The Victim's Story

Marietta's seven year old daughter was abducted and murdered. Little Suzie was taken from her tent when the family was on an idyllic camping trip in Montana.

This was back in 1973, a year after I was born. When Marietta tells me about it today I find it very difficult not to cry. It's not just the pure pain and grief that moves me but Marietta's forgiveness. The murderer could have been given the death sentence, but was spared it, partly because of Marietta's deep belief that it was wrong. "That man was just as precious as my little girl".

When I meet Marietta I ask her to think about something she hasn't thought about before, but if anyone is entitled to an opinion about this, she is. If anyone should know, she should. I want to get her thoughts about causing offence to the victims of crime when it comes to radio programmes.

You'll remember that I'm looking at prison radio programmes around the world which are broadcast on the public airwaves. In the UK we have a prison radio station which is made by prisoners, for prisoners. It's a very professional outfit and has a smooth and urban sound. Its purpose is to reduce reoffending, however, it cannot be heard outside prison and if any audio is released to the outside, even short clips, approval needs to be sought first. This is partly to prevent causing offence or more pain to victims.

I ask Marietta to think about the following situation. "One day you come home, relax, switch on the radio, and there's the person who caused you so much pain. He's talking on the radio. How would you feel?" "Well, I think it's really important for the health and healing of the victim's family to know that an offender is a real life person," says Marietta. "He's not just the terrible action that was committed but he's a whole person and there are other aspects of his life which are good and can be developed."

"You wouldn't be offended or hurt?" "If I was to walk into the house and suddenly hear the voice of the man who took my little girl on the radio I would be grateful for the opportunity to get to know that person." "Really?" "You know, forgiveness takes time. I think the more we know about the offender the more understanding and compassionate we can be," says Marietta.

I explain to Marietta that I have just finished a secondment as Head of Prison Radio in the UK which meant going into prisons regularly. On every visit I was constantly surprised as the amount of positive stuff happening. Things like an industrial-scale printing press where men can work and earn a wage, retired greyhounds being looked after, or mother and baby units. What does Marietta think?

"A lot of offenders are going to be released out into the community and I would much rather know via the radio that they can read or write or they've had anger management and counselling classes so that they have a better chance of being a good next-door neighbour rather than one that you're terrified off.

"I think a radio programme about criminal justice issues is a concrete idea. I mean, we're talking about real-life people. It's important for us to know what kind of life prisoners are living, and also to have a programme which tell us about the injustices in the criminal system.

"Most people have a gut level reaction to prisoners and are really ignorant of prison life and they need to hear about it. I always say: If you think prison life is cushy, then go and sit in your bathroom, close the door and stay there for a month and then see how much fun it is."

Marietta is a truely remarkable woman.