Record Searchlight from Redding, California • 1

Mecoid Searchlight CMPK HOWARD Redding Caufornia RUliWIP Saturday-July 29 199s 47 cents iSiSi j-uaiaiggB: PIW! bi ibMMfa ikWadfki 1 Smith gains TV producers remind viewers that domestic violence is a sympathy juiy gives her life Actress MaxhnBcnna Ewalt grit her face mads up before taping a scene the jury announced its unanimous verdict reached after just 2Vi hours of deliberations The fether David Smith sat stone-faced later telling reporters he and his family were but it wasn't our choice on what penalty she was to Smith whose wrenching testimony about losing his sons reduced several jurors to tears said he could not imagine visiting Ms Smith in jail and was thinking of moving away from Union to escape the memories never forget what Susan has done to me and my femily even I'd have to say to her femily And never forget Michael and he said forgive something going to have to deal with I guess Anther on down the Prosecutor Tommy Pope defended his decision to seek the death penalty saying he would do itagaia community can begin to Pope said taken a tre- mendous toll but it's some- thing that had to be Public opinion in Unioa a town of 10000 people shifted from favoring the death sentence shortly See SMITH A-8 David Smith said that in time he may forgive his ex-wife for the killings but he expressed disappointment she was not sentenced to death By Christopher Sullivan The Associated Press UNION SC A jury swiftly rejected the death penalty for Susan Smith sentencing her to life in prison Friday after her lawyer argued she is tormented enough in her own of for drowning her two young sons She will be eligible for parole in 30 years For nine days last fell Ms Smith insisted that a black man had commandeered her car as she drove on a dark empty back road She begged tearftilly on nationwide television for her safe return at last confessing Nov 3 that she had popped the safety brake and rolled it down a ramp into John Long Lake with the boys still strapped inside She cried again Friday as she was led from the courtroom after Mends R-S photot by Brad Ganifon Lee Anne Smith grew dose to actress MaxbnSenne Ewalt and director Dsn Jackson for whom she made a gather for support films Redding plight "Rescue 911" normally targets harrowing rescues but producers used Lee Anne Smith's story to educate people on domestic violence bail review The court Burger said think the community is going to give Deputy District Attorney Donna Daly said she felt $150jD00 bail was appropriate because Matthews used a gun and also wounded Demetris Kinsey 22 of Redding the night Kelvin Walker was shot and killed safety is always a concern when a firearm is used to kill Daly said She added that Matthews didn't live with his 54-yearold fetter who may have others to help care fin: him Matthews originally was charged with murder in the March shooting death of Walker 21 of Fairbanks Alaska But after the district office presented the case to a grand jury it reduced the charge to manslaughter Matthews told police tint he shot in self-defense when Walker and about eight others showed up at his mother's Redding apart- See MATTHEWS A-8 Aaron Matthews' attorney asked a judge to lower Matthews' bail so he could get out of jail and help care for his ailing father By Damon Arthur R-S legal affairs reporter About 30 friends and relatives of Aaron Matthews showed up in court Friday to support a son of the black charged with shooting to death a Shasta College football player While supporters wanted to bolster the spirits of 24year-old Matthews of Redding his lawyer was trying to get him out of jaiL Redding attorney Thomas Burger asked Shasta County Municipal Judge Jim Ruggiero to lower bail to $100000 Ruggiero left bail at $1150000 and a trial set for Oct 3 felt there was merit to the By Adrienne Packer R-S health environment reporter crews fibn actress MaximBenna Ewalt befog wheeled into the trauma room A Sa tt lienne Ewalt has had I Ik her share of roles in television commercials and plays She is accustomed to critics and biting reviews But as makeup artist Gayle Lederman painted the face with phony blood Thursday at Mercy Medical Center in Redding Ewalt felt the need to pull off a flawless performance After all the person who knows role intimately was watching Ewalt was one of 10 women who auditioned last week for the part of Redding resident Lee Anne Smith in an upcoming episode of the television show Dr Robert Duvoisin explained to director Dan Jackson on Thursday came in sitting Duvoisin said was spitting blood and had that classic See SHOW A8 Smith 42 survived two potentially fetal wounds two years ago when she was stabbed 13 times in the face abdomen chest and back by her husband Robin After the gruesome attack Smith was rushed to emergency room gasping fin air Series explores Munro case Bill could help abuse victims seen has had a ripple effect throughout the city The number of women who have signed up for pepper spray and self-defense classes has increased significantly Residents have tended together to form a river trail bine patrol that starts today The most heart-rending as- Kof the vicious slaying is it has affected Mrs husband mother and children who have lived the-past weeks in shock anger ami uncertainty In a three-day series starting Sunday reporter Candace Brown looks at how this crime has affected femily members police and community Five weeks ago the Redding community awoke to learn that a 37-yearold mother had been murdered in broad daylight along the Sacramento River Trail As police investigators worked to piece together the events of the evening of June 24 the foots of the case grew more horrifying Christine Munro a Redding nurse regularly walked the trail in the evening sometimes with femily members sometimes alone She was by herself the night she was attacked and possibly sexually assaulted The case described by one police sergeant as the toughest get insurance dinator for the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence cited several examples: A woman in St Cloud Mina beaten for much of a 12-year marriage and finally hospitalized for a broken jaw and depression was denied coverage by two insurance companies that reftised to cover any conditions related to past abuse A Pennsylvania woman was denied coverage by two firms because her medical record indicated one episode of domestic violence when her husband pushed her toward the sharp comer of a piece of furniture causing a small gash in her hip SeeMS(JRANCEA for ways to end the discrimination The Senate Labor and Human Resources Cdhimittee set to draft a lamer insurance reform bill next week heara suggestions from several lawmakers and experts on battered women Friday Experts say battered women are caught in a vicious cycle: If they report abuse when seeking medical attention their medical records can be used against them in getting or renewing health coverage Yet only by reporting theif situation can women obtain help from counselors and other support networks Sheila Wellstone wife of Sea Paul Well-stone D-Mina and an advocate for abused women and Nancy Durfoorow health coor- To tap into support networks battered women must report abuse yet by citing abuse in medical records they can be refused health coverage By Lee Bowman Scripps Howard News Service WASHINGTON Contending that women are being once by spousal abuse and again by health insurance companies lawmakers are looking i FCC drops prime time non-network rule Lights out The night golfing craze has hit the north state and the glow-in-the-dark scrambles are a popular way to spend a Saturday evening See Sports B-l The 25-year-old rule which requires network-affiliated stations in the top 50 markets to reserve an hour of prime time fin-shows not produced by ABC CBS and NBC opened up a home for such syndicated shows as of like to buy a vowel the form of a question and to you The Federal Communications Commission voted 50 Friday to eliminate the rule after one year TV viewers immediately see a big difference in programming for prime time which lasts from 7 to 11 pm Eastern and Pacific time and 6 to 10 pm Central Elimination of the rule will allow television stations jn the nation's largest markets to air programs produced by the Big Three networks By Jeanntae Avers The Associated Press WASHINGTON A federal rule that helped make wee knight stars of letter-turning Vanna White and answer-posing Alex Trebek is heading into its last season and Mountain time network officials said But the rule's elimination likely will enrich the Big Three networks because they will be permitted to sell programs they produce to some of the largest stations Still no one expects shows like of which generally appear in the first hour of prime time to disappear They are popular with viewers cheaper than old network reruns and have long-term contracts entertainment executives said Meanwhile in a separate decision the FCC agreed to let the See TELEVISION A-8 1996 John Scripp Nwmpapara Vol 144 No 139 i.