News headlines sad and disturbing

THE EDITOR: Newspaper headlines “Murder/Suicide in Penal” of March 26, 2003 were sad, frightening and shocking. Allow me to comment, a wife is chopped to death and her husband commits suicide.

According to newspaper reports, hours before the man killed himself he was in the presence of Roman Catholic priest Fr Rudy Mohammed seeking help. I was taken aback by the news and words could not express how I felt. When such newspapers headlines are boldly portrayed, what messages do they send to citizens? The family members today must be asking questions such aswhy did he do what he did. Now only the dead couple can account for their actions, the remaining members of the family will now have to try to put the pieces together as to the motive. Again according to newspaper reports, the couple was having domestic problems and the parish priest was only recently informed about the situation, he (the parish priest) did try to intervene but it was too late then.

Was the matter reported earlier to the parish priest, I am sure steps would have been taken to save the marriage. Were family members aware of this volatile situation, and how did they respond? Today I am a disturbed and distraught citizen like so many other citizens, I am outraged by such a news story. As citizens, how do we respond when such news is reported? Violence in our society has increased, and the relevant authorities must act quickly before more such reported cases are left unchecked. Saddened citizen.

KEN   SMITH
Woodbrook