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NJLawman.com
Editorial/Article
Monday, May 2, 3005 1:45 p.m.
NEW JERSEY -
Finally.
It has been thirty-two years since New
Jersey's most wanted fugitive, Joanne Chesimard, executed New Jersey
State Trooper Werner Foerster in cold blood. That was on May 2,
1973.
She
was tried, convicted, and sent to prison.
However, six years later in November of
1979, Chesimard, who now prefers the name Assata Shakur, escaped from
prison with the help of her brethren. Eventually, she made her
way to Cuba where she has been living ever since.
Since 1979 some attempts were made to
bring her back. By far, these efforts fell short and received
little if any follow-up.
However, on May 2, 2005, New Jersey
Attorney General Peter Harvey and New Jersey State Police
Superintendent Rick Fuentes announced a one-million-dollar bounty on
the head of Chesimard.
According to NJ.com, "About a year ago,
Harvey and Fuentes approached Joseph Billy, then Special Agent in
Charge of the FBI's Newark office and now deputy assistant director
for counter-intelligence in Washington, D.C. Billy helped them apply
to the FBI to increase the reward. Harvey and Fuentes presented their
arguments directly to FBI Director Robert Mueller, and U.S. Attorney
General Alberto Gonzales signed the order last Thursday."
"'She is now 120 pounds of money,'
State Police Superintendent Rick Fuentes said. 'It is going to exert
pressures that weren't in place nationally and internationally before.
And we're going to follow up to make sure everybody is aware of this
both inside and outside of Cuba.'"
The report went on to say, "Authorities
know Chesimard is living in Cuba under political asylum. They hope
this new reward will provide more incentive for bounty hunters."
Harvey and Fuentes should be applauded
for not letting this die. Many, kudos to them any anyone else
involved. Finally, a new chapter is opened in this saga, and, perhaps,
some enterprising, adventuresome, person or group will take a little
working vacation after, of course, researching international law and
other related legalities.
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Cuba
Quick Facts
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Area:
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Total:
110,860 sq km
Land: 110,860 sq km
Water: 0 sq km |
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Area - comparative: |
Slightly smaller than Pennsylvania |
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Population: |
11,346,670 (July 2005 est.) |
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Government: |
Communist state |
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Location:
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Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North
Atlantic Ocean, 150 km south of Key West, Fl. |
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How to Travel to Cuba: |
Many laws apply and should be
thoroughly researched. To view a website that arranges
such travel,
click here,
but research the laws. |
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Even if that doesn't happen, Chesimard
will no longer be able to lie on the beach sipping drinks while living
off the royalties of her books.
She will no longer be able to casually
saunter down the streets, take in a movie, or do whatever else people
living on exotic islands do.
In a country where the minimum wage is
eight-dollars and forty-cents a month, this excrement will have to
look over her shoulder for the rest of her life.
Joanne Chesimard, enjoy your new life.
Related
The Story of Joanne Chesimard - By NJLawman.com
Keeping Chesimard's Partner in Prison
Trooper Foerster's Memorial Page
Talk About this Story in our Forum
NJLawman.com
Editorial/Article
Monday, May 2, 3005 1:45 p.m. |
