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I’ve just started Michael Haneke’s film adaptation of Kafka’s “The Castle,” so this comment left yesterday on a post from January seemed especially timely.  Ms. Sparks left no contact information, and I can’t imagine how I might otherwise be of assistance except by reproducing the story below:

Hello, my name is Celestine Sparks. I am writing on behalf of my grandson, David Sparks who was originally arrested on 9/4/06 for curfew violation. His mother my daughter was informed that he would be taken to the 39th police district. Upon arriving there at the station she was informed that David was taken down to the Police Administration Bldg. as a witness to a homicide. She proceeded to the Adm. Bldg. and was informed a detective would talk with her related to why David was there. Nobody ever came to talk with her. At the time, David was 16 yrs. old. She remained at the police station until 6 AM. Later that day she received a telephone call from Detective Morrano indicating David was being charged with murder. Based on a witness who identified David as the shooter. As of this date, several things have transpired such as the shooter was killed several months after this incident. Also the parents of the deceased made a statement indicating they were aware of who killed their son.

I am writng you because I need some type of direction to have the process moved along so my grandson can be released. In addition, my grandson was questioned without his parents or an attorney. The detective completed a DNA test however David’s DNA was conclusive to the items recovered at the crime scene. As of this date, the Detectives have not completed a through investigation. The Detective were aware of where the shooter was but did not talk with him as he did not have a lawyer at the time and the police never went back to question him or his brother which the incident started from the younger brother altercation with the deceased.. The community informed the police in the 39th & 35th district who the shooter was but nothing was done What it appears to me is that because of all the shooting within communities the police need someone to blame however they have a innocent person traumatized. I wonder What can be done to help resolve this issue. When the community provided the police with information to at least question others about this incident they refused to act because of persons not having attorneys but a persons life is at stake and it appears the people who suppose to protect the community is just settled for what they perceive to be their truth without regards to the community.

On October 25th 2006 It was brought to my family attention where the shooter was hiding out . We notified the State Parole Board to inform the Parole Officer about the person he was living with. The parole Officer informed my family to contact the detective who was handling the case. Upon doing so Detective Morrano called my daughter a liar, and told her the witnesses on David’s behalf were liars which is defamation of character and he refused to take statement from them

The commonwealth used circumstantial evidence to find David guilty of a crime he did not commit. No physical evidence was used as they have none. The Judge stated the commonwealth witnesses stories were inconsistent with their original statements However because he was outside at the time of the incident he was guilty.

What I have problems with is the fact a through investigation was never completed. Persons who were implicated in the incident was never questioned. A innocent person life is at stake based on a lie.

Your assistance in this matter is greatly apprecitavie