Wright Has No Friends?
Next - and less obvious - are the friends and family of Daphne. So far, only in court have been her mother and step-father.
In fact, Daphne’s friends - whoever they might be - have been notably absent from this whole thing, from beginning to end. Once in awhile on a deaf blog someone will pop up to say he/she is a relative of Daphne’s. But that’s about it.
On the other end of that spectrum are folks who say they know Daphne and don’t like her. Actually, the comments are somewhat nastier than that, but we’ll let it go. And there are a lot of them. Daphne has left a trail of unhappy people in her wake.
So you’ve got folks who think she did it and folks - a few - who give her some support.
That’s to be expected. But here’s where it really breaks down:
- People who are concerned - and that’s a mild word - that Daphne receive a fair trial.
- People who think that just because she’s deaf is no reason to exclude her from the death penalty.
The fair trial thing goes back to whether Daphne can fully understand the proceedings. Does she need a CDI in the court with her? Even if she doesn’t “need†one, should she have one simply because she asked? Why no black jurors? Why no deaf jurors?
Can a deaf, black lesbian really have a jury of her peers, if there are no black people, no deaf people, no lesbians on the jury?
If such people WERE on the jury, would that change the verdict?
(Note: Some people who have such concerns think she’s guilty as sin, but they still want her to have a fair trial.)
The death penalty? Early on the defense argued that the death penalty should be taken off the table, because - being deaf - Daphne wouldn’t be able to adequately defend herself before the jury. The defense used the analogy that the death penalty isn’t used against the mentally disabled or juveniles for a similar reason.
That drew the conclusion - deaf people are like the mentally disabled.
That’s not what the defense meant, nor is it what the defense said. But that’s how it was interpreted.
As a result, there are plenty of folks out there who are mad as hell and out to prove that a deaf person has just as much right to be executed as a hearie.
Back to Daphne’s friends for a minute. If she has any, they’re in hiding. Seriously, check out the blogs. Among people who know her or know people she’s known, it’s probably 98-2 against her.
But … that doesn’t make her guilty. A jury will determine that. And then we start the appeals.
If she’s convicted, will she get the death penalty? I’m guessing she will.
To read the full article, click on this: http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/voices/
Commentary: From talking to people here in Maryland and elsewhere, I’ve not encountered anyone who likes Daphne. In fact, I’ve met few who said they hate her guts and will never meet her again. Reaping what one sows, friendless is the consequence for her behavior. Personally I have no sympathy for her, having heard first-hand what she did when she lived here in Maryland years ago.
However, it is sad that anyone would be so hateful as not to have any friend. MZ
UPDATE:Â The op-editor learned some sign language so he can communicate with deaf spectators. Isn’t that sweet? I’ve been corresponding with Chuck few times and he is a nice guy.
 Here is his latest update. The forsenic experts are discussing about the dissection of the pig with the electric saw and drawing comparison with Darlene’s body. For me, this was tough to read. I cannot imagine how it is for her family and friends to hear this. http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/voices/
email contact: mishkazena@aol.com
Next - and less obvious - are the friends and family of Daphne. So far, only in court have been her mother and step-father.
In fact, Daphne’s friends - whoever they might be - have been notably absent from this whole thing, from beginning to end. Once in awhile on a deaf blog someone will pop up to say he/she is a relative of Daphne’s. But that’s about it.
On the other end of that spectrum are folks who say they know Daphne and don’t like her. Actually, the comments are somewhat nastier than that, but we’ll let it go. And there are a lot of them. Daphne has left a trail of unhappy people in her wake.
So you’ve got folks who think she did it and folks - a few - who give her some support.
That’s to be expected. But here’s where it really breaks down:
- People who are concerned - and that’s a mild word - that Daphne receive a fair trial.
- People who think that just because she’s deaf is no reason to exclude her from the death penalty.
The fair trial thing goes back to whether Daphne can fully understand the proceedings. Does she need a CDI in the court with her? Even if she doesn’t “need†one, should she have one simply because she asked? Why no black jurors? Why no deaf jurors?
Can a deaf, black lesbian really have a jury of her peers, if there are no black people, no deaf people, no lesbians on the jury?
If such people WERE on the jury, would that change the verdict?
(Note: Some people who have such concerns think she’s guilty as sin, but they still want her to have a fair trial.)
The death penalty? Early on the defense argued that the death penalty should be taken off the table, because - being deaf - Daphne wouldn’t be able to adequately defend herself before the jury. The defense used the analogy that the death penalty isn’t used against the mentally disabled or juveniles for a similar reason.
That drew the conclusion - deaf people are like the mentally disabled.
That’s not what the defense meant, nor is it what the defense said. But that’s how it was interpreted.
As a result, there are plenty of folks out there who are mad as hell and out to prove that a deaf person has just as much right to be executed as a hearie.
Back to Daphne’s friends for a minute. If she has any, they’re in hiding. Seriously, check out the blogs. Among people who know her or know people she’s known, it’s probably 98-2 against her.
But … that doesn’t make her guilty. A jury will determine that. And then we start the appeals.
If she’s convicted, will she get the death penalty? I’m guessing she will.
To read the full article, click on this: http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/voices/
Commentary: From talking to people here in Maryland and elsewhere, I’ve not encountered anyone who likes Daphne. In fact, I’ve met few who said they hate her guts and will never meet her again. Reaping what one sows, friendless is the consequence for her behavior. Personally I have no sympathy for her, having heard first-hand what she did when she lived here in Maryland years ago.
However, it is sad that anyone would be so hateful as not to have any friend. MZ
UPDATE:Â The op-editor learned some sign language so he can communicate with deaf spectators. Isn’t that sweet? I’ve been corresponding with Chuck few times and he is a nice guy.
 Here is his latest update. The forsenic experts are discussing about the dissection of the pig with the electric saw and drawing comparison with Darlene’s body. For me, this was tough to read. I cannot imagine how it is for her family and friends to hear this. http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/voices/
email contact: mishkazena@aol.com
April 9th, 2007 at 12:19 pm
That is kinda troublesome with the mentality of Deaf America - Collectivism, instead of real intergrated community based on individualism.
Dapehne’s defense team ought to look seriously for her own peers to speak favorably or unfavorably of her as a person.
Why don’t you inquire Daphene Wright’s defense team, instead of making speculation whether she have friends or not. Her defense team probably do not want to have any friends on the board to testify.
You have to understand how the defense team works. They are more interested in playing up to their own favors, not collobrations or testimonies from some people who know her personally.
Robert L. Mason
RLMDEAF blog
April 9th, 2007 at 12:41 pm
I am not surprised. She beat up her girlfriends in the public.
April 9th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
Daphne Wright will not be the only thing we ought to consider changing when psychology, linguistics, anthropology and Deaf education come up for academic authorization. Indeed many of us are discomfortable about the effectiveness of the punitive sanctions on which Wright’s status being Deaf, woman, black, lesbian, and, now, without friends. Killing someone is wrong, and my sense is that we need to focus on the community that we create–Deaf community. What kind of community is it? Is it a hiding culture?
I am afraid that the lack of any evidence (chain saw that was used) might mean that the jury would be barking up the wrong tree. Like O.J. Simpson, the lack of evidence (knife that was used) dismissed all charges during the jury’s deliberation.
April 9th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
I’m getting a little tired of Daphne this and Daphne that.
What about Darlene??? Who’s voicing for Darlene? No one! Who’s blogging for Darlene? No one!
Darlene did not deserve to be killed - and I hope her killer is brought to justice and gets the death penalty!
April 9th, 2007 at 1:23 pm
anonymous–anyone who knew darlene should have comment about her. However, Daphne had a lot of problems with many deaf people. mostly in maryland, they dont know darlene. Is anyone who knew darlene to support and comfort on. mostly in sioux falls and few deaf community in SD. daphne used to live in NC, MD and SD. what can i do this. i knew daphne. i dont know darlene but i pray for darlene’s family with grievence.
April 9th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
Daphne is on trial, so attention is focused on her. Having no friends could give a clue to her state of mind and her personality type. Also, it would be prejudical to her court proceedings to remember the victim Darlene as a person.
The OJ Simpson case was deliberately complicated by very highly paid lawyers who succeeded in confusing the proof with racism, sloppy forensics and hijacking the rules of evidence. This probably will not happen in Daphne’s case. What may happen is that the defense will try to bring in unknown persons who “might” have done the murder and create a reasonable doubt. There might have been a missing blunt instrument and a missing chain saw, but Daphne is going to be connected with receipts proving she bought one.
After the case is closed, then that will be the time to honor and grieve for Darlene and try to understand how to keep it from happening again.
April 9th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
My feeling is that she may be convicted, but not sentenced to death. There’s a general hesitancy to put women on death row (I’m not going to argue the merits of that; I don’t think anyone at all belongs on death row but that is a separate topic) and in this case, the judge may well remand a sentence to life supposing the jury not only convicts her but recommends the death penalty. The reason for that would be to lessen the likelihood of appeal.
She may or may not have done this. She is presumed innocent until and unless she is convicted. And every last one of us deserves a fair trial. If she does not get a fair one, the rest of us do not know if we will either.
April 9th, 2007 at 2:25 pm
Anon, Dianrez says it right. We need to monitor the civil rights of Daphne as a deaf person, to protect the future deaf people in the court system. But this doesn’t indicate our disinterest in Darlene.
We all are very saddened to hear what happened to Darlene and express our sympathies and support to her family and friends. If you or someone else close to Darlene want to write an article about her, please contact me at mishkazena@aol.com.
April 9th, 2007 at 2:34 pm
I am sickened that there is concern of “Wright not having friend”. What about Darlene, friends of many. Sweet, kind, thoughtful person whose life were cut short, brutally. Sioux Falls paper are busily talking about Daphne [like any big trial] but little of Darlene [like any big trial].
Daphne did it to herself, again and again. She had friends who she tried to control with her mental game. She decided to leave for Sioux Falls, of all place. She hid in SF. I have talked with SF friends, they did not even know who Daphne was or even seen her in the deaf community.
Finally, Daphne’s power and control went too far. Darlene suffered the consequence. The system is trying to come to Daphne’s resuce. Both side are battling it out. Daphne is hoping her lawyer will get her off while the other side is trying to make sure all loopholes are covered.
Blaring with BLACK, FEMALE, LESBIAN is crap. It is about Daphne as a person who now must take responsibility for what she did to a kind, sweet person. I know there are Daphne’s victims who still shudder by memory of what Daphne did to them.
Did not anyone notice that only one deaf Domestic agency group gave their opinion. I beleive it was the group from Texas. Not one word from ADWAS in Seattle, WA. DUH!
Bot attacking Mishka. She is doing her job in presenting fair thoughts.
April 9th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
OH MY! Typo! The beginning of the last line should have been NOT. Typo was BOT. DUH!
April 9th, 2007 at 3:06 pm
Anon — My prayer goes out to Darlene’s friends and family. — Her friends and family want Daphne to get the justice. I am sure everyone including myself wants the closure very soon. We won’t forget Darlene. Once the trial is over .. we will focus on Darlene and discuss how great she was and so on.
April 9th, 2007 at 3:23 pm
Daffy may have a bunch of friends. But who’d want to be seen standing behind her when she’s on her way to the gallows for hacking up another person of a similar predisposition.
April 9th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
Yes i would like to know more about Darlene and stories from her friends and family as she deserves to be recognized as well as remembered. Can anyone vouch on getting some information and share stories about Darlene.
As for Daphne, I wonder about her family life, her background, growing years and all that. What made her become this person today? If we could gather information and use this for deaf psychology and psychiatric to study on certain deaf individuals and see if there is any correlation somewhere.
April 9th, 2007 at 5:30 pm
Michele,
That would be a terrific idea for preserving Daphene’s brain to study how she turns into a violent person.
Too bad, scientists could not save Jeff Dahmer’s brain for scientific studies. The court turned down scientists and pyschologists’ legal request to have an access to Dahmer’s brain.
I hope that MZ would write a book on Daphene Wright’s background and life someday.
Robert L. Mason (RLM)
RLMDEAF blog
April 9th, 2007 at 6:27 pm
RLM, I didn’t know that there was a request to study Jeff Dahmer’s brain. I’m not sure if it is possible to study the brain of a dead person as it is not functioning and it may not show the scientists what they are looking for.
Anyway, I hope there will be books written about this trial, hopefully with a good perspective, not where deaf people are perceived to be mentally disabled as that will be very damaging and misleading.
Elizabeth do you know if there is true crime writers in the court because if there are some, they need to make sure that they don’t portray or generalize deaf people as being mentally disabled and that they need to incorporate our deaf culture, sign language and all that important information in the book to make it well-balanced.
April 9th, 2007 at 6:52 pm
Dahmer?! See? Another sexual-related issue, Robert L. Mason!
You knew Jeff Dahmer humped the dead bodies. And you HAD to bring it up!
As for Darlene, she’s dead. Move on already. I dont know who she is. But trial is not about Darlene, it is about Daphne and wha the precedent may taken in this shall impact us in the long run.
R-
April 9th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
Here I am again. Has it dawned on anyone that the black community has not come behind Daphne making sure Daphne’s rights are being processed. Where is Jesse Jackson and that hot air REV. Al Sharpton? Is that telling the black/deaf community they cant count on those two black powerguy? Just a thought.
April 9th, 2007 at 8:15 pm
Michele, I don’t know if any crime reporter is in the courtroom. However, Daphne is already listed as one of the most notorious criminals in crime library on the Internet.
Ricky, please show some compassion. Many of Darlene’s friends read this blog and we need to be sensitive to their feelings. I hope they will contact me so I can show an article who Darlene is. She was very sweet and well-liked by the S.F. community.
Water, I did contact NAACP two weeks ago who told me they will investigate. But apparently they were satisfied, not knowing that there is any differences between the hearing interpreters and deaf interpreters. So I contacted the reporters who were receptive to our concerns.
April 9th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
MZ,
Perhaps most local deaf members of the SF community are mostly at work during the trial and are unable to attend.
And would you publicly associate yourself with a murderer? I think most of us would not want to and avoid a reputation as an associate of Daphne by staying away.
And from what some of those who know Daphne, it appears that she is a predatory personality. Preys on the weak. MZ, anyone who saws and dismembers a corpse is a sociopath. Sociopaths has no conscience. Perhaps those who know Daphne sense the sociopath in her and keep their distance. There will always be those who are naive and clueless who miss the cues that give hint to the sociopathic aspect of Daphne, to whom Daphne gravitate, exploit, and ultimately prey upon. It does seem that Daphne has the classical personality traits of a sociopath.
Just follow your guts when you encounter people like her. If your guts say to keep away, listen to it. Instincts can save your life.
Anyway, would getting black, deaf, woman and lesbian on the jury make a difference in the verdict? Based on the evidence, I would say no.
And the argument that Daphne would not be able to effectively defend herself thus taking off death penalty had no merit. Her actions show she knew what she was doing. It is up to her defense team to offer alibis and counter the evidence to put reasonable doubt into the prosecution’s case.
What is not fair about the trial, to me, is that there is no CDI. A regular intepreter could not possibly deliver in a way Daphne would be able to follow and understand, especially with the legal jargon and proceedings. It would be a fair trial if they put a CDI there. She is given the right by the US Constitution to defend herself, and she is better able to if there is a CDI present.
I wonder if South Dakota is behind with the times? Are their legal laws up to date? Have the legal system in SD been introduced to CDI? I understand some states have not been introduced to CDI, and SD may be one of those states, even with CSD right there.
April 10th, 2007 at 9:29 am
Big Headlines about Wright, big flash news about how monstrous she is who deserves to be executed in no time.
I just found out that the victim was a hetro. If she were a lesbian, I feel there would not be that big news and Wright may be given more time.
I am not for Wright but at least the victim was not tortured nor ravished before her death like almost all what the male murderers did to women. Yes some male murderers who did worst than Wright got at least 25 years of imprisonment JUST BECAUSE THEY DID NOT DO WORSE TO THE CORPSES.
I believe these murderers who tortured their victims should be executed as fast as what Wright got.
Also these who raped children that took the children’s light off for the rest of their lives should be executed in no time.
April 10th, 2007 at 10:06 am
One more thing for me to say, if a white hearing man who had a squeaky clean record tortured and killed a black deaf lesbian for sleeping with his wife, would he be executed that fast?
No, I think he would be set free on parole and many hours of community work.
Hey, listen good, if a black deaf lesbian shot a white hearing man with the same record who ravished her black and deaf lover. Most likely she would be in jail for life.
White and hearing men with clean records are being weighed up by almost all judges in the world.
April 10th, 2007 at 1:55 pm
One aspect that I think is being overlooked here: the reason some of us keep talking about the need for a fair and properly done trial is that the trial MUST be conducted fairly, or else it could get thrown out on technicalities.
That would not be justice to Darlene. So those of us advocating for a properly done trial are doing so because a fairly conducted trial, during which all (reasonable) doubts are dispelled by a jury examining all the evidence (to which we do not necessarily have full access) will lay the issue to rest.
Imagine if the trial is a sham or mockery: then it is thrown out later even if Daphne is the one who murdered Darlene. That would be no justice whatsoever.
April 11th, 2007 at 2:56 pm
Cy, here in Maryland, many people had bad experiences with Daffy. However, I don’t think she is a psychopath. Psychopaths aren’t capable of experiencing emotions, but Daffy was seen wiping tears while her ex lover testified against her. I think she was driven by jealousy, anger, and insecurities.
SChevy, very true. If Daffy is hearing white, beautiful, feminine woman, would she be facing a death penalty trial? I don’t think so, either.
BEG, bingo. That’s what S.F. folks don’t understand.
April 12th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
Psychopaths (now the word sociopath is used) do feel emotion and show emotion, but it is self-centered. If Daphne is a sociopath, her tears at the trial would be from self-pity or a sense of victimization: eg. “no one understands me, no one loves me, everybody is against me.”
The defense phase of the trial was far too short. Is this because the defense was not able to get the story from Daphne so they could present a defense properly?
Was it truly premediated or was it accidental; and Daphne is refusing to say anything other than to deny everything? That would render the defense unable to prevent a finding of murder in the first degree in favor of murder in the second degree which means unintentional murder.
It also opens the way for a future appeal to be presented on the basis of incomplete defense. Most people wouldn’t want that.