Posted by Scott, Illinois on May 12, 2010:

I'm sorry, this is an example of when bail should be DENIED. I understand innocence until proven otherwise, but this guy pretty well proven that he *IS* a threat to the public.

Posted by Jeff, Northern California on May 13, 2010:

This guy has apparently already threatened to kill her. I cannot imagine how any judge in his/her right mind could possibly grant him bail, knowing with absolute certainty that the instant he's out of custody, he's going straight after her, and to hell with the "protection" order. He's not going to respect anything short of near-deadly force, which isn't going to arrive until well after he's already killed her, if at all.

I agree with Scott in Illinois. There's no way this guy should ever be out of custody again until he's been tried and found innocent of all charges (not bloody likely).

Posted by Geoff ,Summerholm, Australia on May 13, 2010:

Well hopefully he won't get bail. Maybe his relatives already know what he is like and won't send any money to help pay the bail. They may figure he is better off in gaol than in Germany.

When he finishes his sentence he should be deported back to Germany as I'm sure the German authorities have penalties befitting Holocaust deniers.

Posted by John, New Mexico on May 14, 2010:

I am not quite as "easy going" as the other commenters. I think that if the one lady had been shown the proper move that the problem could have been resolved right there on the spot.

Or maybe, with a little luck, he could have fallen on his weapon of choice.

---

Good ...um... point! -rc

Posted by Bob, Columbus Ohio on May 14, 2010:

Sure is a good thing Husson University doesn't allow guns on campus. Someone might have gotten hurt.

Posted by Kent, SC on May 15, 2010:

I object to wasting tax dollars keeping garbage like this in prison. Put it on the "Survivor Antarctica" team. Winner gets a parka and two matches.

Posted by Carole, Springfield Illinois on May 15, 2010:

The guy should look like a semi had run over him -- her fellow students should have banged his head on the pavement some more; bloody lips, broken nose, cut his ears off.

Posted by Lynne, Wisconsin on May 15, 2010:

1) Why wasn't he arrested & charged with attempted murder the first time he tried to kill her (shoot her in the head)???

2) She should have gotten a gun, and training in how to use it, and carried it everywhere, law be damned (yes, even on campus). Restraining orders are paper, and paper does nothing to stop abusers. Lead at high speed works well. Her life was obviously at risk, and she had to be responsible for herself - you see how much damage he could do before other people helped her, before police arrived.

Posted by Jeroen, Delft (NL) on May 17, 2010:

1. As gun laws are quite liberal in the US I am not sure if an unloaded gun to the head would add up to attempted murder. But I bet some sort of assault should fit there, problem -- most likely -- is to make it stick. I bet there were no witnesses.

2. Breaking the law to protect from its flaws is a gut reaction. Would using it vs a knife even be self defense? I agree she should be allowed to protect herself, unfortunately doing so might have put her at risk of imprisonment.

What makes me wonder is how a nurse -- in training -- could put up so far with a Neo-Nazi/HC-denier. I hope she gets well, enjoys the rest of her life while he rots away somewhere!

Posted by Robert in Missouri on May 17, 2010:

Yeesh. Only $50K bail? And up 40 years and $70K fines for what he did to his ex-wife? For starters, I'm surprised they even set bail, much less made it so low. This guy has some extreme violent tendencies, and should be in a secure facility, possibly in the violent ward of a high-security mental hospital. I'm afraid for the prisoners who would be locked up with him.

Regarding the remarks about firearms, I agree she should have been given leeway to protect herself, but he could have easily have taken the gun and killed her with it. Most soldiers are trained in self-defense.

I agree with the remarks about the worthlessness of restraining orders; they generally have no teeth behind them, especially in cases like this.

Nazis (and by extension, Neo-Nazis) and Holocaust deniers are not known for being rational, sane people. She's lucky she survived her husband.

@Jeroen in Delft: Roger your last paragraph. I hope she gets counseling to help her deal with what happened.