People are blaming victim for his death

Last week ? praised the people of this community for accepting an accused murderess back into Warren County, pointing out it?s the giving nature of folks around here which makes this a great place to live.

This week won?t be the same because now it?s time to talk about the pettiness of some of the folks who live here, specifically those who are going around blaming a dead man for his own death. It?s one thing to give a woman the benefit of the doubt and let her live her life, prior to trial, in a place she once called home. It?s another to start making up excuses for what caused her to kill her husband in his sleep, especially when these excuses have nothing to do with statements we already know she made to police.

If you will take the time to look at the statements Mary Winkler made to law enforcement you will not find any, and I mean not any, references to any beatings or physical abuse. Instead, the statements that have been made public deal with an argument between the two and her alleged ?blackout? until she heard the blast of the gun.

Yet, we have folks going around this community referring to Matthew Winkler as the worst wife beater since O.J. In fact, if some have their way, Winkler will be the next O.J. as it seems there are a lot of women around here ready to acquit Mary on general principal.

I?ve had more than one person come up and tell me how either they or their daughter was beaten without mercy by a husband or boyfriend and then merge it right into the Winkler case, even though there is no evidence he beat his wife. I?ve had them say they would acquit her in a second if they were on a jury, even though they wouldn?t know Mary Winkler if she did their dry cleaning.

Basically it appears some folks with battered past have chosen Mary Winkler as their vicarious representative, notwithstanding the evidence before us right now. For all these people saying we shouldn?t judge Mary, they sure are quick to judge her late husband without even an allegation, let alone evidence.

In comparing it to O.J. let me point out there?s never been a more guilty person than O.J. Simpson given the evidence against him. However, O.J. became the atonement in some folks? eyes to the wrongful prosecution and harassment of African Americans in the Los Angeles area, therefore there were cheers when a guilty man went free to later sign a contract to pen a book entitled ?If I Did It? rather than outrage.

The same thing seems to be developing in this case as there are women who have battered histories who are ready to let Mary go free before a jury is even seated to make atonement for their abused histories.

Let me put it another way. How would you feel if Matthew Winkler was your son, your brother or close friend and people began branding him as an abusive monster without so much as even his confessed killer?s allegation? The guy was killed in his sleep by being shot in the back by his own wife. This is a fact not in dispute.

Give him some dignity for crying out loud, seeing I?m sure that will all be out the door when the case goes to trial. We?ve allowed Mary Winkler to live here like nothing ever happened, giving her aid and comfort. Don?t we owe the same consideration to allow Matthew Winkler to rest in peace without carving ?wife beater? on his tombstone?

Duane Sherrill is a reporter for the Standard. He can be reached at 473-2191 or by e-mail at [email protected].