Hartford Courant, "Victim's Family Stiffed At Killer's Release Hearing"

A case in Connecticut underscores the need for Marsy's Law to become a U.S. Constitutional Amendment. The state's Psychiatric Security Review Board, which oversees the release of violent mentally ill patients, recently refused to allow the family of a victim, murdered by her husband in a extreme psychotic episode, from speaking before the board through legal counsel. David Messenger, who was committed to a mental institution in 1998 for bludgeoning his pregnant wife to death, is seeking a transfer to a group home in Hartford. Messenger, who is described as narcissistic and highly intelligent and manipulative, bludgeoned his wife, Heather Williamson and her unborn son while Messenger's son, then five years old, watched and begged him to stop. - HTN Foundation

Victim's Family Stiffed At Killer's Release Hearing

By JOHN KLAR

The Hartford Courant

December 4, 2011

The Psychiatric Security Review Board, which oversees the release of violent mentally ill patients in Connecticut, recently demonstrated a bias against citizen awareness and involvement.

David Messenger, who was confined in 1998 for bludgeoning his pregnant wife to death as a result of an extreme psychotic episode, asked the board on Nov. 18 to transfer him to a Hartford group home with eventual release to unsupervised travel for 16 hours daily. The board refused to permit the mayor of Middletown to object at this hearing to Messenger's release. The board also prevented the victim's family from speaking through legal counsel.

I am writing as the attorney for the family in this case, for the rights of other victims and their families and also for the public's safety.