Letter: Victim impact statements vital

Thursday, Aug. 21, 2003 | 8:35 a.m.

A drunken driver killed my son Tony in June 1998. It was very difficult to prepare a victim's impact statement. It was such a shock I had trouble putting the loss and pain I felt in writing to be read in open court to a group of strangers and the hit-and-run killer who left my son to die alone.

I am a senior citizen who depended on Tony for companionship and financial help and his knowledge of construction. He had a regular, 50-hour-a-week job but keeping the roof over our heads in good repair was itself practically a full-time job.

In the Las Vegas Sun on Aug. 14, Assistant Public Defender Ralph Baker compared a victim impact statement to a carnival. The dictionary describes carnival as an amusement show, merrymaking, festival, etc. Believe me, Mr. Baker, I did not see happy faces the day I read my statement.

It was the first time I was able to speak to his killer, look into her face, and show her a picture of Tony. He did have a face, a name, a family, a life and children of his own. I knew it would be the last time I could speak on his behalf. The hole in our hearts never heal. Judge Donald Mosley allowed me the right to speak and address the offender. It is the law.

MARGUERITE A. HANEY