the article, the reader was left with a feeling of “maybe he is innocent?” Another thing about this article that pleased me was the fact that D.A. Capeless decided to lie in his quote when he commented about having discussions with the New England Innocence Project and stating that he had no problem with testing or retesting anything for DNA because he had nothing to hide. Let’s just say that could not be any further from the truth. It did remind me of President Obama’s statement except with a little twist: “In this defining moment, change has come to Berkshire County about O’Laughlin’s guilt”. Yes, I know there will always be people who believe I am guilty, but I truly believe the momentum has shifted. I am still baffled though – it always seems that it is harder for people to believe the truth than to believe a lie. Why is that?
I can’t forget that I owe a great deal of thanks to Dave Pelczarski and Dick Blanchard for making the article happen. Plus, I owe a special thanks to Barbara Cognetta for writing such a beautiful character letter about me to The Berkshire Eagle reporter, Jack Dew. That was a really nice gesture.
On a different note, I have two things to share concerning Mother Nature and all the snow she has been sending this year. First, many of you don’t know how much I love snow and the cold. One of the things I love to do after a snowfall is shovel. I’ve been offering to volunteer with shoveling since last November. They finally put me on the snow shoveling crew. When they saw how much snow I moved, they put me at the top of the list so now I shovel every snowfall. I know this probably sounds crazy to most of you, but I enjoy it very much. Secondly, I read an interesting article in Yankee Magazine about Bentley’s snowflakes. Wilson Alwyn Bentley, at the age of 19 in 1885, was the first person to successfully photograph a single snowflake. Of the more than 5,000 snowflakes he photographed, not one was exactly like any other one. That is pretty cool, and if you are ever in Jericho Village in Vermont, you should check out the Jericho Historical Society where you will be able to see the Wilson Bentley Exhibit with many of his snowflake photographs. The funny thing about me reading that article was the following day on my way to the yard, a snowflake landed on my navy blue hat so I was able to see the intricacy in the pattern of the snowflake. I must say, they really are quite astonishing.
In a quick update on my legal news, I am still waiting for the Federal Court of Appeals decision so please keep me and the judges in your prayers. Thank You! J
Okay, with regard to last month’s message, I apologize once again for venting my frustration about not seeing my children. I am sorry, but I needed to voice my feelings for my own well being. I hope none of you felt that I wished any ill will towards my ex-wife. Even though I do not agree with her actions to withhold my correspondence and gifts from my daughters (which is a violation of the Court Order), I still care about her very much, and she will always hold a special place in my heart. I just hope she finds it in her heart someday to tell the children it is time to reconnect with their father. By the way, if anyone has a picture of my daughters or any information about them, I would be forever grateful if you would send it to me. Thanks again! J
My movie recommendation is: “The Last Samurai” with Tom Cruise. Now I know what you are thinking – Tom Cruise as a Samurai? Please do not cast judgment right away. This film is truly a great movie about integrity and honor. It is one of my all-time favorites and once you see it, you will understand why they choose Tom Cruise for the role.
My profound statement is going to be a profound poem. You need to read it more than once to absorb its true power.
“Outwitted” by Edwin Markham “He drew a circle that shut me out – Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout. But love and I had the wit to win: We drew a circle that took him in.”
I wish everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day. I want to tell all the men who are reading this, try and do something nice for that “special” someone in your life this Valentine’s Day.
Until next month, take care and remember: “The key to the mysteries of life hide in the pain of our most difficult experiences”.
Love and Light to All
Michael
Friday, February 13, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
O'Laughlin May Get Freed Again - Berkshire Eagle article on Michael
The following article appeared on the front page of Saturday's (1/24) Berkshire Eagle.
O'Laughlin May Get Freed Again
By Jack Dew, Berkshire Eagle Staff
Updated: 01/24/2009 10:27:33 AM EST Saturday, January 24
Michael O'Laughlin has been convicted, freed and convicted again for beating a Lee woman nearly to death in 2000. Now, he is hoping to be freed again.
O'Laughlin, formerly of Lee, was convicted in 2002 of beating Annmarie Kotowski with a baseball bat in her apartment. That verdict was overturned by a state appeals court in 2005, which found there was insufficient evidence to support a guilty finding, but then reinstated in 2006 by the Supreme Judicial Court. He is serving a 35- to 50-year sentence in state prison.
O'Laughlin's case has now been taken up by the New England Innocence Project, a nonprofit that seeks to free innocent convicts, largely through retesting biological evidence like blood and hair. And he has filed a separate appeal seeking to overturn the Supreme Judicial Court's decision with a federal court, which heard oral arguments in September and could issue a ruling any day.
Alison Douglass, a Boston attorney with Goodwin Procter and the New England Innocence Project, said the group is still reviewing the case to determine all possible sources of biological material. The next step will be to seek tests on that evidence.
Berkshire District Attorney David F. Capeless said he expects the guilty verdict will be upheld in the federal appeal. Meanwhile, his office is in discussions with the New England Innocence Project.
"I don't expect there will be any difficulty (testing or retesting evidence)," Capeless said. "It really is just a matter of working out the details. There is certainly nothing about this or any other case that we would want to hide."
O'Laughlin's cause has also been taken up by a small group of supporters, who have rallied around a Web site dedicated to his case, www.freemichaelnow.com.
"There was no proof whatsoever, no evidence to substantiate that he was even at the crime scene," said Dick Blanchard, a volunteer who designed the Web site. "There was blood all over (the crime scene) yet there was nothing on him — no fingerprints, handprints, fibers, DNA — nothing. It is just remarkable."
At O'Laughlin's trial, the prosecution acknowledged that its case was built on circumstantial evidence.
Kotowski was attacked in her home at the Fox Hollow apartment complex where O'Laughlin worked and had a master key. He was using crack cocaine that night and had called several dealers for more, but had run out of money.
Capeless argued that O'Laughlin went into Kotowski's apartment to steal money but woke Kotowski, whom he then beat severely with a baseball bat and left.
The attack broke every bone in Kotowski's jaw and face and left her unable to remember that night. Her face and hands were rebuilt in a dozen operations over 18 months, but she was left with permanent nerve damage, little feeling in the left side of her face, and her hearing and eyesight were impaired. Kotowski, who was 49 at the time of the attack, was unable to return to her job as a schoolteacher.
Authorities found a baseball bat in nearby woods that had blood — and O'Laughlin's name — on it. Tests on the blood, however, were inconclusive.
The defense argued that Kotowski's estranged husband, David, had an even stronger motive to kill Kotowski.
The two were childhood sweethearts and had been married for 30 years when, in 1999, David learned his wife was having an affair, the defense said. The couple separated two months before the attack and, five days before the assault, Annmarie began discussing divorce.
Defense attorney Nathaniel Green argued that David had ready access to a baseball bat — indeed, he had once aspired to be a professional baseball player and had a large collection of baseball equipment.
When officers searched the husband's car, they found towels matching those in his wife's apartment, in a plastic bag in the trunk, reeking of bleach. The police, however, had treated the husband as a suspect but cleared him.
O'Laughlin maintained his innocence after the guilty verdict. At his sentencing, he spoke directly to Kotowski, saying, "I did not do this to you, and I do not know who did this to you. ... Someday it will come out and it will be clear who did this."
To reach Jack Dew: jdew@berkshireeagle.com (413) 496-6241
O'Laughlin May Get Freed Again
By Jack Dew, Berkshire Eagle Staff
Updated: 01/24/2009 10:27:33 AM EST Saturday, January 24
Michael O'Laughlin has been convicted, freed and convicted again for beating a Lee woman nearly to death in 2000. Now, he is hoping to be freed again.
O'Laughlin, formerly of Lee, was convicted in 2002 of beating Annmarie Kotowski with a baseball bat in her apartment. That verdict was overturned by a state appeals court in 2005, which found there was insufficient evidence to support a guilty finding, but then reinstated in 2006 by the Supreme Judicial Court. He is serving a 35- to 50-year sentence in state prison.
O'Laughlin's case has now been taken up by the New England Innocence Project, a nonprofit that seeks to free innocent convicts, largely through retesting biological evidence like blood and hair. And he has filed a separate appeal seeking to overturn the Supreme Judicial Court's decision with a federal court, which heard oral arguments in September and could issue a ruling any day.
Alison Douglass, a Boston attorney with Goodwin Procter and the New England Innocence Project, said the group is still reviewing the case to determine all possible sources of biological material. The next step will be to seek tests on that evidence.
Berkshire District Attorney David F. Capeless said he expects the guilty verdict will be upheld in the federal appeal. Meanwhile, his office is in discussions with the New England Innocence Project.
"I don't expect there will be any difficulty (testing or retesting evidence)," Capeless said. "It really is just a matter of working out the details. There is certainly nothing about this or any other case that we would want to hide."
O'Laughlin's cause has also been taken up by a small group of supporters, who have rallied around a Web site dedicated to his case, www.freemichaelnow.com.
"There was no proof whatsoever, no evidence to substantiate that he was even at the crime scene," said Dick Blanchard, a volunteer who designed the Web site. "There was blood all over (the crime scene) yet there was nothing on him — no fingerprints, handprints, fibers, DNA — nothing. It is just remarkable."
At O'Laughlin's trial, the prosecution acknowledged that its case was built on circumstantial evidence.
Kotowski was attacked in her home at the Fox Hollow apartment complex where O'Laughlin worked and had a master key. He was using crack cocaine that night and had called several dealers for more, but had run out of money.
Capeless argued that O'Laughlin went into Kotowski's apartment to steal money but woke Kotowski, whom he then beat severely with a baseball bat and left.
The attack broke every bone in Kotowski's jaw and face and left her unable to remember that night. Her face and hands were rebuilt in a dozen operations over 18 months, but she was left with permanent nerve damage, little feeling in the left side of her face, and her hearing and eyesight were impaired. Kotowski, who was 49 at the time of the attack, was unable to return to her job as a schoolteacher.
Authorities found a baseball bat in nearby woods that had blood — and O'Laughlin's name — on it. Tests on the blood, however, were inconclusive.
The defense argued that Kotowski's estranged husband, David, had an even stronger motive to kill Kotowski.
The two were childhood sweethearts and had been married for 30 years when, in 1999, David learned his wife was having an affair, the defense said. The couple separated two months before the attack and, five days before the assault, Annmarie began discussing divorce.
Defense attorney Nathaniel Green argued that David had ready access to a baseball bat — indeed, he had once aspired to be a professional baseball player and had a large collection of baseball equipment.
When officers searched the husband's car, they found towels matching those in his wife's apartment, in a plastic bag in the trunk, reeking of bleach. The police, however, had treated the husband as a suspect but cleared him.
O'Laughlin maintained his innocence after the guilty verdict. At his sentencing, he spoke directly to Kotowski, saying, "I did not do this to you, and I do not know who did this to you. ... Someday it will come out and it will be clear who did this."
To reach Jack Dew: jdew@berkshireeagle.com (413) 496-6241
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