GUILTY CT - Barry James, 59, stabbed to death, Fairfield, 28 Aug 2006

[southcitymom]

So what they're trying to say is that he repeatedly creeped into her room at night?

I just have to say that no one could have gotten to my 2-year-olds during the starry starry nights repeatedly. If I am wrong about this, I am happy to eat crow, but could the parents really not have been aware that this was going on? I still need more information.

 

[southcitymom]

I am only sorry the father will have to go to prison.

Why's that?

 

[luthersmama]

I am pretty sure the window panel referenced was from the murder victim's house.

This is what the NY Post article said:

" Several detectives went to Edington's house yesterday and examined a window panel that they took from the scene. It wasn't immediately clear why."


Edington is the killer. The paper could be wrong though.

 

[southcitymom]

This is what the NY Post article said:

" Several detectives went to Edington's house yesterday and examined a window panel that they took from the scene. It wasn't immediately clear why."


Edington is the killer. The paper could be wrong though.

I stand corrected. Sounds like they were investigating the molestation charge to see if what the young girl said could be verified. Thanks for finding that quote.

 

[Amraann]

Why's that?

Because I have no problem with some scum bag child molestor being killed in a brutal manner.

 

[Linda7NJ]

Because I have no problem with some scum bag child molestor being killed in a brutal manner.

:blowkiss: me either!

 

[southcitymom]

Because I have no problem with some scum bag child molestor being killed in a brutal manner.

So you believe he was a child molester based on what you know?

 

[CyberLaw]

Children are often unreliable witnesses, children especially under 4 are VERY easy manipulated and come to the conclusions or tell stories at the "suggestion" of adults.

At 2, ask a 4 year old to tell you about something. They don't know the difference between reality, fantasy, or what someone has suggested to them.

I find it very suspect that this girl "told her" mom while they were "alone out of town", and not just tell the Mom and Dad, that this man came through my window last night when it happened.

As in the starry, starry night. Please how many 2 year old children use the term" starry night.

I do think that this child may have overheard others talk about this man. Who knows what the environment that this child lives in, after all her Father "seems" a tad unstable, has anger control issues, destroys public displays, and kills people on the basis of no factual evidence.

I think this man "was just looking" for justification in killing this neighbour and what better "pseudo" justification as in "he harmed" my daughter.

So lets look at "who suggested" what and when to this child.

A child that watches cartoons, plays dress up and dolls, and hold tea parties with "fictional" stuffed animals and does not know the difference between what is real and what is not.

Trust me.....this just does not add up.

 

[Details]

"Starry night" could be a term the molester used - but I'd agree, I'd want to be very sure, and check evidence and other info before taking such a drastic action. What's the lawyer going to say, if it turns out to be a fantasy or misinterpretation? Oops, sorry?

I've no problem with a child molester getting such a death, but I do have a problem with vigilante justice - it goes wrong, far too often, no matter how sure people are that they are right.

 

[Amraann]

So you believe he was a child molester based on what you know?

Yes, I do.
and I don't think anyone except is ailing 89 YO mother is surprised by it.

He made it habit to act like a loon and go naked throughout the neighborhood.
A 2 YO doesn't make up something like that.

 

[southcitymom]

Yes, I do.
and I don't think anyone except is ailing 89 YO mother is surprised by it.

He made it habit to act like a loon and go naked throughout the neighborhood.
A 2 YO doesn't make up something like that.

2-year olds make up things constantly and are very easily manipulated. They are a wonder to talk to and switch back and forth seamlessly between reality and fantasy. I love 2-year-olds with all my heart, but I haven't seen/heard any evidence that convinces me that the murder victim molested her.

I am grateful for due process!

 

[southcitymom]

Children are often unreliable witnesses, children especially under 4 are VERY easy manipulated and come to the conclusions or tell stories at the "suggestion" of adults.

At 2, ask a 4 year old to tell you about something. They don't know the difference between reality, fantasy, or what someone has suggested to them.

I find it very suspect that this girl "told her" mom while they were "alone out of town", and not just tell the Mom and Dad, that this man came through my window last night when it happened.

As in the starry, starry night. Please how many 2 year old children use the term" starry night.

I do think that this child may have overheard others talk about this man. Who knows what the environment that this child lives in, after all her Father "seems" a tad unstable, has anger control issues, destroys public displays, and kills people on the basis of no factual evidence.

I think this man "was just looking" for justification in killing this neighbour and what better "pseudo" justification as in "he harmed" my daughter.

So lets look at "who suggested" what and when to this child.

A child that watches cartoons, plays dress up and dolls, and hold tea parties with "fictional" stuffed animals and does not know the difference between what is real and what is not.

Trust me.....this just does not add up.

I agree with a lot of what you have posted, Cyberlaw. Not much I had read about this case adds up and I cannot understand this man taking such extreme action based on the phone call he got from his wife. This man has anger issues, without question.

I can, however, see a child using the phrase "starry starry might" to describe nighttime. My kids would use descriptive turns of prase such as this at that age - usually they would pick it up from a book. For example, if a book talked about a "smiling sun", that's they way they would often say sun.

But children this age wonderfully slip in and out of fantasy and reality when they converse. You cannot always know which place they are conversing from!

 

[LovelyPigeon]

So much so wrong with this case, from acting out a murderous stabbing based on a 2-year-old's ambiguous statement to her mother, to how the neighbor would have gained access to the 2-year-old in the middle of the night.

Even though the parents were wary of the kooky neighbor next door who they say they saw through the window inappropriately dressed (or undressed) and other possible suspicions, did they leave their doors/windows unlocked at night?

It's a horrible situation for all, and this very young girl will probably have to be raised without her daddy because of his ill-conceived plan to stab his neighbor to death.

 

[CyberLaw]

I have a feeling that the Dad wanted to do this man harm regardless and the wife knew this. As in.....just give me a reason........

That is why the Mom phoned the Dad, as in OMG you know the man next door that you hate, well "he harmed" your daughter, so you go Dad. She just told me so, so now you have an "excuse" and justification to do what ever you want........

Reminds me of a program...... The cops said this man lives in this apartment and keep your kids away from him. Well the man "was odd", older, set in his ways, the kids were "scared" because of what their parents said. One day the man was in the play ground, and the kids were there. He offered one a homemade "beautiful" toy. They ran and told their parents that this "scarry" man had approached them.

Well the parents thought.....OMG he is going to harm one of our children. They all took part in killing him. No one else knew.

As it turns out....he was a "harmless" old men who made toys for "needy" kids......the cops came back and told them.......we made a mistake....it is actually the man in apartment 4B, not the man in 4A.

So the molestor was still out and about..........and an innocent man was dead.

I just find it very diffcult to believe that a man, a neighbour would be able to "come through" a window on one occassion, let alone more, without anyone knowing.

But this child who "had him in her bedroom" never even off says: Daddy where you in my room last night, a man was in my room and woke me up. That man was the next door neighbour.

But this same child "articulates" a sexual assault.......after visiting relatives.

She told her Mom "he comes to me in the starry nights", notice the present tense, not he had came to me in the starry nights.

Notice also the nights is plural, as in more then once......

It could even be a dream..........of unfounded allegation with no basis in evidence and or fact.

Sorry I don't believe many stories of two year old little girls as childen are know to have vivid imaginations......

Too bad her Dad is going to spend many years in Prison.......

Don't they have screens on the window of homes........that cannot be opened from the outside.......

 

[luthersmama]

So much so wrong with this case, from acting out a murderous stabbing based on a 2-year-old's ambiguous statement to her mother, to how the neighbor would have gained access to the 2-year-old in the middle of the night.

Even though the parents were wary of the kooky neighbor next door who they say they saw through the window inappropriately dressed (or undressed) and other possible suspicions, did they leave their doors/windows unlocked at night?

It's a horrible situation for all, and this very young girl will probably have to be raised without her daddy because of his ill-conceived plan to stab his neighbor to death.

ITA, LP. Something is fishy.

 

[Anngelique]

I don't understand how a 2 year old could describe such things and I further wonder when this man would have had oppurtunity?

I am late to the ballgame on this one and have only read down to this post but I have had daycare children and 2 of my own children who talked like little adults at the age of 2. The definitely could say things like so and so made me do this or that or touched me here or there. So don't let the age fool you. I also have had 2 year olds that don't say hardly anything. So it all depends on this child.

 

[Amraann]

I am late to the ballgame on this one and have only read down to this post but I have had daycare children and 2 of my own children who talked like little adults at the age of 2. The definitely could say things like so and so made me do this or that or touched me here or there. So don't let the age fool you. I also have had 2 year olds that don't say hardly anything. So it all depends on this child.

I have over the course of these pages revised my opinion of that.

 

[tuppence]

interesting - I guess I'm in the minority but I believe the little girl probably was molested. I think her parents would have a pretty good idea of how articulate/reliable she was and the reason her father flew off the handle is because he believed it was true. Don't get me wrong - I think her father did the absolute wrong thing but I bet he believed the the guy molested his daughter.

 

[LNL]

Children are often unreliable witnesses, children especially under 4 are VERY easy manipulated and come to the conclusions or tell stories at the "suggestion" of adults.

At 2, ask a 4 year old to tell you about something. They don't know the difference between reality, fantasy, or what someone has suggested to them.

I find it very suspect that this girl "told her" mom while they were "alone out of town", and not just tell the Mom and Dad, that this man came through my window last night when it happened.

As in the starry, starry night. Please how many 2 year old children use the term" starry night.

I do think that this child may have overheard others talk about this man. Who knows what the environment that this child lives in, after all her Father "seems" a tad unstable, has anger control issues, destroys public displays, and kills people on the basis of no factual evidence.

I think this man "was just looking" for justification in killing this neighbour and what better "pseudo" justification as in "he harmed" my daughter.

So lets look at "who suggested" what and when to this child.

A child that watches cartoons, plays dress up and dolls, and hold tea parties with "fictional" stuffed animals and does not know the difference between what is real and what is not.

Trust me.....this just does not add up.

i tend to agree. it doesn't add up for me yet either.

 

[southcitymom]

interesting - I guess I'm in the minority but I believe the little girl probably was molested. I think her parents would have a pretty good idea of how articulate/reliable she was and the reason her father flew off the handle is because he believed it was true. Don't get me wrong - I think her father did the absolute wrong thing but I bet he believed the the guy molested his daughter.

Tuppence,

She might have been. I'm not convinced yet that she wasn't. I personally don't think there's enough information to know. My 2-year-olds were very verbal, but no 2-year-old in the world (and I've met a great many!) is reliable in conversation. They flicker back and forth b/w fantasy and reality - it's the nature of the age.

I do think the father probably truly thought it happened when he flew off in a murderous rage. However, I think if the father had more experience with 2-year-olds, he might have investigated things a bit more. It was almost like he was triggered to go off. I still suspect a strange dynamic b/w the father and the mother.