Page B3
Kinkel
Plea
K ip K inkel a b a n d o n e d an in sa n ity
defense and pleaded guiltyy to m ur
d erin g his p a re n ts at h o m e and
then k illin g tw o c la ssm a te s in a
sh o o tin g ra m p a g e la s t y e a r at
S p r i n g f i e l d ’ s T h u r s t o n H ig h
S chool. K in k el sa t slu m p ed in a
ch a ir an d slo w ly rea d o v e r th e plea
to fo u r co u n ts o f m u rd e r an d 25
co u n ts o f a tte m p te d m u rd e r in a
c o u rtro o m p a c k e d w ith su rv iv o rs
an d v ic tim s ’ fam ily m em b ers. H is
p le a ca m e ju s t th ree d a y s b e fo re a
trial th a t o ffe re d a c h a n c e to get
in sid e the m in d o f a sc h o o l s h o o te r
an d o ffe r a p o ssib le “ W h y ” to the
b afflin g strin g o f sim ila r sp ree s
acro ss th e n atio n . “ T h is is th e best
re so lu tio n o f th e c a s e ,” sa id Jo h n
W alley , w h o se so n w as w o u n d ed
in th e sh o o tin g . “ 1 d o n ’t n eed to
u n d e rsta n d w h at he w as th in k in g .
Y ou can b ea t y o u r h e a d ag a in st
th a t w all a n d y ou w ill go cra zy
b ec au se it w as a se n se le ss th in g .”
T he 1 7 -y ea r-o ld co u ld g et a life
tim e b e h in d b a rs w h e n C irc u it
Ju d ge Jack M attiso n se n ten ces him
later for the M ay 1998 attack. K inkel
to ld in v e stig a to rs ju s t h o u rs afte r
h is a rre st th a t he h ad “ no c h o ic e ”
b u t to kill a fte r sh am in g his p aren ts
by g ettin g e x p e lle d from school.
B ecau se he w as ju s t 15 at th e tim e,
K inkel n e v e r fac ed th e d ea th p e n
alty.
B ut h is a tto rn e y s h a d h o p ed to
sp a re him a life tim e in p riso n by
p ro v in g he w as in sa n e , o r at le ast
d istu rb e d to th e p o in t th a t he w as
n o t fu lly in c o n tro l o f h is ac tio n s.
I f his la w y e rs h ad b ee n su c ce ssfu l,
K inkel w o u ld h av e b ee n co n fin e d
to a m en tal h o sp ital u n til he w as no
lo n g er a d a n g e r to so c iety . B ut late
T h u rsd a y n ig h t, su rv iv o rs o f th e
sh o oting and v ic tim s’ fam ily m em
b ers w ere c a lle d by p ro se c u to rs
an d to ld to be in c o u rt to d a y fo r a
plea.
T he facts o f th e c a se w ere n o t in
d isp u te. K in k e l’s ram p a g e b egan
M ay 2 0 ,1 9 9 8 , after he w as expelled
from sc h o o l fo r h a v in g a sto len
p isto l in his lo ck er. H e shot and
k illed his p are n ts, te ac h ers B ill and
F aith K in k el, an d th e n sp e n t the
n ig h t alo n e at ho m e p la n tin g booby
trap b o m b s aro u n d th e b o d ie s b e
fo re d riv in g to sc h o o l.
D re sse d in a long tre n c h c o a t, he
w alk e d in to the c a fe te ria ju s t b e
fo re c la s s e s b e g a n an d c a lm ly
p u lled a ,2 2 -c alib e r se m ia u to m atic
rifle from his co a t. F irin g from his
hip, he sq u e e z e d o f f 50 ro u n d s in
ju s t 90 se co n d s o f te rro r. C la ss
m ates B en W a lk e r, 16, an d M ikael
N ick o lau so n , 17, d ie d in th e sh o o t
ing th a t en d e d w h en se v e ra l b o y s
ta ck le d K in k el as he w as try in g to
reload.
“ Ju st sh o o t m e. S h o o t m e n o w ,”
K inkel sa id as he w as w re stle d to
the ground. L ater in a ja il interview
ro o m , K in k e l lu n g e d a t a d e te c tiv e
w ith a k n ife th a t h ad b e e n ta p ed to
his leg and b e g g e d p o lic e to k ill
him . T h ey fo u n d tw o b u lle ts tap ed
to his c h e st, an d he to ld them they
w ere sa v ed fo r h im self. P ro se c u
tors had lined up one o f the n a tio n ’s
m o st so u g h t-a fte r fo re n sic p s y
c h ia trists to te stify .
Dr. P ark D ietz, w h o has testified
a g a in st th e U n a b o m b e r, Je ffre y
D ahm er an d w o u ld -b e p resid e n tia l
assa ssin Jo h n H in k le y Jr., had a l
rea d y re c e iv e d p e rm issio n fo r a
p h y sic al ex a m in a tio n o f the te e n ’s
b rain. B ut ev e n K in k e l h im s e lf
seem ed aw a re o f h is p la c e in the
sa d lin e u p o f P a d u c a h , P e a rl,
Jo n e sb o ro an d C o n y e rs. A fte r last
sp rin g ’s L ittle to n , C o lo ., sh o o tin g
that left 15 people dead, an anguished
K inkel told a defense psychologist
that he blam ed h im self for w hat he
saw as a copycat crim e.
K inkel had m anaged to convince
his parents’ friends that he w as a
good kid, but his c lassm ates knew he
bragged about building bom bs and
torturing anim als and voted him M ost
Likely to Start W orld W ar III. D esper
ate to control his son, K inkel’s father
tried counseling, Prozac and even an
attem pt to get him into a N ational
G uard unit. “ I had to be 100 percent,”
Kinkel told defense psychiatrist O rin
Bolstad. “N o one is perfect though.
Lots o f tim es, life sucked. W ith my
parents, if I d id n 't do the best, I was
an em barrassm ent to m y p are n ts."
October 6, 1999
(Elje Jlo rtla x tò (ßbßeruer
Supreme Court to rule on grandparents’
rights to visit
Most states had enacted grandparent-
visitation laws by the early 1990s.
In 1992, the justices rejected chal
lenges to such laws in Kentucky and
Wisconsin. But in 1995, the court let
stand a state court's ruling that struck
down a Georgia law allowing grandpar
ents to win access to their grandchildren
over parents’ objections. In the Wash
ington case, Gary and Jenifer Troxel seek
to regain visitation rights to their young
granddaughters, Natalie and Isabelle,
over the objections o f the girls' mother,
TommieGranville Wynn.
"W e’re ecstatic that this is going to
be heard,” Jenifer Troxel said from the
couple’s home. “W e think it’s important
to grandparents all over the nation.”
A call to W ynn’s residence went
unanswered. The girls’ father, Brad
Troxel, committed suicide in 1993.
are otherwise satisfactory,” the state
court said last Dec. 24 in wiping out a
Anacortes, Wash., couple’s legal right
to see their tw o granddaughters.
”To suggest otherwise would be the
logical equivalent o f asserting that the
state has the authority to break up stable
families and redistribute its infant popu
lation to provide each child with the
‘best family,” ’ the state court added.
The justices indicated they will hear
arguments in the case in January. Their
decision is expected by next June. For
the second time this month, the court got
a head start on its 1999-2000term, which
will begin Monday, by granting cases.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who re
tu rn ed ho m e T u e sd a y a fte r an
11-day hospital stay during which she
underwent colon cancer surgery, ap
parently participated in the court action.
W A SH IN G TO N - The Suprem e
C ourt set the stage Tuesday for an
im portant ruling on grandparents’
rights to see their grandchildren even
when parents object - a case that
could affect laws in all 50 states.
The nme justices - six o f them with
grandchildren o f their own - agreed to
decide whether a state can give visita
tion rights to grandparents when, after
a divorce or some other family split.the
c h ild re n ’s
p a re n ts
say
no.
The case involves Washington state,
where the state’s highest court ruled
that such a law violates parents ’ ‘‘funda
mental right” to rear their families with
out governmental interference. All other
states ha ve similar laws .’’State interven
tion to better a child’s quality o f life
through third-party visitation is not jus
tified where the child’s circumstances
BradTtoxelandTommieGranvillewere
never married but had two daughters
during their relationship. When they
separated, Troxel lived with his parents.
The girls regularly visited him here. After
Troxel’s death, the girls continued see
ing their grandparents regularly until
their mother limited their visits. In late
1993, the Tioxels went into state court to
obtain enforceable visitation rights, and
in 1995 they were awarded visitation
one w eekend each m onth, one week
during the sum m er and four hours
on the g irls’ birthdays.
W hile G ranville appealed, she
m a rrie d K e lly W y n n . H e th en
adopted N atalie and Isabelle. A state
appeals court and the W ashington
Suprem e C ourt ruled against the
grandparents even w hile recogniz
ing that in som e cases children will
be hurt.
"T he family entity is the core ele
m ent upon w hich m odem civ iliza
tion is founded ..A p aren t’s co n sti
tutionally protected right to rear his
or her children w ithout state inter
ference has been recognized as a
fundam ental liberty in te r e s t... and
also as a fundam ental right derived
from the privacy rights inherent in
the C onstitution,” the state Suprem e
C ourt said.
It noted that the W ashington law
broadly gave “any person” the right
to petition for visitation rights.
G ra n d p aren ts on the n a tio n 's
highest court include C h ief Justice
W illiam H. R ehnquist and Justices
Jo h n Paul Stevens, S andra D ay
O ’Connor, Antonin Scalia, A nthony
M. K e n n e d y a n d G in sb u rg .
THIS WEEK S
SPECIALS
<O.
*
88 MAZDA RX7 C O N V r
t
5-spd, black, $1500 worth of wheels & tires,
loaded, leather. #2415
5-spd, AC, PW, PL, tilt, CC, rich red, i<- ,.,v
w/real sheepskin covers. #2341
*85 TOYOTA MR2
Sunroof, 5-spd, AM/FM cassette,
AC, rear wing, alloy wheels, cruise,
tilt. #2467
90 HONDA CIVIC OX
4-Dr, 5-spd, AC, AM/FM cassette,
16v, new tires, bright red. #2468
'91 TOYOTA TERCEL
AM/FM cassette, may wheels, gas
saver, pretty blue, new sheepskins.
#2469
89 TO YO TA COROLLA GTS
Twin cam, 16V. powered sunroof,
5-spd, bra, AC, cruise & tilt, mags,
AM/FM cassette. #2057
89 TOYOTA CELICA
88 HONDA ACCORD 2-DR
Automatic. AM/FM cassette, AC, gas Automatic, AC, It. blue, Rally
wheels, - a Honda. #2409
saver, sky blue #2426
$2'
88 FORD ESCORT GT '87 CHRYS LEBARON CONV.
New paint, mag wheels, 5-spd,
AM/FM CD player, AC, cruise, & tilt.
#2451
90 VW JETTA 4-DR
Auto, AC, PW, PL, Wolfsburg
Edition, white, w/moonroof. #2446
86 HONDA ACCORD 4-DR
Auto, AC. PW, PL, tilt & CC.
#2431
New power top, new paint, 89k
original miles, auto, leather, mags,
AC, tilt. #2234
90 FORD
THUNDERBIRD LX
Auto, AC, maroon, PW, PL, tilt, &
CC. Pwr seats, low miles #2459
*85 DODGE DAYTONA
SHELBY
5-spd, AC, PW, PL, tilt, CC, & ice
cold air. #1985
" • T li
92 CHEV CORSICA LT 93 FORD MUSTANG LX
Auto, AM/FM cassette, 3.1 V6, tilt,
airbag, PW, PL, bright white. #2412
W E FINANCE
EVERYONE
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
'88 OLDS CUTLASS
SUPREME
5-spd, AC, pwr windows, pwr locks,
tilt, & CC. Only 63,000 miles. #1962 I Auto, AC. PW, PL, white, tilt, CC.
Super clean. #2287________
N O CREDIT
SLOW CREDIT
REPOS
COLLECTIONS
BANKRUPTCY
89 CHRYSLER
LEBARON CONV.
Auto, AC. PW, PL, tilt & CC.
nonsmoker, 82,000 act. mi #2477
87 HONDA PRELUDE SI
5-spd, AC. red. loaded w/equipment,
moonroof, premium wheels. #2276
333
90 PONT SUNBIRD LX
Auto, AC, white, loaded, sport
wheels, & super clean. #2450
*92 FORD ESCORT LX WGN
5-spd, gold, CD player & more
#2429
90 FORD TAURUS LX
Auto, AC, PW, PL. tilt & CC. Maroon
- a steal I #2399
NO PROBLEM!
TRUCKS - 4X4S - VANS
7«^ T -A
86 T O Y P U 4 X 4 KING CAB
5-spd. matching canopy, white,
premium whls & tires. AM/FM
cassette. #2466
92 FORD AEROSTAR VAN
7-pass, auto. AM/FM cass, AC,
cruise & tilt, 2000 tags, V6 eng ,
PW. PL #2393
89 TOYOTA 4RUNNER '88 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4 PU '85 FO RD F150 X L T 4 X 4
4x4, AC, AM/FM cass, chrome whls
& off road tires, tilt, jet black, w/lots
of chrome. #2477
86 FORD BRONCO II
4 x 4 ,5-spd, new paint, 2001 tags,
oft road wheels & tires, V6 engine
#2403
5-spd, sliding rear window, off road
whls & tires, silver/blue, sporty 4x4
truck. #2256
84 GMC K-5 JIM M Y
PW, PL, AM/FM cassette, 2000 tags
beautiful 2-tone paint. #2411
AT, AM/FM cass, cruise & tilt. AC,
PW, PL, CB radio. #2420
67 CLASSIC CHEVY PU
AM/FM CD player, 350 V8 engine,
auto, classic racing orange. #2437
91 ISUZU PICKUP
Bright red, 5-spd, 2001 tags, cloth
interior. #2371
88 DODGE RAM 50
5-spd, matching canopy, 2001 tags,
AM/FM cassette, tilt, newer tires
#2392
7!^ ‘Tfeut
Wholesale Auto Sales
1134 S.E. 82nd Ave. • Portland
5 blocks south of Stark St. across from Portland Suzuki Motorcycles
*0AC. Subject to Lender's Guidelines.
*88 DODGE % T CONV. VAN
Captain chairs, chrome wheels,
AM/FM cass. cust. paint & striping,
AC. blinds, nice, nice van. #2976
’85 FORD F150 PU
AM/FM CD player, bedliner. bench
seat. 2000 tags. 6-cyl engine, ready
for work or play. #2470