Green Bay Press-Gazette from Green Bay, Wisconsin • Page 4

Sunday, October 29, 1995 A-4Green Bay Press-Gazette com I til fe "Justice has finally been served. Tom Monfils can rest in peace. May the six defendants rot in hell." Tony Rader, De Pere By Paul Srubas Press-Gazette The trial may have ended with six convictions, but the investigation will continue into circumstances surrounding Tom Monfils death, District Attorney John Zakowski and Sgt. Randy Winkler say. Charges of obstructing officers or lying under oath still are possible against some people, not counting those who were convicted of being party to homicide Saturday night, Zakowski said.

Some lied to police, Zakowski says But the state avoided putting on one of those workers because he apparently hasn't told the truth about what he knew about the morning of Monfils disappearance, Zakowski said. Winkler also expressed disappointment at people who obstructed the investigation by withholding information that could have been helpful. "There's a bunch of people out there who have that information. And now they have to sit back and they have to accept the fact that they didn't help." Asked after the verdicts whether the investigation was over, Winkler paused about 12 seconds before answering: "I can't answer that right now." Are there others who belonged in court today? "Yes," he said. More than one person, but he wouldn't say how many.

Zakowski said his office probably would not charge anyone else in connection with the beating or murder of Monfils. "If we found there was a factual basis, we would, but I don't foresee that. We don't see evidence of others involved," he said. However, others could face charges of lying under oath or obstructing the investigation, he said. "We are disappointed.

We know certain people didn't tell us the truth about what they knew or saw, and that would have greatly helped. We will look at possible obstructing, and perjury at past hearings. We feel some people have lied, so there's some potential there." The state put most of the workers from the No. 7 and No. 9 paper machines in the James River mill on the witness stand to show the jury those workers couldn't have been involved in Monfils' death, Zakowski said.

Press- Newsline tliws oaras 5 AdMSi4 famlli Defe ry out i emmmwmmm i Press-Gazette Strong emotions that pushed two supporters of defendants to scream obscenities in the courtroom were echoed in tears, sobs and silent sorrow by other family members and friends of defendants. Several defense lawyers also were left visibly shaken. Mike Him, Keith Kutska and Mike Johnson's lawyers said their clients either would or may appeal, while some other defense lawyers said it was too early to say. Kathy Miller, whose daughter is Hirn's girlfriend, and Rey Moore's daughter Ivy Moore screamed obscenities in the courtroom. As deputies escorted Miller out, she began screaming: "This is f--ing nuts." She continued screaming outside the courtroom, saying Hirn told her he had nothing to do with Tom Monfils' death.

Ivy Moore's obscenities were apparently aimed at the jury forewoman. Mike Johnson's wife, Kim Johnson, nearly had to be carried from the courtroom. She sobbed on the courthouse steps as her daughter, Dawn Nelson, held her. The family will rely on its faith in God to get through the next few days, Nelson said. Nelson also lashed out at the system she says unjustly convicted her stepfather.

"This is not the United States. We must be in a Third World country," she said, her voice rising. Her husband, Karl Nelson, repeatedly asked reporters to recall the blackboard drawing Johnson's lawyer, Eric Steam, made during closing arguments. The lines on the drawing show Monfils and five defendants on one side of the paper machine area Johnson on the other. Steam also attacked the system that had his client tried with the other defendants.

"There's a man who's going to spend the rest of his life in prison" for the sake of judicial "economy and that upsets me," he said. Mike Piaskowski's lawyer, Tim Pedretti, and Moore's lawyer, Robert Parent, had little to say. "They must have bought the mob theory. But it wasn't a mob," Parent said. Keith Kutska's lawyer, Royce Finne, said Kutska took the verdict better than he did.

"Keith is a very strong person, and obviously for three years he's been preparing for the possibility that this might happen." Tom Cioni, Paul Srubas, Roger Schneider, Joanne Zipperer, Lori Higgins and Anne Klemm contributed to this story. It V- JiHi. pi I Press-Gazette photo by Ken Wesely Emotions: Rey Moore's wife, Debra, right, and be escorted from the courtroom by sheriff's daughter, Ivy, react to the verdict. They had to deputies, where they continued to sob. Emotion pours out over the telephone By Mike Blecha Press-Gazette The voices talked about justice for Tom.

And about sending a message to unions. One thanked God for the verdict. Another finished his comments crying. The common link of callers to the Press-Gazette Newsline on Saturday commenting about the guilty verdicts in the Tom Monfils 'murder case was emotion. "Justice has finally been served.

Tom Monfils can rest in peace. May the six defendants rot in hell," said Tony Rader of De Pere. "I'm very, very, very, very pleased. I'm glad there finally has been justice for Tom. Thank you, thank you, God," said Lori Sigl of Green Bay.

Taking an opposite view was Jack Erickson of Stiles. "On a mountain of evidence, O.J. Simpson walks. On circumstantial heresay evidence where their main witnesses were one guy who was in prison and another guy who's all pissed up in a bar, they can convict innocent people," Erickson said. "Our judicial system is ludicrous, and it needs an overhaul.

I have nothing but the deepest sympathy for the Monfils family, but I have nothing but the deepest sympathy for the innocent people who were convicted." Other comments: "I think the verdict was right," said Judy Vander Bloomen of De Pere. "I think they did it, and I am very glad (they were convicted). I think the judge played a good part in it. I think if they had a different judge for O.J., they would have convicted him also." "I think we all know the man was murdered. If only one or two of these men actually committed the crime, the fact that the rest obviously withheld information that would have convicted them makes them just as guilty," said Shirley Schuessler of Green Bay.

"I think that justice was served," she said. "I feel that the verdict is a very just one that has been long overdue in coming," said Ida Schroeder of Green Bay. "I'm really not elated because nobody is ever going to get Tom Monfils back, but I did personally that justice was served," said 'Julie Viste of Green Bay. "This sends a strong message out 'to unions to redefine brotherhood, jjl went through an experience with intimidation with a union in Marinette and I had a two-by-four 'smashed into my car," she said. After 'a lot of police shed tears of joy, relief By S.U.

Mahesh no different than any other detective in the Green Bay Police Department." Detective Sgt. Al Van Haute said police had the right people from the beginning. "There may have been doubts, but again all we can do is present the facts," he said. "We knew the facts. We knew we had the right people, and I think the jury agreed with us." "It was a puzzle, but there's only one way that those pieces fit and that was this way," Van Haute said.

"Nothing else would fit; nothing else made sense." "This is the first time I've ever been able to feel how a victim felt," Winkler said. "When a victim is up on the witness stand and testifying that this is what happened to me, it's almost like they're on trial and this is why they're here." Winkler said he was most upset at inferences of racism, which he denied. In questioning Rey Moore, the case's only black defendant. Winkler tried to pressure him into talking by hinting the others may have turned on him because of his race. "We feel with this done, our community can have closure," Deputy Police Chief Jim Taylor said.

"It's affected our community completely. This was not done by the union at James River; this was done by just, a few individuals." "This is a great night. This is like the Packers winning the championship. I know the importance to the police department and the whole community," retired Green Bay Police Chief Bob Langan said from an El Paso, Texas, motel room where he had learned of the jury verdict. Langan, who retired in May and is on vacation with his family, called the verdict a vindication for a police department that was criticized in the media and the courtroom.

"It took a long time. Take this for what it's worth," Langan said. "We have a great police department that just doesn't quit. "The issue was what happened, and how it happened and how it can happen in our community, their mentality of thugism and how we can put an end to it." and Terry Anderson Press-Gazette Six guilty verdicts signaled vindication for the Green Bay Police Department, which often came under fire since the death of Tom Monfils, some officers said. "It took a lot out of us," said Sgt.

Randy Winkler, lead investigator in the case. His eyes were still moist from tears of relief and joy shed as the jury verdicts were read. "I feel very good. I had taken a lot of flak, and a lot of things were said about me. I guess the jury saw the truth." As the verdicts were read, Winkler turned and looked at his supervisor, Inspector Mike Zettel, who sat in the row behind him.

Both men stared at each other with tears welling in their eyes. Asked whether the guilty verdicts were a vindication of the police department, Sgt. Ken Brodhagen said, "I think it's the vindication of Sgt. Winkler. There was a lot said about Sgt.

Winkler and his tactics, and his tactics are 7sll- Press-Gazette photo by John Robb Success: Green Bay police detective Randy Winkler shares a moment of relief with wife, Marsha, after the guilty verdicts were read. Winkler's investigative style was under fire by defense attorneys during the trial. CtworooDogy of ttlhe case Tom Monfils calls police to say Keith Kutska will steal an electrical cord from Iff Martin Charles their workplace, the James River paper mill. Monfils asks for anonymity because he fears Kutska's reaction. A guard stops Kutska as he leaves work.

Police say somebody murdered Monfils and rule out suicide as a cause of death. '4. Susan Monfils amends her civil suit, adding Marlin Charles, one of two mill unions and their insurers, and more specifically naming Johnson and Basten as being involved in beating Monfils and throwing him in the vat. The five charged with the misdemeanor enter no contest or Alford pleas (maintaining their innocence while choosing not to fight the case) to less serious offenses such as disorderly conduct or harassment. Isjj Kutska refuses to open a duffel After about 10 hours, a jury selected from Racine County finds Kutska, Basten, Hirn, Johnson, Moore and Piaskowski guilty of being party to homicide.

The mandatory penalty is life in prison. suspended for that action. Kutska MHwtjifiiTniJt.M.'Juiirfaa mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm mmmm -xJi9S3 1993 1894 1 3D fm Kutska and coworkers Randy Lepak and Mike Piaskowski confront Monfils with an audio tape copy of Monfils' Monfils' widow, Susan Monfils, sues seven of her husband's co-workers, alleging they were involved in conspiracy, intimidation and ultimately, Monfils' death. Named in the lawsuit: Kutska, Piaskowski, Lepak, Mike Hirn, Dale Basten, Mike Johnson and Rey Moore. Police arrest eight people in connection with the Monfils case: Basten, Charles, Hirn, Johnson, Kutska, Lepak, Moore and Piaskowski.

Basten, Hirn, Johnson, Kutska, Moore and Piaskowski are charged with being party to homicide. Charles, Hirn, Kutska, Lepak and Piaskowski are charged with misdemeanor blackballing. The criminal charges cause the halt of all action on the civil lawsuit. call, which Kutska got from police. Monfils disappears inside the mill that morning.

His body is found the next day in a pulp vat. Susan Monfils with her daughter, Theresa, and son, John, at a memorial ceremony tor her husband, Tom, Nov. 13, 1993. Tom Monfils Sources: Sworn testimony. Brown County court documents, police reports.