Mid-Missouri
Fellowship of
Reconciliation

FOR News August 2002

P.O. Box 268
Columbia, Missouri
65205
573-449-4585
email: jstack@coin.org

Protest Planned State Killing of Daniel Basile 13 August Daniel Basile

Also available: a more detailed examination of Basile's case

Missouri officials plan to execute Daniel Basile, just after midnight, Wednesday, 14 August in the Potosi prison; he would be the 58th person killed by state workers since 1989. Basile was convicted of killing for pay, Elizabeth DeCaro in St. Charles in March 1992. We with the FOR condemn the murder of Mrs. DeCaro; we extend our deepest sympathies to her loved ones and wish them what comfort they can attain in continuing to cope with her violent passing. His execution would however, be just as reprehensible-- merely murder by another name, and an action which would further damn more people to suffer the preventable loss of their loved one, including his 9-year old daughter.

What You Can Do

*CONTACT Gov. Bob Holden (email: constit@mail.gov.state.mo.us; www: www.gov.state.mo.us/contact.htm Urge him to halt Daniel Basile's execution and commute his death sentence.

*VIGIL Tuesday August 13th
     12 Noon- 1:00 Gov's Office, Jeff City
     5-6 p.m.  Boone Co. Courthouse, Columbia
     6:30 p.m.St. Luke's United Meth.Church (204 E. Ash, Columbia)
     11 p.m.-12 midnight State Capitol (High Street side), Jeff City (10 p.m)

There are other issues beside morality to consider as well. (Check out the reflections and report for much more information)

Not guilty beyond a reasonable doubt
While Basile has maintained his innocence of the murder, there at least seems to be a cloud of reasonable doubt as to his guilt of murder. It's worth remembering more than 100 people nationwide since the 1970's have been set free from "death rows," having been wrongfully convicted and sentenced to die. (For every eight people executed in U.S. states, one's altogether exonerated).

On 6 March 1992, the prosecution contended Richard DeCaro dropped Basile off at his family's house in the morning where he hid. DeCaro brought the family 's watch dog with him, then picked up from school his four children then drove to Lake of the Ozarks. Elizabeth, his wife and mother of their children, returned home from work that afternoon and was reputedly confronted by Basile who shot her twice with a pistol, killing her. Police responded to a call from her sister who found her sister's body that evening.

Circumstantial Evidence
No physical evidence nor eyewitness testimony placed Basile in the DeCaro home or neighborhood. There's no doubt Basile was paid by Richard DeCaro to "steal" the family's van a few months earlier (receiving $200) and to drive off with their Blazer on 6 March (receiving $250), both insurance scams. He claimed to have been given a ride to pick up the Blazer at a nearby grocery store, although investigators have been unable to locate his alibi witnesses.

The state relied principally on the testimony of a woman who saw him driving the Blazer on a highway several miles from the house and two witnesses (both granted immunity from prosecution from the vehicle thefts in exchange for their testimony) who testified they heard him confess. Richard Borak recalled just two weeks prior to the 1994 trial, that Basile told him two years earlier, "I did this lady." He had received from Basile a stereo taken from the DeCaro home. Borak, if charged with receiving stolen property would have violated his probation, then sentenced to 7 years in prison. Doug Meyer, Basile's half brother, testified Basile said, "It was her (DeCaro) or me. I wasn't going back to jail." Meyer claimed he was unaware of the car theft for five days, yet arranged to have an unused garage where he worked utilized to store a car for Basile. He rented tools used to dismantle the Blazer for parts. A witness noted Meyer asked her several times in the two days after the "theft" if their work was disturbing her. Both the state witnesses also said Basile reiterated several times he did not commit murder. Several people also spoke in court (including two given immunity) that Basile told them he had been offered $15,000 by DeCaro to kill his wife, yet all said he told them he wouldn't commit the crime.

Other Possible Suspects
A postal worker told police she saw, while delivering mail, two men apparently casing out the DeCaro house either on the March 5th or 6th. Neither men resembled Basile. Craig Wells, who worked for DeCaro, introduced his boss to Basile, arranged and drove his housemate, Basile, to several meetings to discuss the crimes. Police found a .22 caliber pistol belonging to Wells, which had recently been shot. A ballistics report couldn't exclude the gun from being the murder weapon. Wells also got immunity in exchange for testifying. Basile may be guilty, but the presence of much reasonable doubt should have prevented him from at least being sentenced to death.

Politics played a prominent role in this case
While the preliminary hearing occurred the 26th and 27th of May 1992, the trial didn't begin until nearly two years later. Tim Braun was seeking re-election as the county prosecutor, with a primary contest set a few weeks after the trial's conclusion. He was reelected.

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Join Call for 'No War' Upon Iraq

The Bush administration is openly planning a war on Iraq, so far it seems with the enthusiastic blessings of Congress. Troop deployments indicate that it could come in October; a "surprise attack" could come even sooner. Such violence, morally reprehensible, would likely kill tens of thousands of Iraqis, further destablize the Middle East and Arab nations, likely fuel a greatly expanded terrorist response against U.S. citizens and spark heightened retaliation in the so-called "War on Terror." Now's the time for popular resistance to this blind and ultimately, suicidal military madnss-- to rise in our country.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held hearings earlier this month to determine whether a military campaign to oust Saddam Hussein is necessary-yet none of the people asked to testify were likely to argue against a war. The White House contends war is needed because Saddam Hussein possesses or is intent on acquiring weapons of mass destruction. But many, including former Marine and UNSCOM weapons inspector Scott Ritter, argue such a threat is non-existent and that war is planned this fall primarily to enhance Republicans chances in November elections. Defense (War) Secretary Donald Rumsfeld recently appeared before NATO demanding they support this looming Iraq war. The NATO nations appeared ready to do so, trusting the veracity of concerns from America's top military official. But when asked questions about the basis for this war, Rumsfeld wouldn't give specifics about Iraqi threats abroad, uttering instead, "The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence."

Ritter, who spent seven years in Iraq with the UNSCOM weapons inspection teams, appeared before NATO some days later at their invitation. The self-identified Republican and initially a Bush backer, says he was fully certain UNSCOM investigators had stripped Iraq of 90-95% of all their weapons of mass destruction.  The missing 10%, he believes, were lost through the ravages of the Gulf War. According to Ritter, it comes down to opportunistic politics and a decade of hard anti-Hussein rhetoric that has boxed the Bush administration into a rhetorical corner. After he was finished, 16 of the 19 NATO nations present wrote letters of complaint to the U.S. government about Rumsfeld's comments, and about the basis for war.

Please contact your Senators and Representative, Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121, U.S. Senate, Washington DC. 20510, House of Reps., Wash. DC 20515; and Pres. Bush, at 202-456-6213, White House, Wash. DC, 20500.  Tell them you oppose any war with Iraq and support as well an end to economic sanctions which have killed more than one million Iraqis since 1991. Stay tuned and join in the struggle for peace.

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Weekly Peace Vigils

Stand with others in weekly Columbia vigils for peace with justice:

Tuesdays 12 Noon-1:00 p.m. MU's Speaker's Circle, sponsored by Women in Black
Saturdays 10- 11 a.m., Post Office, sponsored by Mid-MO FOR
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Just Peace Notes

Justice Across Generations Rally 9 August
A rally celebrating 50 years of social justice struggles and looking forward, will take place Friday, 9 August, beginning at 6:30 p.m., Lied Center, University of Kansas in Lawrence. Featured guest speakers include Tom Hayden, anti-war & environmental leader; Medea Benjamin, founder of Global Exchange; Dr. C.T. Vivian, civil rights leader & member of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s executive staff; Iris Dement, country-folk musician; Vernon Bellecourt, co-founder of American Indian Movement; Michael Bronski, leader of Gay Liberation movement; Mike Oxford, disability-rights advocate & leader. Organized by Campus Greens. Call 785-842-1358 for info or 573-449-4585 for car-pooling from Mid-MO. $12 tickets in advance, $15 at door.

Remembering Sept. 11; Urging "No More Victims"
The local  Peace Coalition will hold a candlelight reflection recalling those killed in the terrorist crimes that occurred on 9-11 and the thousands of people killed in Afghanistan in the subsequent U.S. war. We will come together to urge "No More Victims" at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, 11 September in Peace Park.  Speakers, music and open mic. Call 875-0539 or 449-4585 for details.

Come to the next Coalition meeting
6 p.m., Monday, 12 August, Peace Nook, 804 C E. B'dway.

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SOA Protestor Jacobs Freed from Prison; Travels to Colombia

Welcome Home Brother!
Steve Jacobs, co-founder of the St. Francis House community in Columbia, was freed last month after being imprisoned for one year for nonviolent civil-disobedient actions at the School of the Americas (SOA). A couple weeks later though, Jacobs left for Colombia with other activists on a humanitarian fact-finding mission. Call 573-875-7874 for information about requesting speaking engagements upon his return.

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State Civil Rights Museum to Open

Check out the Open House of the Missouri Civil Rights Museum, Saturday, Aug. 17, 12-5 p.m. The museum is housed in the Bruce R. Watkins Center, 37 Blue Parkway, Kansas City. Call 816-784-4444 for details.

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Columbia School Board Tables JROTC

The Columbia School Board opted last month, to nix discussion of including a JROTC program in two of its public high schools-at least until January thanks largely to Board member Kerry Crist. Dr. Crist contended the body was wasting valuable time discussing the matter as there seemed to be no support for JROTC especially from students or faculty and that it was too costly a measure to consider in these economically challenging times. Call Dr. Crist at 573-445-2772 to thank her for opposing initiation of the program.

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Columbian Returns from Cuba

Columbian writer John Claussen, returned on 3 August from Cuba, where he joined in delivering several ambulances and tons of humanitarian supplies as part of the Pastors for Peace convoy. Clausen reported that the day their delegation was prepared to cross into Mexico-fully acknowledging they'd be delivering goods to Cuba in violation of U.S. law-- State Department officials contacted border guards, reporting they had been approved for passage. It was a wise P.R. move, to avoid further public embarrassment for the immoral 40-plus year Cuban blockade. In the weeks ahead, FOR hopes to co-host a program with Claussen to share his reflections.

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Next FOR Meeting/Gathering?

The company was great, though few folks made it to our last FOR potluck/meeting. Do others want to meet monthly, and/or potluck, conduct a virtual meeting via e-mail, set up a list-serve or other forum? What do you suggest to determine FOR strategies for helping abolish the death penalty and promote peace? Call Jeff at 449-4585 or e-mail jstack@coin.org to add your input about this or other FOR-related matters.

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Contribute to Peace; Give to the FOR

This issue of FOR News is half the usual size-in an effort to share shrinking resources. If you can afford to, please make a generous contribution to the FOR, an inter-faith Mid-Missouri voice for pacifism and social justice for 41 years. Thanks if you've recently chipped in! Mail checks to : FOR, P.O. Box 268, Columbia MO 65205.

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