[701] in libertarians
Davidian Prisoners Speak Out (fwd)
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Rick Bunker)
Tue Feb 14 23:01:04 1995
From: rbunker@world.std.com (Rick Bunker)
To: libertarians@MIT.EDU
Date: Tue, 14 Feb 1995 22:58:20 -0500 (EST)
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Date: Sun, 12 Feb 1995 15:30:48 -0500 (EST)
From: Carol Moore <cmoore@capaccess.org>
Subject: Davidian Prisoners Speak Out
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DAVIDIAN PRISONERS SPEAK OUT
Below are statements eight Branch Davidians made June
16 and 17 1994 just before federal Judge Walter J. Smith
sentenced them to a total of 240 years on aiding and
abetting voluntary manslaughter and/or weapons charges.
These were charges which the jury believed would earn
Davidians little more than time already served. These
statements, taken from the trial transcript in the order in
which they were made, have been edited somewhat for clarity
and brevity. This is honest, heartfelt testimony by victims
of an out-of-control government which preys on its citizens
and shows no remorse.
LIVINGSTONE FAGAN
Judge, I noticed in your initial address regarding the
Sentencing Guidelines you gave some examples as to why the
Court has to sentence the way it has to sentence, and also
why the Court has to sentence at all. In those examples,
you used people who had acknowledged their guilt. Also, in
the arguments presented here by the defense counsel and the
prosecution with respect to sentencing, they may have left
the impression that we are in some way implying that we were
guilty. I would like to point out that there is no doubt in
our minds that we are innocent. I think that all the
Defendants share that position.
As a matter of fact, we would like it to be reflected
on the record that the charge to which we are actually
brought here today, for which the jury returned the verdict
of guilty, that of [aiding and abetting] voluntary
manslaughter, was not, in fact, included on the original
indictment. Furthermore, it was added after the defense had
rested its case, and, for most of us, it was without
consultation. And we certainly do not accept it.
Let me also state for myself personally, never, at any
point, have I sought to distance myself from David Koresh,
his teachings, or from the actions of the residents of Mount
Carmel during February 28th through April 19th. There is no
doubt in my mind that the actions that we were forced to
take were justified, given the circumstances that we were
placed in by the actions of the agents of the Government.
You pointed out that the reasons why you were forced to
sentence us the way you intend to do is because of the
people, through Congress. You also indicated that through
the jury's decision, representing the people, again, you are
forced to sentence us. So, effectively, the reason we are
being sentenced today is because of the people.
The people. It's funny, this reminds me of a
situation, coming from a religious commune, that goes
back to 2,000 years ago regarding Christ. You made
mention of the fact many people had contacted you on the
phone regarding this whole affair, requesting leniency,
which is not something that I request. I fully support the
actions that were taken at Mount Carmel. It's unfortunate
regarding the consequences. But regarding what you said
about those who contacted you, it reminds me of that woman
that came to Pilate and said something to the effect, "Have
nothing to do with this just man," but nevertheless, he went
ahead and did what he did.
There were other symbols that we notice in this whole
trial, right from the beginning, that affirm for us the fact
that we were pursuing realities pertaining to the spirit,
that this Court does not recognize, as they did not
recognize 2,000 years ago. Right from the beginning, the
spiritual aspect of this was totally and absolutely
rejected. But it was the core of why we were at Mount
Carmel, and why we acted the way that we acted. The fact
that this was rejected gave me the impression that, right
from the beginning, we were never going to receive justice.
And right now, we do not feel that justice has been done
today because a crucial element facilitating that was
denied. And you expect us, given what we've gone through,
to support what is going on today, to acknowledge somehow
that we were responsible, that we were guilty. We remain
convinced that everything that we have done, everything that
we've suffered, we've suffered for truth and justice. It
pains my heart when I hear statements like "paying
restitution." For what?
My attorney says to me something to the effect that,
"Livingstone, all of this will be taken up in appeal. You
don't really have to worry about this." Two thousand years
ago when Christ was on the cross, we know that he was
innocent. But he didn't have an appeal, did he? The system
killed him. Is that appeal going to bring back [my wife]
Evette, David, the children and all of the rest? No, it's
not. Appeal doesn't mean nothing to me. It doesn't mean
nothing to us, nothing short of the lives of the people that
were lost is of any benefit. But we are comforted in the
thought that we entered into this whole situation on the
basis of a faith that has been proven true in as much as
that we endured the circumstances we did. We don't
particularly care what you want to do. You're going to do
it anyway.
But we also serve a God who sits on a throne, like you,
a judge. He's got a book in his hand, sealed with Seven
Seals. Men don't know his judgement. Consequently, Mount
Carmel happened the way that it did. As you have judged,
so, too, you will be judged. This is only an opportunity,
from our perspective, for you, not for ourselves.
I really don't think that there is much to be gained by
pursuing words. Through the 51-day negotiation period,
David tried to pursue words in an effort to prevent this,
the events that happened, but it made no difference. My
purpose here was to make clear to the public that we in no
way want to leave any impression in the mind of anyone that
we are anything but innocent. And we do not accept this
notion, this facade that is being presented in this court,
that somehow we have agreed with this judgement, with this
sentencing, with anything that has taken place. We have
not, and we want to make this clear. We are innocent.
Absolutely, without any doubts whatsoever. we know we are
innocent.
(Livingstone Fagan, 35, a British social worker,
masters in theology and father of two, left Mount Carmel
during the siege. He was sentenced to 40 years and is non-
cooperating by refusing to appeal.)
JAIME CASTILLO
As Livingstone said, we still stand on our innocence.
Or I do, in my actions pertaining to February 28th. Judge,
you made a statement that the government is not on trial
here. There's no doubt in my mind that the government
should be on trial for its actions.
When justice and judgement is given to people to uphold
the law, in relation to Congress, legislation and so forth,
you've got to understand that we're all human beings and we
all make mistakes. And if we make these mistakes, we have
to acknowledge our mistakes. Going back to Genesis, the
time of Cain, passing the buck--I think that's what happened
here. People that were responsible didn't want to pay up
for their actions. Most of the people I've talked to see
the injustice that's been done by those responsible for
letting the agents pursue that avenue.
You know, every time I wake up in the morning, I'm in a
jail cell, and it's kind of hard to forget what you're going
through and your experience in relation to what occurred at
Mount Carmel. It's a scar that's left with me. And every
day I wake up and I have to realize that I'm still alive.
I've gone through an experience I try to share with people
and bring them to an understanding of what happened and what
Mount Carmel was about. And some people are spiritually
oriented and they want to know, "Hey, what happened out
there?"
I try to present to people's minds a truth that I've
learned the last six years in my experience with David and
the others. And the David Koresh that's been portrayed to
the world, that's not the David Koresh I understand and
know. That's not my friend. But David Koresh I know,
that's my experience and I think I'll keep it to myself.
I tell people, "It's like this. There's two spirits in
the world. There's a spirit of God and of Satan. And those
who are part of that spirit of Christ have that
understanding of truth, and they live their lives according
to that truth, as best they can, whether Muslim, Jew,
whatever." I try to put in people's minds there's a truth,
and related to that truth, we've told the truth. As soon as
I came out, I told the truth. I told the Texas Rangers what
happened. And we came to trial to ascertain that truth.
In the light of everything that's happened, there's a
God. We're hoping in something, we're hoping in the truth.
We're hoping in God's word. Not following David Koresh.
We're following the truth. If we're so deceived, then show
me where I'm wrong. I want to know.
I just hope that out of this whole situation, I hope
it's pricked the conscience of people to realize and to
understand, to waken people up to the realities taking place
in this world. And, hopefully, when God finally decides to
do something, maybe they'll have a better understanding.
Maybe they'll fear God for once in their lives.
(Jaime Castillo, 26, a musician from California,
survived the fire that burned Mount Carmel. He was
sentenced to 40 years and is appealing.)
RENOS AVRAAM
I've got quite a few issues. The [aiding and abetting]
voluntary manslaughter charge that was given to the Court to
give to the jury on my behalf actually was added by my
attorney without actually asking me for my permission. And
that might violate some of my rights under the Constitution,
since I should be told prior to any charge against myself
the actual nature of the charge or the indictment.
The second thing. We heard testimony saying that UH-1
helicopters were only used as diversion, but weren't
actually used to fire on Mount Carmel in any way. I have
evidence [to the contrary]. . .Now would it be okay if I
called David Aguilera (BATF lead investigator who was in a
helicopter) to the stand? (Judge Smith says no.) I've got
evidence that perjured testimony was used in this trial.
Are you saying that you're going to still make a judgement,
knowing that there is evidence showing there was perjury?
(The judge says this is not the time to raise that issue.)
My next thing is the want of jurisdiction in this
court. Has this Court got jurisdiction over me? I have
witnesses and evidence and testimony, and, therefore, proof
that I am innocent, and that alleged agents perjured
themselves and the prosecutor used perjured testimony with
specific intent. (Avraam challenges whether the judge is a
Constitutional Article III judge and the judge asserts he
is. Judge Smith claims that government witnesses "had no
reason to either lie or be mistaken" when they testified
under oath.)
Well, they did have a reason since the Posse Comitatus
Act does not allow military aircraft to be used in
[combatting] civilian crime. What I'm saying is that there
was good reason for them to lie. And the Comitatus Act may
have been violated by President Clinton by using tanks, the
tanks should never have been used to enter the building.
(Judge says none of that will affect the sentencing in his
case.)
I don't think anything I can say is going to have any
benefit. I don't think anything here is going to change
your mind. I believe you have your mind already made up.
(Avraam tries to read letter into record in which jury
forewoman Sarah Bain tells the judge about errors made by
the jury in deciding on their verdicts but Judge Smith says
a juror cannot impeach their verdict. Avraam disagrees. He
also attacks the credibility of Texas Rangers who kept
adding things during trial that were not in their original
reports.)
I'd like to say that for those who died at Mount
Carmel, I don't believe they died in vain. I do believe the
Government was responsible. I don't care what the
Government says, how much they try to whitewash it. I have
evidence that the CS gas was flammable. Colin Powell gave a
report saying CS gas was harmful and flammable, even self-
combustible. I don't believe it was right for them to use
tanks to go straight into the building where women and
children are.
I'm from England. This trial has not convinced me of
being guilty. It has not convinced me at all. I don't
think it's convinced the jury, because they're certainly
unsure. I don't think that you could sentence someone on
something that is not clear, not definitive, not facts.
For those who died at Mount Carmel, I won't forget
them. David Koresh told [undercover ATF agent Robert]
Rodriguez that "we know you're coming," and still they come
with helicopters blazing. Davy Aguilera, he was firing one
of them. He ain't going to deny it. Helicopters blazing.
They know that we know they're coming. The leadership put
the agents at risk. If I was the wife of the agents, I
would be suing the ATF leadership for being so stupid.
David Koresh did come to the door and did try to stop
them. But the plan was, go in through windows, flash-bangs
and everything, kill some dogs. The plan went ahead even
though they knew the element of surprise had been lost.
That's why Davy Aguilera started firing from the helicopter.
The criminal charges should be brought against those that
did that, because that is a violation of the Comitatus Act.
I don't think military equipment should be used against
civilians and that is in the Constitution.
Well, it's a sad situation because so many people died
for something that was so simple as someone's supposedly
converting semiautomatic to full automatic and every gun was
legally purchased. You can have automatic weapons, all you
need is a license. Of course, the Government wants
scapegoats out of all of this and we are the scapegoats.
We're all going to stand before God. And I hope, Judge
Smith, that you have a squeaky clean record, because as a
judge you're sentencing other people. I hope you can stand
before God. I hope you have done everything that you think
is right. We're all going to stand before God--if you
believe there is a God. I'm sure you do. I'm going to
stand before God and I will be happy to tell him, to affirm
my convictions. I've searched the Bible, I've searched
truth. I believe that David Koresh did teach the Seven
Seals.
The stories that are going around are all blown out of
proportion. That was the FBI and the ATF feeding the media,
the media's done such a good job of slandering the
Davidians. That's why there's such a travesty of justice.
And the agents came together, to speak to each other about
what they'd done. I can't see how you can accept their
testimony, their perjured testimony.
Well, I leave it in God's hands. God sits on the
throne, and I pray for the agents, I pray for the Davidians.
I leave it in God's hands.
(Renos Avraam, 31, a British businessman and musician,
survived the fire that burned Mount Carmel. He was
sentenced to 40 years and is appealing.)
KEVIN WHITECLIFF
Thank you, your honor, for giving me the time to give
you an understanding of my feelings. I'm from Honolulu,
Hawaii. We call that "paradise." And you know, to live in
paradise, born and raised, and to pack your bags at an
instant and leave, there's got to be reasons for that and
justifications in anybody's mind, to just pack up, whether
they're running from the law or whether they believe in a
faith. I had the opportunity, through friends that I knew
all my life, one of them being Steve Schneider, to get a few
Bible studies and to get that understanding of: what were we
supposed to do for today? I had always had questions like
that. Being born and raised in America, where I've always
heard God first, and then country. I have a curiosity for
my God and to know what is asked of me today. What should I
do to gain eternal life? What can I do for my family's
salvation or my salvation?
I met somebody that I thought was pretty inspired. And
he had a message and I couldn't refute it. So I followed
him to Waco to learn more. And my life revolved around
religion. From an Adventist school, I've always been taught
2000 year old questions. If Jesus came up to you and said,
"I'll make you fishers of men, will you follow me?" That's
always been in my mind. I wondered if I had the faith to do
something like that.
I believe that the message that I heard, the Seven
Seals, was an inspirational message. So I was there in Waco
learning more of it. I wasn't convinced. No one's ever
convinced. Studying the Bible is ongoing learning, it's
daily learning. And that's why I was there.
I had come on April 3rd, 1992. I was asked to come and
improve some property there. We built a gym, we built a
swimming pool for our kids. These guys are some of the
greatest individuals in the world. I lived with them for a
couple of years and I've lived in all kinds of
circumstances.
I've been a law enforcement officer, too, in Hawaii. I
don't think we did anything wrong, except what we believe
in. There's women and children in there. I think law
enforcement should have really considered that there are
kids, babies--babies on that land, mothers giving suck to
those babies on that land. And the way they went ahead and
bombarded the place, with 90 people armed to the hilt. I
mean, being a former law enforcement agent myself, I can't
fathom that type of reaction, especially as far as being
your first choice of operation. I don't have a disrespect
for people like the disrespect that was shown for us that
day.
I thought I was going to die that day. I thought I was
going to get blown away. And I couldn't believe this was
our country doing this to its citizens. I couldn't believe
it. In fact, I didn't see [who it was] until after the
retreat. When I read what was on the backs of their
clothes, I couldn't believe it, Judge. I could not believe
that was a law enforcement agency that did that. I thought
we got attacked by some kind of renegades or some kind of an
anti-Christian group.
I was sacred. I was so scared that I thought for two or
three weeks I was going to die, until there was
negotiations. Then I came out, in good faith and to see if
there was justice in this country. And that's what I'm
doing right now. I'm hoping, one last breath, because I'm
not an articulate person. I just hope that you do extend as
much mercy as you can on all of us as a group, on all of us.
I can't see the justification for 30 years. No way.
Put in that situation where you've got women and
children crying and screaming, "Oh, my God, please help us,
save us, do something! They're shooting at us!" It's a
reaction, because when bullets fly, they fly faster than the
mind can perceive. And when you're hit, you go down. But
until you are hit, you have a God-given instinct, and that
God-given instinct is for self-preservation. You do
anything, you pick up anything you can, if you life is
threatened, to defend yourself. And you do your best to
live another day or live another hour or another minute.
Every time I reflect on that day and what had happened,
I don't think we were given any time at all to make any kind
of decision that this Court would accept. No. It was
either live or die. That was my experience. We have to go
right back to self-preservation, it's God-given. You've got
people attacking you. You've got women and children being
fired at. It's a masculine thing, a protective thing.
I was raised in a family where we protected each other.
I have a wife. I have children that haven't seen me in over
two years now and they're asking me, "Dad, when are you
coming home?"
And I just hope that the courts and the Judge will
understand that we're there for our faith. We're there for
our beliefs. We didn't ask anybody to provoke anything.
There was no prior contempt in any way at all from us. We
are law-abiding citizens. We all are law abiding citizens.
And we'd probably still be there today, minding our own
business, if the 28th of February 1993 never came. I think
we're a plus to our community, and I think our neighbors
could honestly tell you that we've done a lot of work for
them for nothing. Unfortunately, that never came up
publicly. I do not know why, but God will be the judge one
day.
I personally have never been arrested in my whole life.
I have never owned a weapon in my whole life or had a
registration for a gun. I've never participated in a gun
show. And I'll say 98 percent of the people there didn't
either.
Count Three, I understand it's automatic weapons versus
regular firearms. I have not been able to, even analyzing
what happened in the trial and what I have before me, to
[understand your] conclusion for us to have automatic
weapons. I've never owned an automatic weapon. I've never
fired an automatic weapon. I do not know what an automatic
weapon would consist of. I want you to know [Mount Carmel]
is big. There are places I've never been in that facility.
There were certain places that were off limits.
What we did was not planned. It was a reaction. If
you approach somebody by knocking up on their door and
saying, "Hey, we've got some discrepancies, we've got some
problems. We know you're a good old boy. We've dealt with
you in the past."
We know the local county sheriffs. Why don't you come
on out and cooperate with us?
There was none of that at all. There was cattle trucks
to conceal 90 individuals that had firearms. There were
three, four helicopters buzzing around, shooting people.
What the ATF did was unjustifiable. They owe us an apology
for what they've done, the type of tactics they've done, not
considering at all the Constitution and the right for God-
fearing people to assemble, as well as live together. I
think they broke and violated everybody's constitutional
rights to be there, just to be there in beliefs or searching
for the truth. It takes time, it takes input, to search.
And I know you have decisions today, Judge, to make,
and I know you're getting, probably, tired of me. I [see]
your lack of eye contact, but I understand. I just want to
get this over with and go home. My daughter wants to know
when I'm coming home. My wife wants to know when I'm coming
home. My mom wants to know when I'm coming home. I just
want this to be over and behind me, and I think the other
guys do, too.
As far as what the Government reported to the press,
what the majority of the population thought and believed
that we were, it was just a burden. I'm under duress. I've
spent 15 months in jail. I'm not the same individual I was.
Believe me, I'm not. I'm run down. I'm pressured out.
It's taken its toll on me. It has. And I hope your
decision today will consider that. Consider the fact that
I've never been in trouble in my life. Consider that I've
always had a job. Consider that I've paid my taxes and done
the best job I can.
I hope you consider these people here. They have
families, too. They have lives, too. Regardless, I know
what you have to do, you have to do. Consider that I have a
family, too, and a life I'd like to go ahead and pursue if
it's at all possible with you. And I know my daughter, my
son, would like to see me again before I'm 73. I'd like to
have that chance to start over again. I think we all would
like to have that chance.
You're never going to change our beliefs. Our beliefs
are our beliefs, and they will stay with us, like
Livingstone said. But the Government has a chance now to
make a lot of wrong a little it more right, at least even it
up a little bit on our behalf. And I think the people of
this country are watching real closely to see what kind of
decisions you'll make today. And I hope that you'll do the
right thing and analyze the past of each of us and where
we've been and what we've done. And I think you'll come to
the conclusion in your heart that we're not common
criminals, we don't fit the same M.O. If there is any more
time to be spent [in prison], at least give us that
opportunity, each one of us, give us that opportunity to
have a future again.
(Kevin Whitecliff, 34, left Mount Carmel during the
siege. He was sentenced to 40 years and is appealing.)
BRAD BRANCH
You honor, ladies and gentlemen. I'm basically a shy
person, so if I faint. I'm going to stand up here with all
humility. And the truth of the matter is, these people that
I'm here with, it's a basic truth, a Seven Seal truth. We
stand in judgement before God. The question is simple. Who
is worthy? I don't know what to tell this Court as far as
what ya'll want to hear. And if I made no sense, it's
because I can't make any sense of the Court.
As far as the matters of the Court and the question of
sentencing, I just want to say that we were not advised on
the [aiding and abetting voluntary] manslaughter charge.
Our lawyers did a very good job and I commend them. I've
lost all thought.
(Brad Branch, 36, a technician from Texas, left Mount
Carmel during the siege. He was sentenced to 40 years and
is appealing.)
PAUL FATTA
Your Honor, I just ask that you give me a few moments
to say some things and try to look at things from my point
of view. It seems like for these past 14 months, we've just
looked at things from the Government's point of view, and,
you know, they're people just like me. I'm going to read
this statement:
Why did so many of my friends and family have to suffer
and die at Mount Carmel? Who wants to take responsibility?
The ATF doesn't. The FBI won't. How about Janet Reno?
William Sessions? [Stephen] Higgins? Lloyd Bentsen? And,
of course, Bill Clinton. I heard all these people judging
my friends on national television. Why didn't any of these
people have the courage to show up in court? Where are the
managers and supervisors of these agencies? Why wouldn't
they testify in court? Many of them have resigned, retired,
have been fired or relocated. These are the very people
that mocked and ridiculed my friends publicly.
They told us we would be treated fairly and humanely.
They arrested our grandmothers and grandfathers, strip-
searched them and put them in jail, charged them with
murder. Then paraded them in front of the television
cameras in chains.
On April 19th we had to watch as the FBI gassed and
demolished our home. This was fair and humane treatment?
Who wants to take responsibility?
Why did the Government plan a military assault on such
a small group of people? The majority of people living at
Mount Carmel were women, children and elderly. What our
Government did to my friends would never be done to a
foreign country. First, we would send ambassadors of peace
and negotiators. The Branch Davidians were never given a
chance. The Government's attitude is, let's launch a full
out military assault and negotiate later.
A little respect and common sense can go a long way.
Did ATF investigators bother to contact our families and do
a background investigation? Did they make an effort to find
out what our faith in God was? If the Government felt we
were misguided, misled or deceived, why didn't they send
some representative to show us our error? We are reasonable
people, we would have sat down and listened to what they had
to say. I know for a fact, if the U.S. Attorneys and the
ATF would have treated us with respect, this tragedy would
never have happened. We had a right to exercise our
religion and be left alone.
What kind of spirit or mind would send 90 agents and
helicopters to someones' home, knowing they were provoking a
confrontation? The people responsible for the planning and
execution of this military assault on our church are
supposed to be intelligent, professional people. They are
public servants. Their job is to serve and protect, not
kill, main and destroy property.
The prosecution wants the public to believe they are
fighting for the four agents that died. I find that hard to
believe. The truth is, they're trying to cover up their own
incompetent decision-making. These men, along with others,
were more concerned about putting on a show than the lives
on my friends and federal agents. The truth is, the Branch
Davidians were for peace, but the Government was for war.
Here are some facts from the trial to back that statement.
Number one. I witnessed David Koresh leave Mount
Carmel at least a dozen times in the last two months before
the raid. David Koresh invited ATF Agent David Aguilera to
inspect all the weapons at Mount Carmel, but he refused.
David Koresh and the other residents of Mount Carmel treated
undercover ATF agent Robert Rodriguez with respect. He was
invited into our home and we shared our faith with him. He
was never threatened or provoked, not even the morning of
the raid. Robert Rodriguez pleaded with the raid
supervisors to call off the raid. Why didn't they listen?
Why would they purposely want to provoke a confrontation?
Was "show time" and a budget hearing in March more important
than the lives of men, woman and children?
David Koresh went to the front door unarmed. He told
the attacking agents, "Let's talk. There are women and
children living here." Instead he was met with gunfire, and
him and his father-in-law were both wounded.
Wayne Martin called 911 to arrange a cease-fire. How
many lives could have been saved if this message was quickly
passed to all the agents? At every point, an honest effort
was made to avoid a confrontation. Why wouldn't anybody
listen?
I came to Mount Carmel to study the Bible and to be
supportive with the talents God has given me. I believe
there was more truth from the Bible and Mount Carmel than
any other place on the face of this earth. That is my
personal experience. Theologians, scholars and religious
leaders could not unlock the mysteries of the Book of
Revelation or the prophecies. I believe David Koresh was
given the responsibility to reveal the Seven Seals and make
it plain to all those who had an ear to hear. I base my
faith on God's word and go by the weight of evidence.
Ultimately, God is my judge. I'll have to stand the
judgement alone. I won't be judged according to man's laws.
I will be judged according to God's word.
Many people find it strange we believe we will see our
friends that died again. They are in error because they
don't know the Scriptures nor the power of God. There's
coming a day when those people responsible for the deaths of
my friends are going to bow down at the feet of those
children and be ashamed for their actions.
I guess the last thing I could say is, I don't have any
personal grudges against law enforcement people. I have
sheriffs, police officers, even ATF agents in my family.
But there's something wrong with the way we were treated.
And the way I look at it is if the U.S. Attorneys and the
ATF planners had had family living at Mount Carmel, like
brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, I think they would have
handled things differently.
(Paul Fatta, 36, a businessman born in Hawaii, was not
at Mount Carmel on February 28, 1993. He was sentenced to
15 years and is appealing.)
GRAEME CRADDOCK
Most people that know me know that I very rarely say
much, even in the best of circumstances. As I hope you can
appreciate, this is not the best of circumstances.
When I came out of Mount Carmel after the fire, I told
the truth to whatever authorities that asked me, whether
they were Texas Rangers or the Grand Jury. Or perhaps I
should say, I told the truth under the best of circumstances
that I could, realizing that I had been through a traumatic
experience. And having gone through that, when you're in a
tough situation, you mind tends to narrow what you can
remember. Nevertheless, I told the truth.
You probably are aware that much of the evidence that
was presented against me has come from the testimony of my
own mouth, that is, the Grand Jury statement. Others who
came out of Mount Carmel have never been indicted or
convicted of a crime. I think possibly the reason for that
is because they have chosen their constitutional right to
remain silent and perhaps that's the only difference between
what I have done and what they have done. I have chosen to
tell the truth, whether it's hurt me, and obviously it has.
I've put myself in a situation where you can have your
choice as to whether to show me mercy or not. I wanted the
truth to come out, the real truth, whether it hurt us or
not. If there is a God and if there is a judgement to come
after this, then all truth about what happened at Mount
Carmel is going to be revealed.
When the firing broke out I just lie on the floor. We
all heard shots being fired. I'd describe it like
hailstones on a tin roof. It was very terrifying for all of
us.
Because of my own testimony I believe I'm here today
under threat of 40 years imprisonment. Because I did speak
out, I did cooperate as best I could, I feel I am due some
respect from this court. I think it's wrong to be convicted
because you cooperated.
From all the people's perception of what David Koresh
taught, people perceive him to teach a violent doctrine. I
hate guns. I hate firearms. That's just my nature. I'm a
quiet person. I never wished harm on anyone. I certainly
didn't fire on anyone in those 51 days. I never attempted
to harm a hair on anyone's head, in action or in intent.
I have been convicted of possession of a grenade. I'm
from another country. I've never been instructed to the
letter of the law. Certainly on the 28th of February, 1993
I had no wish or desire for any one of those agents to be
injured.
I spent 51 days during that siege, during which I did
my best to make life as livable as possible inside for those
that were in there. I took on the responsibility of trying
to maintain a communication system, a telephone line to the
outside which, under those circumstances, was very
difficult.
So far as that grenade which I have been convicted of,
I never had any desire to possess a grenade. The first time
we saw those grenades was on the first day of the raid,
after the initial raid had taken place. I saw a box of
maybe a half a dozen or a dozen grenades.
My interest in staying the 51 days was for those
people, the women, the children, my friends. I believe
these were innocent people. These are people I loved very
much and I tried to help them.
I never had any intention or desire to possess a
grenade. After being through 51 days of this absolute
terror, it drained practically every morsel of inner
strength from you. I didn't have any sleep. You had no
will any more to care about anything. And when someone
says, "Do you know how to use one of these?" I answered,
instinctively and honestly (sic), "Yes."
I didn't care about it. It could have been a feather
duster. I didn't have any intention to cause any harm to
anyone with it. When you are in a situation like that, you
don't want to get into an argument, a discussion. You just
put the thing in a pocket and walk away. I wanted to get
rid of the thing, but where are you going to put it?
There's tanks coming through the wall. What if one of them
rolls over it and sets the thing off? I didn't even know
how dangerous the thing was. I didn't even know if it would
go off. I can't throw it outside, it would be just as
dangerous out there. The safest, the only time to get rid
of it, was in the cinder block cell.
That's the testimony I want to put to you today. If
you want to condemn me for that, then the message [you're
telling] the average person is, "Don't cooperate with
authorities. Even if you do, they're going to come down on
you like a ton of bricks."
(Graeme Craddock, 33, an Australian teacher and
engineer, survived the fire that burned Mount Carmel. He
was sentenced to 20 years and is appealing.)
RUTH RIDDLE
I'd just like to say that this whole experience has
been quite a tragedy, from my point of view and I'm sure
from the agents' and their surviving families point of view.
I feel at it's all been based on a misunderstanding.
We were a people living together as a family. We loved
one another and we cared about one another, just as I'm sure
the ATF family cares about each one in their family. And we
were living there trying to study the word of God, to learn
what was right for our day. And the things that happened
last year need not have happened.
I was very saddened and moved by the things the
families of the ATF who were killed said in the [sentencing]
report. And I was also moved by the injured ATF agents who
came and testified during the trial. But there was injury
and sadness on both sides. We also saw Marjorie Thomas, who
was very badly burned in the fire.
I'd just like to say that all these things need not
have happened, and its been a terrible tragedy and it was
not my intent, personally, that anyone be harmed in anyway.
The last 14 months have been hard on me, as I'm sure they've
been on my brothers. And I'd like to thank the support of
all our friends and family. And I'd like to thank the
lawyers who have spoken for us, and also the jury, who took
a lot of time to consider things for us.
I'd just like to say that I feel its all been based on
a misunderstanding. And I would ask that you take all
things into consideration and grant as much leniency as
possible within the law, because I know that's your duty.
And I hope you do the right thing. And may God save this
Court and may God save the United States of America.
(Ruth Riddle, 31, a Canadian citizen, survived the fire
that burned Mount Carmel. She was sentenced to 5 years and
is not appealing.)
If you would like to express your support to the Davidian
prisoners, their addresses are:
Kevin Whitecliff, #60537-080
F.C.I.--Box 4200
Three Rivers, Texas 78071
Brad Branch, #60536-080
F.C.I.--Box 4200
Three Rivers, Texas 78071
Renos Avraam, #60590-080
F.C.I.--Box 1500
El Reno, OK 73036
Jaime Castillo, #60594-080
F.C.I.--Box 5000
Oakdale, LA 71463
Paul Fatta, #61154-079
F.C.I.--Box 3000
Anthony, NM 88021
Ruth Riddle, #60596-080
F.C.I.--33 1/2 Pembroke Rd.
Danbury, CT 06811
Graeme Craddock
#60593-080
F.C.I.--Box 5000
Oakdale, LA 71463
Livingston Fagan,
#60550-080
F.C.I.--Box 1500
El Reno, OK 73036
Contributions for the prisoners' postage and telephone
needs or for the ongoing efforts by survivors to build a
memorial at Mount Carmel can be to:
Mount Carmel Survivors Memorial Fund, Inc.
Box 120
Axtell, TX 76624
The best way to have a positive effect on the appeals
process is to work for a congressional investigation of BATF
and FBI crimes against the Branch Davidians. Write your
congressional representative and senators as well as those
listed below:
Senator Orrin G. Hatch
U.S. Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
(Chair of Judiciary Committee)
Mark Dissler, Chief Counsel
Senate Judiciary Committee
Washington, D.C. 20510
Rep. Henry Hyde
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
(Chair of Judiciary Committee)
Allen Coffey, Chief Counsel
House Judiciary Committee
2138 Rayburn Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Rep. Newt Gingrich
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
(Speaker of the House)
Senator Robert Dole
U.S. Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
(Senate Majority Leader)
Edited by Carol Moore, February, 1995.
Distributed by:
Committee for Waco Justice
Box 65518, Washington, DC 20035
202/986-1847 202/797-9877
END
