Date: May 19th 2010

McAfee Case Update

We were shocked and saddened to learn of the killing on May 8 of Southampton resident Janet McAfee.  Neighborhood anxiety surrounding this occurrence and its aftermath have been communicated to our elected officials; it is our belief that the District Attorney’s office is fully aware of our collective concerns and will take appropriate actions to assure the safety of our neighborhood.   This being said, what the judge actually decides about Mr. McAfee’s release will be based on what the District Attorney’s office requests and on the evidence that is put before the court at the bail hearing.

If anyone in the neighborhood believes that they have important information that may not yet be known by the District Attorney’s office, the prosecutor responsible for this case is Assistant District Attorney Kevin Petroff, chief prosecutor in the 339th criminal court.  He can be contacted at (713) 755-7784 and/or at  http://www.justex.net/courts/Civil/CIVILCourt.aspx?crt=47.   It is our further understanding that there are a number of petitions now circulating in the neighborhood concerning Mr. McAfee’s possible bail and release conditions.  As noted, however, the neighborhood’s concerns have already been communicated to the District Attorney’s office as well as other elected officials multiple times by many different residents, and we have received some feedback that communications on this subject that are merely additive may be taking time and focus away from our public servants as they work to determine the best way to proceed in this matter.

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