Posted: 11/28/2003 1:48:21 PM EDT
This is not a current news story, but dates back to 1993 in Texas. I have pasted the account below. This is an example of the justice system going wrong. The accused molester was the woman's husband and the child's father - a sick man. I have omitted graphic accounts of what he did. On January 6, 1993, Dolores Markee, killed the sexual molester of her daughter then age three. Ten months later, Dolores was tried, convicted and sentenced to 58 years in the Texas Department of Corrections. Dolores has never been in any kind of trouble with the law prior to this in her entire life. She was charged with murder for the shooting of her daughter’s sexually abusive father (George Paouris). The circumstances surrounding her deed, are anything but typical.
Dolores married George Paouris, decedent, in 1984. George was in the Greek Navy. During their marriage, they lived in several places in the United States and then moved to Greece. George’s behavior deteriorated with heavy drinking, verbal abuse, and jealousy.
In May 1991, at the end of one of Raquel’s visits with George, Dolores discovered evidence of sexual abuse. Dolores observed Raquel (32 months old) “touching” herself in a sensuous and seductive manner. Raquel told Dolores that “daddy showed her how to do that.” (Omission) Dolores took Raquel to the hospital and they reported the incident to the police department. Dolores and Raquel were referred to Child Protective Services, and the District Attorney’s Office.
Dolores was advised to withhold visitation to protect Raquel. Subsequently, George filed for reinstatement of visitation. The District Attorney’s Office decided not to proceed with the case involving the May 1991, allegations because Raquel was “not old enough to testify.” Dolores withdrew her sponsorship of George’s petition for citizenship. George remarried in July 1991, one week before his time to be deported.
Incredibly, in July 1992, Dolores lost custody of Raquel to her abusive father, George. Judge Carlton Spears said, in his opinion, the sexual abuse did not occur, and because George was “just under indictment” that, could not be used against him. The Assistant District Attorneys were not allowed to testify on Dolores’ behalf due to the pending criminal charges against George.
The District Attorney’s Office reviewed the transcripts of Judge Carlton Spears’ decision, and did not change their opinion regarding the strength of their case against George. However after George got custody of Raquel her whole personality started to change and she would not talk to the District Attorneys about the sexual abuse even after repeated efforts by the District Attorney’s Office.
On January 6, 1993, Dolores and Raquel met with the District Attorney. Dolores was informed that the State could not proceed with the case against George because Raquel was, “Afraid to talk.” Back at her home, Raquel told Dolores that George had sexually abused her the previous night, “Daddy put his hand in my pajamas and I didn’t like it.” “Mommy, I couldn’t breath!” Dolores was due to return Raquel to George that same evening.
After seeking all avenues to protect Raquel, with little to no success, confrontation with the abuser, George, was the only thing left. Dolores went to question George about the abuse, taking a gun because of her fear or him. After a discussion with George outside his house with no results, Dolores turned to leave. Then George told her that he had “solved his immigration problems, the girl (Raquel) would live with him forever, the court was on his side and he could do what ever he wanted to Raquel or Dolores!” Dolores knew what he meant and pulled the gun from her pocket and fired hitting George nine times including the genitals. Dolores waited for the police to arrive and told them over and over, “He molested my baby.”
George was killed in a crime of passion. Dolores’ efforts were to protect Raquel. George sexually abused Raquel. He was going to do it again and again and there was nothing anyone was doing to stop him.
So why was Dolores sentenced to fifty-eight years for protecting her daughter? Perhaps it was due to not accepting a 20 year plea-bargain offered by the State. Undoubtedly it was due to the “motion in Limine” filed by the State that prevented Dolores’ attorneys from questioning witnesses regarding their opinion whether George was the perpetrator of sexual abuse upon Raquel. The motion in Limine prevents anything negative about the deceased being used in court.
The jury never got to hear the child victim advocates and the three District Attorney testify about their opinion that Raquel had been sexually abused by George. Additional proof of the Raquel’s sexual abuse, not provided to the jury, includes a police report by officer Peterson where Raquel told the officer that George had sexually abused her.
Was killing George a good thing? No! Dolores tried for over eighteen months to get the “system” to help protect her daughter. Was letting George continue to sexually abuse Raquel a good thing? Absolutely No! If Dolores did not protect Raquel from sexual abuse she would be not better than the sexual molester. The difference, Dolores would have been prosecuted for child neglect.
Only in Texas can you kill someone for breaking your garage windows, or kill someone for trying to steal you pickup truck; but you cannot protect your child from sexual abuse.
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