Jerry Hurst and Terri Hinson Strickland begin an intensive collaborative effort, via e-mail, to research her case and mount her defense. Long before they meet in person, they become friends on the Internet. 

From: Terri Hinson 
To: Gerald L. Hurst 
Date: 02:52 PM 10/16/97 

I just read your note. Yes, you have my permission to do whatever you feel is necessary at this point. I have felt all along it was odd not to let the press have this story. But, Mr. Wright said he didn't want this tried in the News. If necessary, I can get someone else to give the details to her, a member of my family, if it will keep Mr. Wright off my back. He instructed me not to talk to the press. He didn't say anyone else couldn't. 

Rodney would be a good one. He and I have been together for a while now, and considered Josh and Brittany as his own. He had all intentions of adopting them both. An ex-sister-n-law has also expressed her desires to tell the media what ever they want to know. Oh, and yes- Mr. Wright is court appointed and as of two weeks ago, he had not read the entire file turned over by the D.A. The statements I will be sending you are the same things he should have already read. He said he likes to wait until the last minute to do such to keep him from forgetting anything!!! 

I hope to get to meet you one day. After having so much negative going on around me, I find it difficult to believe someone from as far away as you are would care. It means more than I could ever express. Thank you. 

From: Gerald L. Hurst 
To: Terri Hinson 
Date: Thu Oct 16 15:44:23 1997 
Subject: Re: Laurie 

Your lawyer is nuts with his wait untill the last minute philosophy. Cases are won by digging as deep as you can as early as possible. You never know what you may need for the defense and whatever it is may not be available on short notice. One does not forget because one goes over everything again prior to trial. What about those local experts? Who is studying what? 

I'll advise Laurie to contact you. She'll keep her interaction with you just as confidential as you wish. "Off the record" is the magic phrase which is honored religiously. 

From: Terri Hinson 
To: Gerald L. Hurst 
Date: 09:49 AM 11/11/97 
Subject: documents 

Yea, I forgot. I have changed both of these in 6.0/95 format. And I can change it again if needed. The only other format I see that may work is a straight RTF. Let me know. The changes should show on the Investig4. Sorry I didn't get back to you last night, Rodney made me go to bed!!! The timeline 3 didn't have teh double-spacing like the other one. My fault?? 

Thanks--

From: Gerald L. Hurst 
To: Terri Hinson 
Date: Tue Nov 11 15:15:39 1997 
Subject: Re: documents
X-Attachments: C:\TERRI\INVESTI5.DOC; C:\TERRI\TIMELIN4.DOC;

Looking good. Your additions are yellow on my screen and mine are blue. That's great. 

I have edited the two outlines, leaving your corrections and mine colored so we can find out if we see the sme thing. If so, we will both accept all the revisions and the marked-out text will disappear along with the highlites to leave the plain, corrected document ready for future highlited changes. Once this is done, you can erase earlier versions of the two. documents or keep them as you wish. There doesn't seem to be an investi4 document, but to be safe, I called my latest version "investi5.doc." This document is attached along with Timlin4.doc. 

It appears that our systems are now compatible. 

Sure he did. Men are beasts until they reach my age :) 

You are right about using the press. The best method I've found is to have someone send letters to a specific reporter in the local press, particularly one who has given bad press before. The writer expresses the opinion that the coverage has been lopsided and furnishes some interesting tidbits or examples of bad evidence or bad forensics or bad investrigation. Then the writer follows up with another letter and another, say, to the editor. Once you snag an interview, you get a chance to tell the story from your side. Local press is very useful because it reaches the people you are not allowed to talk to. 

I mentioned your case to the Maury Povitch (Sp?) show scout yesterday. I now tell everyone I talk to about your case in connection with Sonia and Susie Mowbray. I try to make as many press connections as I can. The local press can always be given my name and telephone. If they call me I will give them an earful about the tragedy of your case, incompetent and overzealous prosecution, etc. while keeping myself in the far background. the technique seems to work fine, but you have to accept that you rarely get instant positive response. Persistence is the key. 

Most defense lawyers hate the press because they usually give their clients hell in print. What these lawyers fail to realize is that the bad press is caused by the effective use thereof by the prosecution. Prosecuters know how to milk the papers, defense attorneys don't. The press is not usually baised in favor of the prosecution but if they are fed exclusively by the DA, what can you expect? Reporters are just as lazy as the restof us, so they tend to go with the side that hands them a story on a platter. The squeaky wheel gets the oil. 

You have taken to the computer very quickly. Congratulations. It puts a lot of power in your hands. Sonia's family is computer illiterate with the exception of Sonia herself who has no free-use access in prison. Your freedom to communicate already has and will continue to be a tremendous asset. 

Jerry 

From: Gerald L. Hurst 
To: Terri Hinson 
Date: Mon, 17 Nov 1997 19:44:46 
Subject: Re: Lawyer 

At 06:56 PM 11/17/97 -0500, you wrote:

> I never heard from Mr. Wright. I called back up there and he still was not in. I am getting ready to call Linda and see what the attorney up there said. I think the meeting was today. We had another bit of news. I am not letting anyone in the case know yet, so don't mention it if you ever do get into this case. I did a home pregnancy test and it came up positive. I don't know how to feel about it. Rodney is happy. I am scared. I had hoped it would be down the road, but I guess God chose now.

> Now I am not sure what to do, given the situation. Oh well. Just another glitch I guess. Don't get me wrong. I would love another child, it would be perfect. But I don't know how it will affect the case. I guess I'll just have to wait and see. The pictures are on there way to you. Along with the statements from Rodney and the Means, Motive and Opportunity disk. It may be time that you call Mr. Wright back. 

> As I told you earlier, I told his secretary that we talked yesterday and that you wanted to know if you were coming in or not. And that you have not received any letter. Let me know. I'll check back with you soon. Oh-I guess that explains why my energy level has dropped and my weight is going up!!! Thanks-- 

I'd like to find a copy of NFPA 1033, but NFPA says they are back-ordered. Maybe we can find one at the library. It is only 11 pages long. Easy enough to memorize it for $18 :) I did order myself another copy of 921. This is a ritual designed to help me find my old copy - sort of like washing the car to make it rain. At least I get a 10% discount as an NFPA member :) 
 

Jerry

From: Gerald L. Hurst 
To: Terri Hinson 
Date: Tue, 18 Nov 1997 19:41:16 
Subject: Re: forens 

At 11:16 PM 11/18/97 -0500, you wrote:

> I think we have become friends. 

Jerry