Community Chat

[lovesrecess]

I remember when it happened because my daughter was born that day. I was in the hospital and the tv in my room was on...and of course nothing but nonstop coverage of the kidnapping. At first I didn't believe her story, but after watching the whole thing unfold I changed my opinion. I don't think anyone will ever know the truth about the entire thing except for her. 

[Cakers3]

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@Oznell wrote:

Good question about the prison time, @chickenbutt .  She did serve time for the robbery.  I hope I'm remembering right, but I think in an online interview she did with Larry King, she was quite indignant that none of the other surviving robbery participants went to jail for it.

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@Oznell   If I remember correctly she served 22 months and then Pres. Carter commuted her sentence.  She regained her civil rights on Pres Clinton's last day in office.

Interesting that the original Judge Carter had a close professional relationship with  one of the prosecutors.  This judge sentenced her to 35 years but subsequently passed away.  The new judge reduced the sentence to 7 years.

Her defense also did not present the issues of kidnapping, torture, rape, etc. F.Lee Bailey was not the best defense lawyer.

I believe Patty was convicted not on her participation (whether coerced or not) but convicted on the perception of a rich spoiled child.  I believe the jurors based her involvement on their own disdain of the person, not the facts.

Also her appeal for release was vehemently opposed by...........Robert Mueller.

The 1970's was not a tranquil era-there had been several bombings in the early decade and civil unrest.  Her case was not unique to the atmosphere of the time.

It was just that her case was the start of more coverage (mini-cams in the LA incident) and that film was broadcast across the nation.  It was the beginning of live broadcasting and expanding news stations-we had 3 at the time.  Even Good Morning America was not yet on the air.

Whether Patty was truly a victim, suffering from Stockholm Syndrome, can be debated forever.

One aspect of this whole situation is the denial that she was raped-simply because the female members of the SLA were "feminists" and would not have allowed rape to happen. 

There is so much to the Patty Hearst story and I do believe, despite some of the twists in her story, she should not have been convicted.

A judge with a professional friendship with the prosecution, F. Lee Bailey who failed to drive home the issue of kidnapping, rape, coercion, etc., the tumultous times, the (my opinion) jury looking at a rich spoiled girl during these times of civil unrest and bombings without many trials and convictions-all of it adds up to doubt and most likely making Patty Hearst an example of all that was going wrong at the time.

Wendy Yosumira (sp) and Willie Brandt did serve time for robbery and murder but have been released.

Interesting that some did not believe in her kidnapping yet Bill Harris was convicted of that exact crime-and spent some time in jail for kidnapping Patty.

[Oznell]

Wow, excellent mastery of the facts of the case, and informed opinions and conclusions, @Cakers3 !   In my 'umble opinion,  I think that your comments come closest to the probable real situation.  I did not know about that compromising judge relationship with prosecution, interesting.

You're so right, the perception of Patty Hearst as the spoiled heiress had to have been a big factor, it was so ubiquitous and persistent at the time.  

One fascinating little bit of trivia I only learned recently:  after the Jonestone massacre event, John Wayne (interestingly enough) spoke up in defense of Patty Hearst, saying that people accepted that Jim Jones could "brainwash" all the people at Jonestown, resulting in their deaths, yet few would concede that a teenage girl, subjected to the Symbionese Liberation Army, could also have been so influenced.... 

[AuntG]

She was older than me, so I concluded she was a rich and spoiled young woman. As a fifteen year old, I felt I had more common sense than she did. I now don't judge her as hashly because twenty year olds seem like kids to me.

[SeaMaiden]

I remember it.  I found her to be guilty as charged. 

[Cakers3]

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@Oznell wrote:

Wow, excellent mastery of the facts of the case, and informed opinions and conclusions, @Cakers3 !   In my 'umble opinion,  I think that your comments come closest to the probable real situation.  I did not know about that compromising judge relationship with prosecution, interesting.

You're so right, the perception of Patty Hearst as the spoiled heiress had to have been a big factor, it was so ubiquitous and persistent at the time.  

One fascinating little bit of trivia I only learned recently:  after the Jonestone massacre event, John Wayne (interestingly enough) spoke up in defense of Patty Hearst, saying that people accepted that Jim Jones could "brainwash" all the people at Jonestown, resulting in their deaths, yet few would concede that a teenage girl, subjected to the Symbionese Liberation Army, could also have been so influenced.... 

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@Oznell   I didn't know about John Wayne's comment.  He really made an excellent point.

The 70's were not all about disco dancing.  People equate the 60's with all the protests civil unrest but the 70's had a tremendous share of bombings (2500 in the first two years if memory serves me right).

The WeatherUnderground, SLA, and others-people read about it but we didn't have the 24/7 coverage.

The mini-cam in LA with the SLA incident started the exposure beyond the 6 o'clock news.

People wanted accountability and Patty Hearst was a start, right or wrong.