Sympathy Was Misplaced in Story

* I must take exception to your story “Suspect Viewed as Psychotic After Girl’s Death” (April 6). I was shocked by the sympathetic tone of this article about Hooman Panah, who has been charged with murdering 8-year-old Nicole Parker last November.

One of the reasons our society has become so sick is because our system sympathizes with the perpetrators of crimes more than with the victims. Child molesters in particular are continually allowed to prey on our children because we are afraid of causing a panic or unjustly accusing the innocent. How much longer and how many more children will suffer or die before the media take some responsibility for their part in this charade?

Panah does not deserve our pity for being mentally ill. In fact, according to your article, he is not a U.S. citizen. Six months after he came to America, he was hospitalized for mental problems. This would have made him ineligible for citizenship.

A few days after Nicole’s murder, her mother, Lori Parker, granted you an exclusive interview. She deserves better treatment from you than you have given to her in the writing of this most recent article. I suppose that it is obvious that your paper has no loyalty and if you feel you can get more readership with a sympathetic view of a killer then you have no problem playing “switch-hitter.”

The only ones who deserve your sympathy in this situation are Nicole’s parents and brothers and all of her friends who miss her terribly. Cancel my subscription.

THERESA K. SCOTT

Sherman Oaks