Joppatowne woman denied bail in fatal shooting of ex-girlfriend

[rdenney]

Joppatowne woman denied bail in fatal shooting of ex-girlfriend

The Associated Press

May 13, 2008

A Joppatowne woman has been denied bail in the fatal shooting of her ex-girlfriend.
Sandra Heim, 47, had a bail review hearing Monday in Cecil County District Court, the Cecil Whig reported.

Heim is charged with first- and second-degree murder, and related charges, in Saturday's shooting of Helen Sparks, 46, of North East. Court documents say the two had been living together until March.

snip....

Heim allegedly fired four rounds at Sparks then chased her back to her front door, where she allegedly shot Sparks once in the chest and twice in the back.

Rest of story at: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/easternshore/bal-shooting0513,0,6947175.story?track=rss

[TPaine7]

1. Is there a point?

[rdenney]

7. Of course. A person is dead, thanks to the easy access to firearms in the US, once again.

You just don't see this stuff up in Canada, the way that you do in the states because they take gun-control seriously. Hell, even drunk driving is a felony offense in CA meaning no guns for anyone with a DUI.

[SteveM]

11. Once again, wrong. A person is dead due to a raging murderer (nt)

[TPaine7]

12. Isn't that a lot to get out of a single incident?

If a single US person used a gun to defend his life against deadly attack, wouldn't it mean that a decent person is not dead, "thanks to the easy access to firearms in the US, once again"?

And wouldn't these two cancel each other out, providing conclusive evidence that singular events (or even a few hundred depending on the type of event) prove nothing?

[CC]

2. She is in Cecil County now and

stuck with our Judges that are probably as shocked and appalled as everyone else.

BTW she started chasing her victim while shooting outside in a townhouse development on Mother's Day afternoon while other people were around. She then chased her injured victim into her house and leaned over her and shot a couple more times in front of the victim's son. The shooter was chased by the victim's son who wrestled the gun from her. Other neighbors held her until police arrived while the son went back to help his mother. The mother died soon after arriving at the hospital. She has admitted she planned on killing someone that day. No way should she get bail.

This happened two doors down from friends of mine and their kids were outside at the time.

[rdenney]

6. Awful close to home. Lots of people seem to think crime happens elsewhere or to someone else

particularly violent crimes involving guns, until it happens to them.

I suppose it's just a trait of human nature to not think about such things.

[angstlessk]

3. had it been a man killing his girlfriend the judge would understand,..and give bail...

since the girlfriend is already dead..and most likely the man would not kill again...GAY WOMAN...SHIT..WHERE IS THE BOOK...CAN I THROW IT NOW OR DO I HAVE TO WAIT TILL TRIAL???

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

4. Yeah right

Judges give bail in 1st degree murder cases all of the time when men are involved.

David

[angstlessk]

5. honey, when 1st degree murder is the crime..and it is a man who killed his girlfriend

they are 99% of 1st degree murderers who get bail...check it out...

[michreject]

9. Got a link or even a case in point?

Cause it's total bullshit. For most, if not all of the U.S., there is no bail for 1st degree murder charges.

[CC]

8. Probably not in this county.

Specially if it is a local judge and not a visiting judge. Then again she may come up for a bail review again and get it. I would say her admitting her intent and her putting who knows how many people at risk had a lot to do with why she doesn't have bail now. Then you have the elected prosecutor here that might blow the case with ineptitude unless he lets one of the hired ones handle it.

As for the gun, in this county you will find few people that would blame it or be anti-gun even now. As for my opinion on guns I think you should be allowed to have them but I think you should have to go though at least as much training as you need to have a drivers license and I don't see the problem with background checks and registration.

[slackmaster]

10. The Cecil Whig is a great name for a newspaper!

Violence as a response to jealosy is bad.