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Kathi's thoughts

by KathiH from Florida

Last Post 45 days, 2 hours Ago


With liberty and justice for all???
Feb 14, 2007 | 5:35 PM
Category: News
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Matthew Lewis died on November 17, 2002 as the result of a vicious beating at the hands and feet (punches, kicks  and stomps) of Ryan Racine and Jeremey Vincent Ray.  You see Matt attempted to diffuse an altercation that took place over spilled beer and the refusal for one person to apologize to another.  While losing Matt was devastating to all who knew him, I can not imagine what his parents, Bob and Cathy went through.

Over 4 years later a trial started.  Both Ryan Racine and Jeremey Vincent Ray pled NOT GUILTY.  While they were both VERY GUILTY as shown on a video taken at the party, their attorneys had them enter not guilty pleas.  I am thankful that the men and women who sat on the jury were wise and saw through the smoke screen that the defense tried to create.  They found both Ryan Racine and Jeremey Vincent Ray guilty on all counts.  Sadly, since it couldn't be proven which of these two losers actually threw the punch, kick or stomp that killed Matt they were only charged with misdemeanor battery!  In fact, the prosecutor wasn't even permitted to tell the jury that Matt died as a result of the beating, he was only able to mention that Matt was deceased.  Thankfully again, the jurors were wise enough to put things together.

On the last day of the trial Jeremey Vincent Ray was even more cowardly than the day he killed Matt (who was nearly half Ray's size) by not even showing up in court.  A capias was issued and followed by a warrant, to date he still has not been located.  Both defense attorneys asked for minimal sentencing as both defendants were remorseful.  I wonder if they were so remorseful, why didn't they plead GUILTY and spare Matt's loved ones the agony of waiting over 4 years for a trial.  A tearful plea by Ryan Racine for forgiveness fell on angry and sad ears as we listened to him speak.  As far as we know Matt's last words were, "Please stop hitting me!".

I saw first hand how our justice system is anything but justice!  There was no truth coming from the defense side as they tried to manuever around witness testimony and video evidence.  Lady JUSTICE is simply a puppet controlled by attorneys who manipulate facts and twist evidence.  I felt guilty pleasure as I watched Ryan Racine leave the courtroom in shackles.  At the same time my heart broke for the lives ruined by this senseless act of violence.

I would like to file an appeal on behalf of Matt Lewis - a death sentence is far too harsh for simply trying to stop a fight. 

I love you Matt!  Love - Aunt Kathi

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Member Comments Total Comments: 7
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JDAATPN207
Jan 22, 2008 | 1:17 PM

KathiH,

As an attorney in the Tampa Bay area who is familiar with Judge Conrad's repuation, I am very interested in this dicussion. Although you deleted your posts accusing Judge John N. Conrad of being crooked in addition to calling him and the Public Defender's Office rats, the act of deletion does not remedy the slanderous comments you publihed regarding Judge Conrad's charcter. In addition, although you have deleted your original posts, both of them are still available on the internet. Since you are unaware of the severity of your comments regarding Judge Conrad's character, specifically equating him to a "crooked defense attorney" and your pledge to do "anything you can" to stop his re-election you have committed slander per se. Slander is a published defamatory statement and slander per se is a statement which imputes conduct that would adversely affect one's business or profession. Any malicious comment attacking the veracity of a judge and attacking his re-election campaign is clearly affecting his profession which is therefore slander.

It is understandable that you are upset and it is commendable that you took down the posts; however, the only way to correct your slanderous comments is to publically retract your statements and to apologize to Judge John N. Conrad. I see that you have acknowledged that you did not have all the facts regarding Judge Conrad's involvement in the case in a response to another blog; however, that does not excuse your misstatements regarding his character as a Judge.

A judge can only make a determination on matters set
JDAATPN207
Jan 22, 2008 | 1:18 PM

A judge can only make a determination on matters set in motion in front of him. If you are angry at the outcome, it is understandable, because you and your family suffered a great loss by losing your nephew. However, that anger should only be placed on those who did the crime. In addition, the State Attorny's Office can only charge for a crime that they have the evidence to prove and a Judge and jury can only make a determination as to guilt on the crime charged or a lesser crime available.

Once again, I am very sorry for the loss of your nephew, but innocent bystanders such as Judge Conrad should not be publically defamed because they had a small involvement in something slightly related to the underlying crimminal charges.
billybob2008
Jan 22, 2008 | 7:37 PM

Racine is a murder. He comes from money. Do the math. Witness were probably paid off. He and his friend beat someone to the ground and kicked and stomped on him and when he died they fled the seen and didn't even try to save him. It's clear as glass that they caused his death. Anyone connected with this case who failed to bring any charges expect murder is a crime itself. BLEEP do you think is going to happen when 2 people beat the BLEEP out of someone. Can't wait till Racine get's what he's got coming.
KathiH read my blog view my photos
Jan 23, 2008 | 1:18 PM

JDAATPN207 - thank you for your response, but please do not assume that by deleting my posts that I have changed my opinion of Judge Conrad. I DO acknowledge that some of the information that I rec'd (from his assistant Danielle) may not have been entirely accurate I was told that Judge Conrad was borderline arrogant during the proceedings and made it perfactly clear that he didn't care to know what the facts of the "battery" case were. I believe that had Judge Conrad been informed that a death resulted from the beating Jeremey Vincent Ray and Ryan Racine gave to Matt Lewis he would have then understood why the SAO was insistent that Ray and Racine both serve all of their time with no time off, including the extra time that Ray was given for his disappearing act. Judge Conrad had no interest in hearing some (in my opinion) some very crucial evidence. Do I think Judge Conrad is always like that? Who knows? I can only base my feelings on my experience and that is one that tells me that Judge Conrad didn't have the best interest of the truth in his heart that day, atleast. I have no plans to issue any apologies to Judge Conrad. I am somewhat happy to hear that he does have a few supporters out there, so perhaps the real truth lies somewhere in between. Please remember that the information I used to form my opinion was largely obtained from Judge Conrad's office and the SAO so I am certainly not making things up here. Again, thanks for your comments and your passion.
KathiH read my blog view my photos
Jan 23, 2008 | 1:32 PM

Billybob2008 - You seem to be fairly familiar with this case! Though I don't plan to send Ryan Racine any Christmas cards, I do respect that he showed up in court, told the truth (atleast what his lawyer would allow him to) and stood to take his punishment. Money or no money he was held accountable, somewhat. He stood and looked Matt's Mom and Dad in the face and apologized, saying that had the cicumstances been different he and Matt would have probably been friends. Jeremey Vincent Ray on the other hand ditched the remaining proceedings and was awol for sometime. THAT earned him extra time which for some reason he didn't have to serve. Only Judge Conrad knows the reasoning behind his decision to not have Jeremey serve the time he was given for going awol. It is a shame that battery charges were all that could stick to these guys. I certainly thought with the video tape and subsequent audio confession about "beating the (expletive) out of that kid" would have allowed more serious charges. Our judicial system is less than perfect, which is why I encourage people to get out and vote, SERVE JURY DUTY, that in itself is an honor tht should be respected. If the system is to be repaired it will be up to each of us to grab a hammer and roll up our sleeves! Thanks again for your remarks.
justme84
Jan 31, 2008 | 5:57 PM

I have not seen the video but have read a part of a transcript of said video and although I know I should not believe EVERYTHING on the internet even if it was written in news articles but I can't help but wonder why if neither of Racine nor Ray were the ones who made the 'audio confession' of "beating the **** out of that kid" why is it the one who did was not charged as well. OK. That was my run on sentence for the day.
KathiH read my blog view my photos
Feb 1, 2008 | 10:45 AM

Justme84 - I don't understand a lot of the legalities around this case, sad since you would think that the facts would bear out the truth. There was sooo much wrangling by the attornies that the truth somehow became secondary. After so much time passed I cannot recall who they said the voice belonged to. The only thing I can be fairly certain of is that the Judge in the case, I believe his name was Judge Barber (though I am not at all certain of that) did the best he could to contain the 3 ring circus! Jeremey Vincent Ray really gave his attorney a run for his money. I actually felt bad for the attorney when he couldn't account for his clients whereabouts on the final day in court, as the coward Ray ran off and was awol for quite some time. Citizens should make themselves more aware of the chess game our courts have become. Attornies trying to out maneuver each other with the truth, again, becoming secondary. I have served on a jury 5 times so I have seen this first hand from a couple of different points of view. I think that perhaps I have out run your run on sentence! LOL
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KathiH

I have been married since 8/8/81 and have two daughters. I LOVE sports, especially baseball! I enjoy spending time at the beach taking photos of our beautiful sunsets.

Member Since: 2/13/2007


 

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