| SCantu's autopsy report sealed to avoid 'public outrage' - |
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LovelyPigeon
 Posted:
Sat Apr 25, 2009 8:18 pm |
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SCantu's autopsy report sealed to avoid 'public outrage'
Sandra Cantu's autopsy report will be sealed to avoid 'public outrage'
By Mike Martinez
Bay Area News Group
Posted: 04/24/2009
The judge in the Sandra Cantu murder case agreed to seal her autopsy report Friday, saying if the results were released, there would be "public outrage."
"We haven't seen anything like this in San Joaquin County," Superior Court Judge Linda L. Loftus said. "A lot of courts have never seen this kind of case."
Both prosecution and defense attorneys were in favor of sealing the report.
"In the interest of a fair trial, for both sides in this case, that is the only option," Loftus said. "There would be overriding prejudice if the record is unsealed."
She said there would be a great amount of "public outrage" if the results were released and it would also be an invasion of privacy into the lives of Sandra's family. She said the rape and murder of a child is viewed by the public as a "heinous crime." --->>
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12222218?source=most_viewed
Does that mean that the autopsy revealed the object used in the rape?
Or would the outrage result because of lack of evidence found at autopsy regarding rape with an object?
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Joined: 27 Nov 2007
Posts: 3669
Location: Paducah, KY
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| woebedamned
Posted:
Sat Apr 25, 2009 8:23 pm |
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Re: SCantu's autopsy report sealed to avoid 'public outrage'
| LovelyPigeon wrote: | Sandra Cantu's autopsy report will be sealed to avoid 'public outrage'
By Mike Martinez
Bay Area News Group
Posted: 04/24/2009
The judge in the Sandra Cantu murder case agreed to seal her autopsy report Friday, saying if the results were released, there would be "public outrage."
"We haven't seen anything like this in San Joaquin County," Superior Court Judge Linda L. Loftus said. "A lot of courts have never seen this kind of case."
Both prosecution and defense attorneys were in favor of sealing the report.
"In the interest of a fair trial, for both sides in this case, that is the only option," Loftus said. "There would be overriding prejudice if the record is unsealed."
She said there would be a great amount of "public outrage" if the results were released and it would also be an invasion of privacy into the lives of Sandra's family. She said the rape and murder of a child is viewed by the public as a "heinous crime." --->>
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12222218?source=most_viewed
Does that mean that the autopsy revealed the object used in the rape?
Or would the outrage result because of lack of evidence found at autopsy regarding rape with an object? |
I assume she is saying there is evidence of rape. I also assume it more than likely reveals what the ME feels was used to perform the rape.
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Damn it All!!!!
Joined: 15 Aug 2006
Posts: 9386
Location: Not one of the "Cool Kids" AKA "Nut Case"
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| LovelyPigeon
Posted:
Sat Apr 25, 2009 9:10 pm |
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Re: SCantu's autopsy report sealed to avoid 'public outrage'
| woebedamned wrote: |
I assume she is saying there is evidence of rape. I also assume it more than likely reveals what the ME feels was used to perform the rape. |
That seems most likely to me, too, but I am intrigued by the other possibility.
Also, "public outrage" doesn't seem to me as something to be avoided concerning the death of a child. Whatever the autopsy revealed, the public has a right to know, and it will come out at trial, anyway.
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Joined: 27 Nov 2007
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Location: Paducah, KY
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| woebedamned
Posted:
Sat Apr 25, 2009 9:24 pm |
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Re: SCantu's autopsy report sealed to avoid 'public outrage'
| LovelyPigeon wrote: |
That seems most likely to me, too, but I am intrigued by the other possibility.
Also, "public outrage" doesn't seem to me as something to be avoided concerning the death of a child. Whatever the autopsy revealed, the public has a right to know, and it will come out at trial, anyway. |
Well, there are often cases where things are sealed, and or gag orders are put into place. IMO it really isnt denying the public anything, since, as you said, it will come out at trial. I think we sometimes forget that the courts job is to ensure a fair trial, not provide the public with something to fume about.
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Damn it All!!!!
Joined: 15 Aug 2006
Posts: 9386
Location: Not one of the "Cool Kids" AKA "Nut Case"
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| apodixis
Posted:
Sat Apr 25, 2009 10:19 pm |
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Re: SCantu's autopsy report sealed to avoid 'public outrage'
| LovelyPigeon wrote: |
That seems most likely to me, too, but I am intrigued by the other possibility.
Also, "public outrage" doesn't seem to me as something to be avoided concerning the death of a child. Whatever the autopsy revealed, the public has a right to know, and it will come out at trial, anyway. |
Exactly.
The primary function of the criminal justice system is supposed to be to to secure public safety.
And to do that trials have to make the public aware of what is behind crimes. In too many cases people say they can't believe a person could do that - when there are clues that become obvious in retrospect.
There was an interesting edition of LKL, hosted by Dr. Drew Pinsky on April 24, that looked at various murders with Dr. Michael Welner, a forensic psychiatrist; Dr. Robi Ludwig, a psychotherapist; Dr. Martha Stout, author; Dr. Daniel Amen, a psychiatrist and brain imaging specialist; and Pat Brown, a criminal profiler.
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0904/24/lkl.01.html
Secret, non-public trials are the mark of dictatorships, not democracies.
Whenever government says it is not releasing information, consider that it is trying to cover up something embarassing to the govt.
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Joined: 06 Aug 2006
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Location: State of Jefferson, Ecotopia
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| SavannahStar
Posted:
Sun Apr 26, 2009 12:51 am |
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Re: SCantu's autopsy report sealed to avoid 'public outrage'
| woebedamned wrote: |
I assume she is saying there is evidence of rape. I also assume it more than likely reveals what the ME feels was used to perform the rape. |
I believe there is a possibility that the object was still inside the girl when found, OR was in the suitcase with her.
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**SuperStar**
Joined: 24 Mar 2006
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Location: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
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| SavannahStar
Posted:
Sun Apr 26, 2009 12:52 am |
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Re: SCantu's autopsy report sealed to avoid 'public outrage'
| woebedamned wrote: |
Well, there are often cases where things are sealed, and or gag orders are put into place. IMO it really isnt denying the public anything, since, as you said, it will come out at trial. I think we sometimes forget that the courts job is to ensure a fair trial, not provide the public with something to fume about. |
BINGO!!!!!!!!!
"not provide the public with something to fume about"....love it.....  couldn't help but think of FL and our wonderful Sunshine Laws and the Caylee case.
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**SuperStar**
Joined: 24 Mar 2006
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Location: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
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| Ber
Posted:
Sun Apr 26, 2009 8:40 pm |
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Re: SCantu's autopsy report sealed to avoid 'public outrage'
| SavannahStar wrote: |
I believe there is a possibility that the object was still inside the girl when found, OR was in the suitcase with her. |
Disgusting...my mind would never even go there. I want to go throw up now. 
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Joined: 06 Apr 2006
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| LovelyPigeon
Posted:
Mon Apr 27, 2009 12:10 am |
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I'm all in favor of Sunshine Laws. I think the founding fathers of the US Constitution were in favor of government in the sunshine: making evidence against accused criminals open and transparent so the gov't doesn't take advantage of suspects by cause of the power of gov't.
The public and the defense should be made aware of all evidence and all implied evidence that the state (and/or federal) gov't has to prosecute each and every individual accused of crime/s.
It's one thing to say that all will come out at trial and another that the general public will have access to all that comes out at trial. Courtrooms are limited in size and only a limited number of citizens can observe firsthand what transpires during a trial.
Even when media is given access to trial the evidence is filtered by reporters' access and their interpretation of what's presented by prosecution and countered by defense. The result is a second-hand (at best) rendition of the courtroom drama presented in edited presentation in soundbites on the broadcast media or print editions next day.
Actual transcripts of a trial are rarely available to the general public, and even then on a delayed basis.
I think it's a misnomer that the general public should expect to remain ignorant of disturbing trial details and/or access to transcripts if not broadcast video coverage.
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Joined: 27 Nov 2007
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Location: Paducah, KY
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| LovelyPigeon
Posted:
Mon Apr 27, 2009 12:20 am |
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Re: SCantu's autopsy report sealed to avoid 'public outrage'
| Ber wrote: |
Disgusting...my mind would never even go there. I want to go throw up now. |
And I think you have the right not to even go there.
You can avoid reading, listening, or watching media coverage and/or legal information releases about crimes, just by your choice.
There are details about crimes that happen every day in the U.S. that are just so horrendous and gross that many or most people want to avoid knowing or thinking about them. (But in this age of instanteous information you aren't likely to avoid it on crime discussion forums.)
Sworn jurors don't have that option, though. They are legally responsible for hearing, seeing, and learning all that is presented to them about a crime so that they can make an informed and responsible decision concerning guilt/innocence and/or punishment based on the evidence given to them in a court of law.
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Joined: 27 Nov 2007
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Location: Paducah, KY
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| Ber
Posted:
Mon Apr 27, 2009 11:06 am |
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LP, when I made that statment, it wasn't directed at anyone or meant disrespectuflly. I wanted this forum. I want to find out what is behind the mind of someone like Melissa Huckaby...I am just shocked by what I am hearing...beyond belief and I guess I was saying that I just don't think like that...I don't quite understand how anyone can.
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| LovelyPigeon
Posted:
Mon Apr 27, 2009 12:45 pm |
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Ber, I wasn't being critical of you. Thank God you don't think like that!
It is shocking to find out what humans do to other humans, what some people are capable of doing. In most cases the general public isn't given all information about a crime, and in the cases where the most horrid of details do become publicly known, there are some people who have to choose not to become aware of them. It's just too disturbing for many to handle.
I just appreciate that people can choose to learn as much as they want to, or as little. I don't think that the possibility of 'public outrage' is a legal reason to withhold information. I'm surely as opposed to lynch mobs as I am to keeping secrets.
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Joined: 27 Nov 2007
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Location: Paducah, KY
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| Ber
Posted:
Mon Apr 27, 2009 9:56 pm |
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| LovelyPigeon wrote: | Ber, I wasn't being critical of you. Thank God you don't think like that!
It is shocking to find out what humans do to other humans, what some people are capable of doing. In most cases the general public isn't given all information about a crime, and in the cases where the most horrid of details do become publicly known, there are some people who have to choose not to become aware of them. It's just too disturbing for many to handle.
I just appreciate that people can choose to learn as much as they want to, or as little. I don't think that the possibility of 'public outrage' is a legal reason to withhold information. I'm surely as opposed to lynch mobs as I am to keeping secrets. |
Phew. I thought I was getting slapped on the wrist for saying that I couldn't think like that.  I agree with you though.
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Joined: 06 Apr 2006
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| LovelyPigeon
Posted:
Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:08 pm |
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Sorry, Ber, that my post made you think I was slapping your innocent wrists!
If this case goes to trial rather than to a plea agreement and sentencing we won't get the entire story unless someone from this forum arranges to pay for transcripts from the court reporter/s.
We'll have to settle for what reporters who actually attend trial write, and that writing will be filtered by their newsmedia's standards. What's medically and forensically graphic will be relayed to us in toned-down description.
Due to space limitations, editing will scale down what witnesses present for the prosecution and the defense.
Oh! how I prefer the freedom of information that comes from Florida's Sunshine Laws when crimes are committed in that fair state!
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Joined: 27 Nov 2007
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Location: Paducah, KY
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| minitess
Posted:
Wed May 13, 2009 11:40 am |
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thanks LP for this news article.
Tracy, CALIFORNIA (BNO NEWS) – Shocking new details about the way 8-year-old Sandra Cantu from Tracy, California died in March emerged on Sunday, a case that grabbed national headlines.
28-year-old Melissa Huckaby is suspected of murdering the young girl, but has also been charged with kidnapping and rape. Her body was found inside a suitcase in an irrigation pond but officials are no longer releasing information on the case because of a gag order. But new details emerged on Sunday, claiming Huckaby raped Sandra with a screwdriver before she died, a source told BNO News. The source said the information is not expected to be released until after the trial.
The source told BNO News that Sandra Cantu’s father, Danny Cantu, has said the Clover Road Baptist Church, where Huckaby’s grandfather is the pastor, is actually a cult with 13 members. Danny also said, according to the source, that he did not kill Sandra and that he would take a lie detector test to prove it.
Danny said he had connections “due to his past” and that the person who killed his daughter “would be taken care of.” He further said the pastor of the church had nothing to do with the girl’s murder and that Sandra’s DNA was found on a cot at the church.
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world/shocking-new-details-emerge-from-sandra-cantu-case_100190783.html
+++++++
I would imagine that info about the screw driver is what led to the autopsy re port being sealed.
Dear Lord!!!!  
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| Hannie
Posted:
Wed May 13, 2009 12:11 pm |
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Oh sheesh.....  If this is true I can imagine they kept it sealed to avoid public outrage. But I wonder what this article will do to people reading it...
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li'l Shango's Mommy
Joined: 23 Mar 2006
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Location: The Hague, The Netherlands
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| pax
Posted:
Wed May 13, 2009 4:15 pm |
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Thanks minitess. Words cannot express the sorrow.
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| chance
Posted:
Wed May 13, 2009 8:25 pm |
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| Hannie wrote: | | Oh sheesh..... If this is true I can imagine they kept it sealed to avoid public outrage. But I wonder what this article will do to people reading it... |
Well I have a feeling it will double her death threats. What a mess.
The Cantu family is going through a nightmare they probably feel as though it will never end. I can't imagine how people deal with things like this. I heart goes out to them.
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| jacqueline
Posted:
Thu May 14, 2009 3:46 am |
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This is so sad and terrible a 13 member cult within a church what is this world coming to. I cannot imagine what this poor girl must of gone through, poor child.
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"Petit Chou"
Joined: 23 Mar 2006
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| Ber
Posted:
Thu May 14, 2009 7:55 am |
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Dear God. How sickening. How tragic. How horrific. How traumatic. ... none of that even remotely suffices to express what I want to say. There are no right words. God is now wrapping his loving arms around Sandra and protecting her from ever hurting again. I can take peace in that much.
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| Schmerty
Posted:
Thu May 14, 2009 5:12 pm |
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This is awful,beyond belief!
Of all the things that people need to do,to love and care for our precious little ones,this MONSTER chose this EVIL!
I feel so helpless,between wanting to help the family of Sandra & wanting to stay as far away as possible from the cult & gangs. God,please let them know so many love & feel for them in their sorrow.
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Skipping along my own path.
Joined: 24 Mar 2006
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| ~kaRN
Posted:
Thu Jun 25, 2009 6:40 pm |
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Re: SCantu's autopsy report sealed to avoid 'public outrage'
| LovelyPigeon wrote: | Sandra Cantu's autopsy report will be sealed to avoid 'public outrage'
By Mike Martinez
Bay Area News Group
Posted: 04/24/2009
The judge in the Sandra Cantu murder case agreed to seal her autopsy report Friday, saying if the results were released, there would be "public outrage."
"We haven't seen anything like this in San Joaquin County," Superior Court Judge Linda L. Loftus said. "A lot of courts have never seen this kind of case."
Both prosecution and defense attorneys were in favor of sealing the report.
"In the interest of a fair trial, for both sides in this case, that is the only option," Loftus said. "There would be overriding prejudice if the record is unsealed."
She said there would be a great amount of "public outrage" if the results were released and it would also be an invasion of privacy into the lives of Sandra's family. She said the rape and murder of a child is viewed by the public as a "heinous crime." --->>
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12222218?source=most_viewed
Does that mean that the autopsy revealed the object used in the rape?
Or would the outrage result because of lack of evidence found at autopsy regarding rape with an object? |
I'm thinking the former rather than the later LP. The autopsy probably reveals the object used and the extent of the damage done to her tiny body. If the autopsy was inconclusive, the defense wouldn't be on board with keeping it sealed. JMO
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| victims cry
Posted:
Fri Jun 26, 2009 3:34 am |
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| LovelyPigeon wrote: | I'm all in favor of Sunshine Laws. I think the founding fathers of the US Constitution were in favor of government in the sunshine: making evidence against accused criminals open and transparent so the gov't doesn't take advantage of suspects by cause of the power of gov't.
The public and the defense should be made aware of all evidence and all implied evidence that the state (and/or federal) gov't has to prosecute each and every individual accused of crime/s.
It's one thing to say that all will come out at trial and another that the general public will have access to all that comes out at trial. Courtrooms are limited in size and only a limited number of citizens can observe firsthand what transpires during a trial.
Even when media is given access to trial the evidence is filtered by reporters' access and their interpretation of what's presented by prosecution and countered by defense. The result is a second-hand (at best) rendition of the courtroom drama presented in edited presentation in soundbites on the broadcast media or print editions next day.
Actual transcripts of a trial are rarely available to the general public, and even then on a delayed basis.
I think it's a misnomer that the general public should expect to remain ignorant of disturbing trial details and/or access to transcripts if not broadcast video coverage. |
I was just reminded of this with MJ's death. A number of us here were on the not guilty group at ctv following his trial daily, watching court tv, nancy grace, greta and all the shows.
However a poster had paid for the daily court reporter transcripts of the trial and pm'd them to every single one of us in the NG group. It was APPALLING the difference between what actuallty occurred at the trial and what the media was reporting. It was almost laughable, Diane Diamond or Nancy Grace would spew some info on what happened "outraging" and hyping up the guilties, and we came right back with the verbatim transcriptions which showed they either outright lied, omitted or turned the facts on their head. We were an awfully strong group, in the minority but imo we totally overwhelmed the guilties with facts and many came to admit the case was at the least not proven.
It is one reason i never ever trust the media any longer in terms of "what happened" in court or out, especially the supposed investigative reporters who are "credible" and or anchors. IIRC the only reporter who actually gave real facts was Linda Deutsch of the AP.
So i would prefer the autopsy report be released and as many actual concrete facts be available rather than the leaks. Especially if they close the trial to all but reporters.
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On Vacation!
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