Kathleen Krenek’s Letters to the San Jose Mercury News

November 14 2009 Letter to Editor

Honor memory of slaying victims

The staff, volunteers and all those we serve through Next Door are sending our thoughts and prayers to Jennifer Schipsi’s family as they suffer the pain and anguish of the prosecution of her alleged killer, Paul Zumot.

Members of Next Door’s staff attended the Zumot arraignment and were appalled by the arrogant and impenitent behavior of the accused. Schipsi’s family members and friends were wrought with grief, and we could feel their helplessness.

We know that all of Schipsi’s family and friends would want her memory to be honored by seeing the community take notice and take action.

Please find out all you can about domestic violence — then tell everyone you know. One voice can be heard by many, and one action can touch many.

Kathleen Krenek

Link to Mercury News 11/14/2009 page

October 27 2009 Letter to Editor

Domestic violence is not an act of passion

Bulos “Paul” Zumot is charged with murder in the death of Jennifer Schipsi, who received services from our agency, Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence. While we grieve her loss, we are disturbed by early reports characterizing this as “an act of passion.”

Decades past, killing your wife “in the heat of passion” might have a jury declare a finding of innocence. Thank goodness we left that era. We now know domestic violence is coercive control exercised to gain power.

In my 24 years in this work, I have never heard a victim refer to her abuse as filled with passion. Also, we should be careful in how we portray the deceased, who is not at fault for trusting a person who professed love. Focus must be on the perpetrator. Instead of “why did she go back,” we must ask “why would someone so severely hurt the person he loves?”

Kathleen Krenek

Link to Mercury News 10/27/2009 page