One of the most unusual and poignant letters we have received arrived in yesterday’s post from the National Guard sergeant Scott A. Ansman.
He was convicted in May and sentenced in September to life without possibiity of parole for killing 29-year-old JoAnn Crystal Harris, Aug. 24, 2007, at the Armory in Culver City.
We will have more to say about this two-year-long case at a future date when we expect Mr. Ansman to directly relate his own perspective on the bloody, emotional events surrounding the tragedy.
Mr. Ansman’s present 325-word account that follows is worthy of further study. He weaves between two disparate channels, demonstrating perhaps understandable anger following his anger conviction and traditional respect for his correspondent, a trait no doubt a product of his career-long military regimen.
Mr. Ansman’s complaints, as noted above, will be addressed later. ut at least part of the blame for his story allegedly remaining untold lies with his lawyer, who has been consistently reluctant to discuss the case.
The letter:
“Mr. Noonan:
“Greetings.
“I know we never have spoken.
“But it seems that you know all about me.
“You seem to know more about my case than I do.
“Well, sir, if you sat in on the trial — my mother and I did not notice you — you would have noticed a lot.
“But you take the word of people who do not care who do not care who it is they wrongfully convict on bad testimony.
“My speech in court was 100 percent correct.
“If you would have taken the time to sit in on the trial, you would have seen the wrong that I wrote about.
“I did not appreciate the way ou have attacked me and my character.
“You cannot get it through your head that what you have printed, and what you continue to print, is incorrect.
“If it continues, I will be forced to file a lawsuit.
“At no time was it said that (murder victim JoAnn Crystal Harris) was my girlfriend.
“Where do you get this?
“I understand you want to print juicy things. But print the truth, not the — you did.
“My Mom has ordered transcripts and records from court.
“You are more than welcome to visit her. She will show you the evidence in the transcripts. You will be shocked.
“Until then, please quit printing lies and —.
“You have no idea of the truth. But you will.
“You took what my Mom said and made your own story.
You made my Mother out to look like a fool.
“That was the wrong thing to do.
“It looks like you put words in her mouth.”
[At this point in his letter, Sgt. Ansman offered to do a first-person interview.]
“I will show you what I am talking about.
“No better way to find out thnan from the horse’s mouth.
“Then you can print the truth.
“Thank you for your time.
“I think I gave you something to print about,
“Let’s see how bad you (mess) it up.
“Regards,
“Ssg. Scott Ansman”
