Hér er töluð enska og íslenska!
Cool blog (pardon the semi-pun)
For educational purposes, could you please include some kind of historical weather record, along with monthly average highs and lows ? This way, I can see how cold (or warm) it is (or has been) in Iceland during any particular period and not feel so bad about how cold (or hot) it is here. I once looked up such stats on weather.com and found out that where I live is in fact colder than Anchorage, Alaska during the winter months. Love your writing, by the way.
i will get evelyn to help me translate that site later, i want to leave an encouraging email or comment somewhere. i love saints. i dislike ignorant texans.
Having never been there, I probably have no right to say this, but Texas scares the shit out of me.
Ya'll can have him back as far as I'm concerned. We've got enough sexual predators, of all ages, to keep track of as it is.
Something tells me that there is more to this than just "playing doctor" if he was sent up for 10 years.
Even in Texas.
It's always interesting to see the way that our legal system differs from that in other countries (although I'm not from Texas, to be clear). Whatever the crime, surely he's not a risk to society at large and, if Iceland's willing to take him back no questions asked, why not send him?
I, too, supsect there's more to the story, but haven't had any luck searching for more info. Then again, Texas is truly a land unto itself.
Big Dog - ta!
RobertB - you are joking, right? [I don't mean about the writing though, aw shucks, thanks 
]
Jared, Rozanne - ditto!
SGT - In my view, there is nothing to justify sentencing a 14 year old child to 10 years in prison. And I don't feel that the term 'sexual predator' can be applied to a 12 year old child under any circumstances. Neither can anything warrant blocking a child's right to education for that length of time. But thank you for sharing your views.
Denise, Cat - again, to me CHILD and CRIME are not complementary concepts. If a child has committed a 'crime' that child needs compassion and help - not to have its life ruined. Perhaps that's the essential difference between our judicial system and that in Texas.
I live on Baldursgata and my toilet has been broken for three days. Could you send the Immortal Plumber over to my place? I could use a good laugh.
Chris, if your toilet has been broken for three days, I should think you need a good laugh!
About you compiling the weather stats, yes. About it being colder than Alaska ? Alas, no.
Texas is scary. Very, very scary. I wouldn't move there if you paid me scary. It's too much of a police state.
ack! I live in Texas and yes, it's a scary place.
Alda,
If you don't think that the term "Sexual predator" can't be assigned, justifiably, to a 14 year old... well, Iceland is definnitely a more sheltered country that the USA.
NB: There was a comment here earlier, which I have now deleted.
In case the owner of that comment returns looking for it, here's my response:
This blog is MY blog, and it is a reflection of my beliefs and my views. While I feel that everyone is entitled to their own views, there are limits to what I will tolerate 'in my house'. And since the house is mine, it is also my perogative to decide what I find offensive and what I do not, and to evict those that I don't wish to have walking through these rooms with dirty boots on.
Blatant attacks on my views falls under the category that I classify as 'offensive'. Narrow-mindedness and stupidity imposed on others is also something I classify as 'offensive'. And leaving a comment of the sort you did without an email or website address is something I classify as cowardly.
I would recommend that you get your own blog [or perhaps your own alternative newspaper] and leave me to write what I wish in mine. And incidentally, if you are so embarrassed by being a resident of a country that values rights, justice and freedom - why don't you simply return to your own?
SGT: Just to clarify - he was twelve when the supposed crime was committed. Not fourteen. And no, I don't think the term 'sexual predator' can be assigned to a 12 year old, whether that child lives in Texas or 'sheltered' Iceland.
Saw you deleted the comment. Interesting. I don't remember using any offensive language or any profanities, and as for "attacking" your views, I simply pointed out where you were wrong using FACTS - something missing from your entry on Aron Palmi and Bobby Fischer.
And please drop that "love it or leave it" argument. I criticise because I love this country. How much of a patriot would be if I sat back and said nothing, didn't participate in the discussion?
Ah. Mr Anonymous returns.
FACTS, it would appear, are subjective. To me, labelling a 12-year old child a 'paedophile' is not a fact, for example.
In any case, this is a blog, not a national newspaper, and it is set up for me to express what I wish - whether it meets with others' definition of what constitues 'facts' or not.
And for the record, I find having my views dismissed with phrases like 'Get a grip' both patronizing and rude.
Alas, it is 2007 and he came home two days ago.
I don't know how I feel abou it yet. I can partly associate with your ideas of a child being a sexual offender...and we don't really know what happened behind the scenes. For some reason it is hard to research that on the net...but am I mistaken or was teh other child he "played doctors" with much younger than him?
But as I said, I still have to do a bit more research, before I come to a conclusion. I certainly respect yours and totaly agree that there is no plausible reason to keep a child from education and exercise.
This blog entry represents one of the biggest perversions of fact I have ever seen. I happen to be the prosecutor who sent "poor" Aron away for 10 years. It should have been 40.
Aron was convicted sodomizing -- both orally and anally -- a 5 year old boy. He was 13 at the time, not 12. During one incident, he brought lotion and used it to help lubricate his penis and place it in the anus of the victim. He threatened to kill the little boy's parents and take away his toys if he ever told. That little boy, now a young man, bears the scars to this day.
Of course, that's not all Aron did. He also molested 3 other children, two under the age of 7 and another who was around 10 or 11. He was exceptionally big for his age even then (he now weighs over 300 pounds) and could intimidate younger children easily.
While he was incarcerated in a juvenile facility for these offenses, efforts were made to rehabilitate him and get him psychological help. Aron admitted to having violent sexual fantasies about children, and that he preferred little boys because their penises were so much smaller than his own. He was evaluated repeatedly and found to be an extremely dangerous sexual predator.
If these things fit the definition of "playing doctor" in "civilized" countries, then I shudder to think about the safety of your children. You have obviously been fed quite a bit of misinformation by a group of people who have turned Aron into a cause celebre, assuming that of course the criminal justice system of Texas must naturally be too harsh. Isn't that how it is in the movies and on TV?
The truth is, Aron wasn't playing doctor, this wasn't just childhood exploration, and he is not the victim here. He callously abused multiple victims, violating them in just about every way imaginable and cowing their minds, too. I'm proud of having prosecuted him and my only regret is that he did not get a bunch more time. He deserved it. You ought to post this as an addendum to your blog entry. Or just take the whole thing down. It is a shameful affront to the victims of a malicious monster.
Mike Trent
Assistant District Attorney
Harris County, Texas
Sry, nothing justifying sending a CHILD for so long. It´s cruel!
I'll preface this by saying that I generally am to the left of prevailing opinion in the US as it relates to incarceration - but with that, I am amazed at taking a simple stand of "13 year old = child = cruel to incarcerate."
There are plenty of problems with lengthy custodial sentences for juvenile offenders, but that doesn't immediately equate to there being no justification at all for them.
The challenge is in balancing the knowledge that adolescents may not have the emotional and ethical competence of adults, against the knowledge that they can be as cruel (if not more so) that adults and bear accountability for that cruelty. It's a question of comparing innocence in the sense of world-experience against innocence in a legal sense, you might say.
Nonetheless, while one might accept that a 13 year old may have a less developed moral or ethical sense, a 13 year old who molests multiple children, repeatedly, by virtue of intimidation, and makes every effort to terrify them into silence, deserves very little leeway and next to no sympathy.
That doesn't mean that Palmi didn't need help, or indeed doesn't still need help. But actions have consequences, and that level of predatory behavior should have meant many years in jail, along with rehab.
I don't know whether Palmi is a reformed man or not; I hope for his sake and for the sake of any small children around him that he is.
Mike;
We here in Iceland (and other civilized countries) don't believe in sentencing children to prison or taking away their right to education.
It may come to you as a shock that people in the civilized countries aren't barbarians like Americans.
"If these things fit the definition of "playing doctor" in "civilized" countries, then I shudder to think about the safety of your children." Actually the civilized countries don't sentence these kids to ridiculous sentences, but on the other hand we have the safest countries, our children are probably billion times more safer than your children, but it seems that you believe that your barbarian actions towards minors in your country is making your country a much safer place than the other countries in the western world, which isn't true.
Icelanders aren't justifying Aron's crimes towards the other children, we know that there where real victims to Aron's crimes, but on the other hand we believe that you and your buddies in the DA's office victimized Aron by sending him to 10 years in prison. Murderers barely do 10 years in prison in Iceland, and even though we have such lenient sentences (seems though only USA believes this is lenient sentences) I believe that we have only had one murderer who has murdered twice.
I am just blown away by your twisted thoughts on sending a minor to 40 years in prison.
Another post comment, another anti-American rant. This blog is usually an interesting, sometimes thought provoking read. The reader responses, far less so. It's tiring to be read how Americans are "barbarians" and don't live in a "civilized country." Don't bother bashing me for blindly waving the flag, because I don't and I'm not. Take the nationalities out of the response from the Ass't DA, re-read his post and try not to be appalled. What is twisted are the acts that Aron was convicted of doing. And spare me any stereotypical notions of Texans or judicial officials there. (No, I'm not a Texan, or involved in the legal system.) But Aron is not a victim, regardless of how long he spent in jail-the children he molested are. Time will tell if Aron becomes an upstanding citizen in a nation that I have visited twice and happen to like a lot. I hope for your sake that is the case, and if so, feel free to bash away. If not, we can all have a good angry cry together.
Karl, do you actually know what Aron's sentence was, how the correctional facilities were? Do we really have anyones words for it but his own?
JD, most people here realize very well that most Americans are clueful, not clueless, it's mainly the current government we can't stand...
Hildigunnur, I know where you're coming from, a lot of folks here aren't happy with our current state of affairs either. (It will be an interesting election.)
I do get worn out though, when reading things like "people in the civilized countries aren't barbarians like Americans." To me, that's just someone with an axe to grind, uninterested in listening to anything other than their own voice.
AP are save here in iceland u fucks !! this is hilaryous to say 40 years , it´s a joke . us people are bad people
I have to say that I am extremlly close to Aron´s case and have had the advantage of being present at the first trial and remained involved up until today. Though I was not a supporter of Aron´s case to begin with I later grew to become one. But I would like to clear up a few inconsistencies in the blog post by Mr. Mike Trent who I also had the pleasure of meeting.
To begin with Mr. Trent made the comment that it should have been 40 years. Mr. Trent attempted to give aron 40 years and the judge disagreed with him. She had strong reservations about the case but concluded that 10 years would be appropreate.
Mike Trent went futher to say that Aron victimized the young boy anally. Saying in detail how Aron used lotion to help lubricate his penis and place it in the anus of the victim. This account is not true. Aron was charged and convictied of putting his mouth of the penis of the child.
The only time anal rape came in was during the second trial in a last attempt to send Aron to Prison. After the judge had thrown out the psychological report and treatment information. But I will get to that in a second.
But in case you forgot Mr. Trent I will refresh your memory. After a two day, second trial, all the prison officals had been confronted with a lot of abuses that had been occuring. One psychologist even commited Aggervated Purjury on the stand that day and was confronted by the judge after hearing recorded phone conversations. You were not their then but I am sure you heard about by your actions after the verdict, not to send Aron to adult prison. The state then, after both sides had closed, tried to say Aron had committed these acts. So Aron was never charged for anul rape.
Also it was never reported in the trial that Aron had threatened to kill the boy´s family or take the boy´s toys. I just hurd that from you.
I have to say that after hearing you say that Aron had molested 3 other children two under the age of seven and one 10 or 11 I became concerned so I went back to my notes from 1997 and did not find those comments. I did find that another boy had came forward saying that Aron and himself had ingaged in sexual activity together, this being the 11 year old boy. But their is information that you are not aware of related to that case. I would ask that you be careful before making statements such as those without understanding the whole situation. I do not have any record of the other two victims so I went back to the original charge and it said one count of Aggervated Sexual Assult. So I would have to say based on the information that is not true.
Then you went futher to say that Aron was exceptionally big for his age. I believe that size does not reflect mental state. But what it did do was seem to make you feel more confrotable in prosecuting Aron. But by saying that your implying that if Aron would have been smaller you would not have handled the case the way you did. That is a reflection of the case and though I make it a clinical judgement not to try and understand why but to understand the effects after.
Your next statement was shocking at the least as this was not the first time I had hurd of this and had you been their to listen to the outcome of those statements I believe you would not have printed them here. You stated Mr. Trent that, ''While he was incarcerated in a juvenile facility for these offenses, efforts were made to rehabilitate him and get him psychological help. Aron admitted to having violent sexual fantasies about children, and that he preferred little boys because their penises were so much smaller than his own. He was evaluated repeatedly and found to be an extremely dangerous sexual predator.''
The prison offical who made these statements said she did so under duress from her supervisors. Her tape recorded conversations with Aron´s lawyer said something different. It expressed that she believed that Aron should be set free to Iceland. That she did not believe Aron posed a risk and that Aron should not be transfered to adult prison but that Iceland was a better solution. After the judge hurd the comments on tape she was outraged. She informed the TYC psychologist that she had just committed Aggervated purjury and ask the prison offical what was going on here. She ordered the court to break while the psychologist got control over her crying and asked the court not to discuss the case with anyone on both sides. I personally watched as the prosecutor walked up to the head tratment provider as he had described himself to me and say you all are messing up my case. Get out of here. I watched as he ran out of the court house so that he would not be called to testify. So those statement proved to be not true.
What you did not mention to this Blog community was all the garuds that wanted to testify on be half of Aron. You did not read the letters from the people who supervised him for more then 40 hours each week. Saying things like ''in all my 20 years of working in this system Aron is the only child I would allow around my home.'' I personally saw 19 letters from teachers, gaurds, administrators all saying how safe they felt around Aron. Some even saying how they felt him to be like a son.
You also left out the testomony from a gaurd that said she worked with Aron more then anybody and how she had been instructed to change paperwork, and to give him lots of problems so that he would look bad in court. How as a mother of two small children she would feel safe if Aron moved next door to her and even offered her home if need be. She explained that many of these people have bee told what to say here. I just thought is would be best if you hurd from me, a mother, a gaurd, and a professional. Aron is the safest person I know. Why you chose to leave that part out I fail to understand.
Which brings me to a letter you had written to the prison authorties saying that you wanted Aron transfered to adult prison when he was 17 and a half. Which the prison authorties blamed as the reason for the lies. Though you may have had good intentions the prison program used it as an excuse to abuse Aron.
As far as ''playing doctor'' this is not a statement that Aron has used. It is a statement used by others about Aron´s case. I personally disagree with the statement and believe it is not the best comment. But as you have never spoken to Aron, Mr. Trent, you need to know that no one is harder on Aron then Aron. He knows what he did was wrong and he is completlly sorry for what happend to the victim. But as he has expressed to me when I asked him if he has ever tried to seek forgivness from the victim, he says that he does not have the right to do that. So Aron knows the personal scars he has left on both the victim, the victims family, and his own family. But these are things he knows now. During the first trial he believe what he did was wrong ''becasue the bible said it was wrong to touch another mans personal things.'' He never knew what he was doing was going to be crimial. He was scared that he was going to get grounded and a spaking. Even after the sentence I had to explain to him what was going on. He didn´t understand that he was going to jail. He had no idea what jail was. So I believe their is a lot more to Aron then you know.
I know that you believe yourself to be a champion of childrens rights and I believe you honestlly care about kids. My concern though is your lack of imput and follow up on the kids you have placed in prison when it comes to detailing the sexual abuse inside the prison. Many of the stories that I have hurd from Aron, many of them to graffic for print in any fashion should be looked into. It is never okay for an adult to molest the kids the suppose to protect. I look forward to hearing about your efforts in stopping the sexual abuse.
Aron has made that his life goal as he explains it to me. He had work with victims of instatutional sexual abuse and even started a program for them. He had work with many of your own Texas Senators and Congressman and recieved many awards in Leadership and Community Service and is on his way to a BA in psychology where he has been on the Deans list and recieved outstanding marks. He completed his time on parole with no problems and after talking to one of his parole supervisors he expalined that he had never seen someone successfully complete the parole that Aron was on. So I believe that it is important to reflect a whole idea if you are going to examine something publiclly Mr. Trent.
I believe that you should also add this as an addendum to your blog entry. Though I may get into trouble I believe the iformation provided needed to be corrected.
Robert
"That little boy, now a young man, bears the scars to this day."
Icelandic TV wanted to interview him but he refused to talk to them unless they would pay him some ridiculous amount of money. If he thought Aron was dangerous, I would think he would jump at the chance to warn people about him so it doesn't happen to other kids.
Robert:
It is obvious that you are a close friend or relative of Aron's and want to think the best of him. Unfortunately, everything I put in my previous blog entry was correct and based on the evidence that came forth at the juvenile trial and subsequent hearings.
First: Aron was only charged with one count of oral contact with the victim's penis. This is common in child abuse cases -- we do not have to allege every form of abuse. However, the victim testified to two other forms of abuse as well: The anal penetration that I alluded to as well as Aron forcing him to place his mouth on Aron's penis. The judge and jury believed the victim and I do as well. The abuse also occurred on multiple occasions, not just once.
Second: The victim did testify to the threats Aron made. Perhaps you have forgotten about that. Aron also showed him a realistic looking gun and said he would do a drive-by on the victim's family if he told. While a threat like that might seem childish to an adult, it was very real to a six year old boy.
Third: Aron did molest three other children. One was a neighbor boy whom he molested in every way possible (orally, anally, etc.) from the age of 5 to 11. Aron admitted to this during his psychological interviews, although I'm sure he never admitted it to you. Aron also molested the older boy you referred to, making unwelcome advances and engaging in non-consensual contact with him. He was too big for the victim to fend off -- (again, that is why I bring up his large size.) Finally, Aron molested one of his own family members. He was prevented from molesting a fifth victim by a quick-thinking mother who caught him leading a 3 year old girl away from a birthday party. That is five victims (that we know of) prior to the age of 14!
You bring up a lot of things from the transfer hearing (which you refer to as the second trial). I was not present at that hearing but I know most of what transpired. You are correct that the defense attorney had recorded phone conversation and caught some of the TYC officials in apparent inconsistencies. However, there was no disagreement about his poor progress in therapy or rehabilitation. Nor was there any dispute about the danger Aron posed. The only discrepancy was whether they were recommending transfer to adult prison or transfer to Iceland under the treaty. The latter option, when put to them in phone conversations the defense attorney secretly recorded, seemed attractive and he was able to trip some of them up. The hearing was in many ways a fiasco, and, not surprisingly, the Judge denied the transfer.
While I will not digress at length on the aftermath of that hearing, I will say that the judge who heard it, who was vehemently anti-prosecution at every turn, was defeated in her bid for reelection, in part due to lenient sentences like the one she gave Aron.
Finally, to comment on the supposed remorse Aron feels, I read a victim impact statement at the close of the first trial after the sentence was pronounced. It was from the 6 year old boy Aron so brutally violated. It was short and simple -- but what can you expect from one so young. He said, "Aron, you said you loved me. You don't love me. I hate you." As I read those heart-rending words, Aron sat at the table with a smirk on his face, knowing that the victim was helpless to exact any true retribution on him.
You are correct that I have never spoken to Aron since the first trial, but you are welcome to pass along this message to him: I know what you are, Aron. You may fool others, but you don't fool me. I'm keeping tabs on you, too. My advice to you is to stay in Iceland. If you come back to Texas and violate the law in the slightest way, I will be happy to send you to prison. Again.
Mike Trent
JD; you are taking my words out of context, I am not saying that USA are barbarians as a nation, I personally know many Americans that don't fit the profile given out to Americans, and I also know many muslims that don't fit the terrorist profile given to them but people rarely fit the racial profile given to them and I know that, I wasn't saying that Americans are barbarians, I was pointing out that sentences given out to minors in the USA are barbarian. And when I said that America wasn't civilized, I was responsing to Mike Trent's comment: "If these things fit the definition of "playing doctor" in "civilized" countries, then I shudder to think about the safety of your children.", but every "civilized country" don't sentence kids to jail for 10 years or 40 years.
If you look at minors sentenced to life in prison in this world, there are about 9,700 minors in USA (2,200 of them will never be free again) serving life sentences but there are only 12 other minors in the rest of the world who are currently serving life in prison, USA actually has 99,88% of all minors serving life in prison in the whole world, but only 4 countries allow minors to serve life sentences, South Africa, Israel, Tanzania and USA.
This should give you the idea that the sentences given out to minors in the USA isn't as great as you may think.
I agree with your comment about Aron's actions, and I know that there were real victims in this specific case that won't probably forget about this tragedy.
When I said that Aron was a victim I wasn't saying that he was a victim because of his actions but because he was sentenced to such a heavy prison sentence, also you shouldn't forget one crucial fact in this case that many decide to skip; Aron was also a minor.
JD, you should know that I am a keen supporter of Human Rights Watch and Amnesty, I first heard of kids sentenced to heavy jail time from them couple of years ago and ever since I've been criticizing that, if Iceland would give out these sentences I would criticize them, I am not criticizing America but jail sentences given out to minors in America.
I am not saying that American people are barbarians, but I am saying that when America decides to prosecute a 13 year old and tries to get him sentenced to 40 years in prison I think that is barbarian.
You should not take my views on this topic and label me as anti-American.
Mike Trent, you are a liar sir, and have exposed yourself as such. First you say Aron was convicted of anal sodomy, later you backtrack and say he wasn't even charged with anal sodomy. This throws an entirely new light on allegations made of perjury by prosecution witnesses in the Aron trial. That you, an officer of the court, can tell such shocking lies about the case in public is a strong indication that your professional conduct does not include love of truth and might be disposed to inducing witnesses to lie on your behalf.
And details from a case against a minor is not sealed??
If what "Mike Trent" is writing here is true, and Aron Palmi did indeed molest more than one child, then that warrants a serious investigation. That is not what the Icelandic people have been told, in the media and in a recent tell-all book, which was published last December.
The public has a right to know whether these allegations are true. If things came out at the trial, which have not been reported here, the Icelandic media needs to find out. I hope they will interview Mr. Trent and uncover the truth in this matter.
Karl,
Appreciate the response, you obviously put some thought into it. But I'm not labeling anyone.
I don't see much room for nuance when reading "It may come to you as a shock that people in the civilized countries aren't barbarians like Americans."
I'm sure Mr. Trent could offer a great deal of perspective on the overall issue of jail time, or what kind of punishment should be doled out to minors convicted of felonies. You two should get together over a Gull or Viking sometime. I suspect it would be two people coming at it from completely different perspectives, but with a lot of common ground.
Kind of like the sentence. I'm not comfortable sending a child to prison for decades either. I'm far less comfortable with what Aron did though, and for his prospects for "rehabilitation," especially given the fact that there were multiple victims.
I'm dismayed at the blame the victim tone of some of these posts as well. These kids were raped. To expect anyone to "jump at the chance" to tell their story on TV is preposterous. I'm not saying they didn't try to cash in, but that is a detail that demands some proof, because it sounds someone is trying to spin a story that has already been well spun.
JD, you say: "especially given the fact that there were multiple victims."
How is this a fact?
I believe that nothing get acomplished in blogs. I would make it known that information changes when people write it because they have the chance to replace or add to what they say and never be accountable for it. I believe that it is important to note that Aron is moving forward and I believe the rest of us should also.
P.S. sa... That is the first time I have ever herd someone say it is best to deal with an issue through the media. I think that this issue is one that involved children and the media is never the best place to report or deal with children. Exspecially in a country like Iceland that values children right.
Oliver, from Mike Trent's second post.
"Third: Aron did molest three other children. One was a neighbor boy whom he molested in every way possible (orally, anally, etc.) from the age of 5 to 11. Aron admitted to this during his psychological interviews, although I'm sure he never admitted it to you. Aron also molested the older boy you referred to, making unwelcome advances and engaging in non-consensual contact with him. He was too big for the victim to fend off -- (again, that is why I bring up his large size.) Finally, Aron molested one of his own family members. He was prevented from molesting a fifth victim by a quick-thinking mother who caught him leading a 3 year old girl away from a birthday party. That is five victims (that we know of) prior to the age of 14!"
Was it entered into court record, I don't know, but re-read the first part of his post:
"Unfortunately, everything I put in my previous blog entry was correct and based on the evidence that came forth at the juvenile trial and subsequent hearings.
First: Aron was only charged with one count of oral contact with the victim's penis. This is common in child abuse cases -- we do not have to allege every form of abuse."
That's pretty specific information, and what's his motivation to lie or make this up?
JD...Just understand that the information from Mike Trent is not true, here is a man that has sworn to make aron´s life a living hell. And from what I read is threating him with more prison time for small things. I just have to say that the Mike Trent who is ranting in this blog is not the guy I remember. That Mike Trent had more control over himself. Never take serious the accounts of someone who goes as far as Mr. Trent has.
Oliver, from Mike Trent's posts, which are full of very specific details, as opposed to the ones basically calling him a liar. His motivation to lie would be... what exactly?
"Third: Aron did molest three other children. One was a neighbor boy whom he molested in every way possible (orally, anally, etc.) from the age of 5 to 11. Aron admitted to this during his psychological interviews, although I'm sure he never admitted it to you. Aron also molested the older boy you referred to, making unwelcome advances and engaging in non-consensual contact with him. He was too big for the victim to fend off -- (again, that is why I bring up his large size.) Finally, Aron molested one of his own family members. He was prevented from molesting a fifth victim by a quick-thinking mother who caught him leading a 3 year old girl away from a birthday party. That is five victims (that we know of) prior to the age of 14!"
And...
"First: Aron was only charged with one count of oral contact with the victim's penis. This is common in child abuse cases -- we do not have to allege every form of abuse."
Assuming that is to spare every victim from having to endure a trial.
Trent even admits that were inconsistencies in the transcript hearings. His detractors do little more than say he's a liar.
The whole tone of these comments and this entire thread saddens me. He's Iceland's problem now. As a parent, and someone who truly "values my children," I wouldn't want a guy like Aron within a 100 miles of my kids.
JD, like I have already pointed out, Mike Trent DOES lie, for whatever reason. Also, don't forget that his witnesses committed perjury at the trial. The unsubstantiated words of a proven liar do not add up to a fact in my mind.
JD: "Oliver, from Mike Trent's posts, which are full of very specific details, as opposed to the ones basically calling him a liar. His motivation to lie would be... what exactly?"
Come on man! The man is a politician! Politicians lie. In his case he needs to produce results, i.e. many and heavy sentences or he's out of a job. After securing those, with, as we have seen, perjury and whatnot, his motivation is to defend his methods and record so he doesn't come under investigation for criminal conspiracy or get booted in the next election. This btw is the big problem with having a party-political judiciary like the US's. His witness lied on the stand, he's not even challenging that. The witness's motivation to lie would be... what exactly?
Finally, my allegation about his lying is VERY specific, whatever you might be insinuating. If you wish to rebut that allegation, please feel free to be specific.
PS. to JD. What is Trent's motivation to talk about this at all on some obscure blog? If he's motivated to do that, he's motivated to lie.
Give it a break. This has all been said before. Leave it a lone. This is the same guy who came out on the Icelandic media and said Aron was so dangerous because he had Blond Hair and Blue Eyes. And first he said 3 now it is five next it will be 7. Give it a rest. The media in Iceland made him a joke a long time ago. Why are we acting like this new.
I remember that. It was so funny, But if I remember right he talked real bad about the Icelandic people also. I have met Aron and he is not the guy Mike Trent is claiming he is. Aron has done a lot here in Iceland in just a few months and if anything I think Iceland will be a lot better off with him here. I think this conversation is playing out to long.
Come on, JD. Trent is a politician. They lie. His motivation is to score many convictions and heavy sentences, by whatever means, or he's out of a job. He didn't even try to deny that his witness committed perjury at the trial. Why is he even talking about this at all on some obscure blog? If he's motvated to do that, he's motivated to lie. Specifically, to defend his conduct and protect his record, so he's not booted out at the next election or charged with criminal conspiracy.
Repetition because the page apparently didn't refresh correctly.
I wonder if there's going to be a comeback from the lying and perjury-committing prosecutor.
What is Trent's motivation to talk about this at all on some obscure blog?
Now, now Oliver. You could easily hurt my feelings.
Fact is, the Iceland Weather Report is the main English-language blog in Iceland, whether you believe it or not. There are other sites in English, of course, even ones that update daily (the formidable icelandreview.com springs to mind) but those don't allow comments. This site has an extensive and loyal readership, and if Mike Trent wanted to get his comments across to the people of Iceland, this would be as good a place as any to do that. As has, indeed, proven to be the case - it took about an hour after I posted about this for it to hit message boards all over the country and the mainstream media was swarming all over this site.
Either that, or he just read something that made him want to respond. That's generally what people do on blogs, you know.
Well, since you ASKED...
Oliver, the depth of your ignorance is breathtaking. You must get your ideas about the criminal justice system from TV. It's hard to know where to begin, but here goes:
1. By his own admission, Aron molested 3 children. We know of at least 4 and there would have been 5 had it not been for a mother's quick intervention.
2. I haven't lied about anything. While Aron was only convicted of one type of conduct, the others were proven in court as well. You toss around that word pretty freely for a person who knows nothing about me or the case.
3. No perjury was committed at the trial. The only suggestion of perjury came from the subsequent transfer hearing, which was conducted by a different prosecutor. None of those witnesses were ever charged with anything because the inconsistencies were addressed during the course of the hearing. And the only dispute was over where Aron should be sent, not the facts of the case or his dangerousness.
4. I've never said anything about blond hair and blue eyes and I've never said anything bad about the Icelandic people -- other than to express disbelief that some of them would choose to make a hero out of a pedophile.
5. I'm not a politician. I don't run for office and I don't have to get re-elected. (That's only my boss, "the" District Attorney.) I could quit tomorrow and make ten times my government salary as a criminal defense attorney. I don't get points or bonus money or a set of steak knives for winning convictions and heavy sentences. Only the satisfaction of having done some good for the community.
A lot of the posts on this blog make me laugh. I'm getting accused of everything from lying to poor word choice to impersonating a prosecutor. If you don't like "a bunch" maybe I should have said "a significantly greater amount of." Does that sound erudite and legal enough for you? Or I could have just said "a sh*tload" but that would have just played into your stereotype views of Texans.
One of the few intelligent commenters, outside of our suddenly-a-lot-more-neutral host, Alda, is JD, who seems to have actually thought through his posts rather than just spewing venom like Oliver and others.
This morning I forwarded a copy of Aron's psychological exam to an Icelandic media outlet, where he details his violent fantasies about torturing and raping children. I wonder if they will have the guts to publish it? Somehow I doubt it. If they do, it will be heavily sanitized so as not to offend his most vehement supporters -- people like you, Oliver. By your warped reasoning, everyone motivated to post on "some obscure blog" (I would be offended, Alda) is a liar! Perhaps you are projecting some of your own characteristics on the rest of us. Anyone who acts as if there is a dramatic difference between oral and anal sodomy (as if just one type is okay!) is obviously harboring an extreme bias.
In any event, the issue having been fully explored and the partisans for Aron having been revealed, (along with the wide gulfs in their knowledge of the case) I am most likely finished posting here.
But I must end with this. One of the Icelandic reporters who called told me that Aron is selling ice cream.
Lord help you...
... outside of our suddenly-a-lot-more-neutral host, Alda
Just watching the chips fall. Nothing more.
This is what you said, Trent: "Aron was convicted sodomizing -- both orally and anally -- a 5 year old boy. "
By your own admission, this is not true. He was not convicted - or even charged - with the second offence. So you lied. You persist in your lie by not making any effort to explain this falsehood or apologize.
Oliver, I don't need to apologize and I think I've adequately acknowledged and explained the mistake in the earlier post. Not every error in making a technical distinction is a lie.
Perhaps now you could explain why you do not seem to object to oral sodomy of a 5 year old? That's the only inference to be drawn from the stridency of your attacks...that you view one type of conduct as acceptable and the other as perhaps a bit over the line.
Trent, you just keep lying. There is only one measure of proof in a courtroom - a conviction. You fail to acknowledge that you uttered a clear falsehood on these pages, and only compound it by telling the same lie in a different guise. There has only ever been a single item of conduct proven against Aron, saying more were proven in a courtroom is an outright lie.
Whatever inferences you wish to make about me are exclusively yours and will not be dignified. Your lies, however, stare everyone in the face who read these pages, as does your failure to acknowledge them as falsehoods.
Mike Trent
Assistant District Attorney
Harris County, Texas
Mr. Trent,
As a Icelandic citizen currently living in one of the other southern states, married to an American, I must say that I find your views, and the ones like you in the justice system to be abominable.
The ruthless, abominable vengeful Byzantine spirit in this country is beyond all boundaries.
Children arrested and charged for bringing steak knifes to school, for cutting up their lunch, the harsh senseless punishments for misdemeanors such as throwing a coffee-styrofoam container at a car(2 year sentence recently handed out and reported on news for that "throwing missile at a car" in my state), children locked up in prisons for acts that would at most require talks with a psychiatrist in other countries, and some states even wasting tax payers money on locking people up for life under the 3-strikes laws(which means that they enslave the law abiding citizens to earn honorable living to pay prison guards for senseless sentences).
My state recently released a man from incarceration on Pshychiatric Ward in Prison after 17 years, where he had been kept after being charged for murder. The man had never been sentenced for that crime as a trial had never been held. He had therefore been sitting incarcerated innocent(as all are until proven guilty) for all that time.
All sentences and a charges should be in proportion with the crime. If they are not, then respect for the law can not be upheld.
A far as the US is regarded, then a country and justice system that is 3 times more likely than totalitarian China to have a person held up in jail(on a per-capita basis) and still boasts to be "land of the free, home of the brave" can not be respected.
It is persons like you Mr. Trent who put a bad reputation to your country, with your vengeful un-christian approach to justice.
Whether Aron is guilty of one crime or 30 matter of course. A district attorney that sincerely believes one is guilty of 30 crimes, should not give up after only prosecuting one.
And a DA that believes in the integrity and respect of the justice system should strive to keep their actions in context with the crime committed and the ages of both the accused and the ones presumed victims.
Notwithstanding what I earlier said about certain suggestions not being dignified; Mr. Trent, in the past you have been accused of using fabricated evidence to put people behind bars. These accusations that have been leved against you are very serious, and have seemed credible to me - much more credible than those you have leveled against Aron. After reading your comments on this blog, it has become clear that you are indeed a person without respect for the truth. You start out by telling a blatant lie (alleging conviction for anal rape - the truthfulness or otherwise of which your position requires you to have completely clear in your mind). After this lapse, you do not even acknowledge having told a falsehood. Indeed you lie again by maintaining the charges of said offence were "proven" in court - a theoretical impossibility since those charges were never brought. You flatly state you see no reason to apologize despite telling repeated lies on issues you are sworn to honor the truth on in the execution of your office. It seems clear now, that truth is indeed not something you value in the execution of your office. I sincerely hope that whatever judicial murders you may have perpetrated in your career come to light sooner rather than later, and you are punished accordingly.
Bragi Guðbrandsson, head of child services (Barnaverndarstofa), today condemns Mr. Trent's utterings on this page. Mr. Guðbrandsson calls them shocking, that Mr. Trent "seems completely out of control", and that for a public servant to spread intimate personal details of this kind is "completely inappropriate". Mr. Guðbrandsson studied the case thoroughly in Texas following Aron's conviction, and says the prosecutor's utterings do not agree with the facts as presented at the time.
Mike just lay off,
What is your point?
That we all just tell Aron to go back to Texas?
That Aron goes back to jail?
To warn all of Icelandic public that he might molest our kids?
In my opinion you must be an idiot...
Olafur, your post is all over the board. You criticize the US justice system, "zero-tolerance policies" in schools, (that's a subject I bet we agree on) three strikes laws and what appears to be a serious miscarriage of justice.
What does ANY of that have to do with the Aron Palmi case, and what he was convicted of doing? Nothing.
Your post closes with what appears to an admonishment for NOT punishing Aron any further. Are you saying that because he didn't get sent away for life, there is some doubt as to what crime was committed?
And in regards to proportional punishment, if an 18-year did the same thing, would 10 years be ok then? Because if I were the parent of the victim, it certainly would not be, and not just because of vengeance-but public safety.
I believe that the mind frame of a 13 year old is different then the mind of an 18 year old. You have to admit that. So when looking at this blog and also being a victim of sexual abuse I have to agree that 10 years is to much of a jail sentence when it could have been handled a lot different. I have read Aron´s book. Have you JD. Aron is very open and honest with everyone. I read the book and went to a public reading where Aron invited anyone to ask questions. Though you could tell that it was not easy for him he still took the time to talk about the committing offense and some of the other events talked about by Mr. Trent. Now I am not invovled in this case one way or the other and I am glad this is not my blog because I believe that many of these comments have surpast breaking Icelandic law. But I think people have the right to say what they believe. I just think this case should have been handled different. And still believe that the Icelandic people support Aron for the most part. I mean while going through the MANY blogs in Iceland. I would say 80 percent of them are in favor of Aron. Then 10 negative and the other 10 just going back and forth. JD if you don´t mind me asking where are you from.
I recommend a TV show made by National Geographic, its name is Prison nation. Referring to USA.
Mike. You are the weakest link, goodbye.
JD:
The reason I am "all over the board" is simply because Mr. Turner's attitude is a product of the vengeful eye-for-an-eye attitude of American's in general.
My wife has a hard time getting rid of this attitude sometimes.
American's prefer to retaliate full strength, no matter what the problem is or what would be suitable for the situation.
It is this attitude of beating down on offenses with punishments that are grossly out of any proportion and without any notice of the offenders age that creates the problem society that the US is.
Mr. Turners attitude expressed here, the fact that the US is 3 times more likely to hold someone in prison than the Chinese(which are the world Silve-medalists of imprisoning people after the US), the american terrorism paranoia and glorification of uniformed personnel, be it the military or police are merely different sides of the same broken cube.
Tell me, do you believe JD that imprisoning a child, for an offense committed at age 12, for 40 to life makes any sense in General?
I remember seeing it somewhere that the US was one of only 4 countries in the world allowing children under 18 to be sentenced to lifetime sentences. The US having around 2000 kids imprisoned for life in the year 2006 or 2007, for crimes committed whilst under 18. The other 3 countries that do the same had a total of 8.
So which country in this world is out of bounds? Can such a country be respected?
This whole thing is ridiculous. Y'all need to chillax and wait for the facts.. and get them from somewhere more reliable than a blog. No offense Alda!
Don't be mad that when people post information(true or not, pure views maybe) about something we all should know of. I find it very strange how many commentators on this page are so sure that they know all the facts, and if someone else says otherwise(even though they know much more of the case then we do) they are lying.
Be glad you're getting different views and possibly(?) more facts about the matter.
Fact is, most of you don't know anything about what happened, u just ramble up what you heard about Aron in the media(Icelandic media).
Remember that the media help trying to get him home.
When a child is locked up in prison and being questioned by authorities who are convinced about his guilt, I bet he would confess almost anything.
I wonder who is the child-molestor in this case?
I stumbled across this blog entry while looking for something else and it piqued my interest b/c I'm from Texas, too.
I've never heard of this kid or this case, but it sounds like Iceland wants him, Texas doesn't want him, Iceland has him, and Texas doesn't have him. Why all the fuss now? If he molests more kids, that will be on your heads, not ours, and judging by the laissez faire attitude some of you have expressed towards the sexual abuse of children, that sounds like no big deal for you. To each their own, I suppose.
Iceland, I live in the US, have not read Aron's book, and I have no idea how the Icelandic media is covering this story. If the comments to this blog are any indication...
In regards to free speech, party on. The 1st Amendment (here) is a beautiful thing.
It's dangerous though, to equate public opinion, which can change and change quickly, vs. the justice system.
Olafur, I reject the notion that that the justice system here is a "vengeful, eye-for-eye" type. Are there real problems? Yes. It is overwhelmed? Yes. Do I think the deck is stacked against people like Aron? No. Other than a few rambling, opinionated posts, no one is quibbling with the facts of this case, which were presented in court, and are part of the public record.
And I have no idea what you are referring to when saying Americans prefer to "retaliate in full strength." If so, the 5 Iranian speedboats that threatened American warships last week would have been destroyed.
But again, your post goes way beyond this specific case. You obviously have strong feelings on a lot of geo-political issues and the justice system here in general. Where I differ with you is the assumption that most of all of America is complicit with the policies of our the current administration, or that we are a mean, vengeful people. The US is in a major time of transition now, and it's not always a pretty sight.
But, if I had to make a choice, I'm on Mike Trent's side (and maybe your wife too) on the Aron issue. For what he was convicted of doing, the punishment probably didn't fit the crime-he deserved more. I suppose the issue is whether he was merely a confused teenager, who didn't fully comprehend what he was doing, or a pedophile. Based on the threats to his victim, what do you think?
JD, is this another of your "facts"?
"Based on the threats to his victim, what do you think?"
Björg Thorarensen, law faculty president og the University of Iceland: "In this country it is generally assumed a person is innocent until proven guilty. It is highly irresponsible of a public prosecutor to declare someone's guilt. Here, it would be a violation of the constitution and the european convention of human rights if a public prosecutor declared someone guilty of a crime said person had not been convicted of. The US is party to the UN convention of civil and political rights, which guarantees ... the presumption of innocence."
Bragi Guðbrandsson, head of child services: "This is not something public servants are supposed to do, and I think [Trent] is not of sound mind."
"That little boy, now a young man, bears the scars to this day."
Icelandic TV wanted to interview him but he refused to talk to them unless they would pay him some ridiculous amount of money. If he thought Aron was dangerous, I would think he would jump at the chance to warn people about him so it doesn't happen to other kids.
LG | 09.01.08 - 4:56 am | #
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That is an OUT an OUT LIE! As His Mother--I Know Better! First off--NOONE from the Icelandic press has ever called here. Secondly--NO amount of Money would equate to reliving the HORROR of what happened to him at the hands of Aron. If anyone here is actually a health professional and can shed some light on these posters who have nary a clue on the HELL and Torment that never ever leaves a mind after the abuse--I would listen to them.
if you dear Assistant District Prosecutor in Harris County, Texas read these I hope you will rotten in hell there in texas and never come to iceland or europe, what kind of an asshole are you, for first if he had done some other things why didin´t you charged him for that, if he had murder some one would you have slipped that one too. it just show how pathetic your case is, people around world have long seen how stupid people are in texas and finally poeple in usa are too, like your president you are just like him an real asshole
Björg Thorarensen, law faculty president og the University of Iceland: "In this country it is generally assumed a person is innocent until proven guilty. It is highly irresponsible of a public prosecutor to declare someone's guilt. Here, it would be a violation of the constitution and the european convention of human rights if a public prosecutor declared someone guilty of a crime said person had not been convicted of. The US is party to the UN convention of civil and political rights, which guarantees ... the presumption of innocence."
Bragi Guðbrandsson, head of child services: "This is not something public servants are supposed to do, and I think [Trent] is not of sound mind."
Oliver | 11.01.08 - 4:53 pm | #
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I suggest You go back and ask yourself if Aron was tried and convicted of the crime in His State of Texas where he lived at the time of the Egregious offense? He was innocent until My son at the age of 6 testified and another boy at 7, who was with him, was told--" Unzip--Your Next". The sentencing Phase of the Trial brought forth other boys who were came forward also. Please~ There is One Universal agreement regarless of Culture, Creed or nation, It is the Care and Safety of our Children. I write today, after reading all of this blog and posts, not Irate, but as a Mother of an entire family who was the victim of this rape. many have mocked Mike trent and His bringing forth an item of anal rape against my child. If You can't understand How a child of 6 couldn't testify in a Court of Law about this --I would have to think , You have no children, or don't understand the psyche of them. Also He had no witness to the anal attack, as he did to the oral rape. I am So Proud of Him and what He did do to stop the additional abuse of others in our Community at His Hands. I bear no ill will towards Aron. S a Christian, I forgive him. I have only One Agenda ..It is for all Adults to be aware and not entrust their child for a minute with him. That is my Plea.
and one more thing why don´t you look in to the youth prison and put that people who are there working and raping the young kids who are there, go and put them to jail not some kids. you where probibly some looser kid in school when you where kid and have to punish them now.
Bette, I sympathize. However, Mr. Trent's behaviour strips him of credibility and agrees all too well with earlier accusations leveled against him of fabricating evidence. The presumption of innocence has to prevail, otherwise civilization crumbles.
Add to that the documentary "Capturing the Friedmans", which describes how children were indoctrinated (even by hypnosis) with the idea that they had been the victims of sexual abuse by the authorities, as well as other numerous examples of hysterical miscarriages of justice from the USA in this field - all of this leads me treat ANY such unsubstantiated allegations with a high degree of caution.
Aron Pálmi has never changed his story. He has never denied his guilt as convicted. Mr. Trent however has been exposed as a liar, his witness as a perjuror. Sorry, I just don't buy it.
Bette, I sympathize. However, Mr. Trent's behaviour strips him of credibility and agrees all too well with earlier accusations leveled against him of fabricating evidence. The presumption of innocence has to prevail, otherwise civilization crumbles.
Add to that the documentary "Capturing the Friedmans", which describes how children were indoctrinated (even by hypnosis) with the idea that they had been the victims of sexual abuse by the authorities, as well as other numerous examples of hysterical miscarriages of justice from the USA in this field - all of this leads me treat ANY such unsubstantiated allegations with a high degree of caution.
Aron Pálmi has never changed his story. He has never denied his guilt as convicted. Mr. Trent however has been exposed as a liar, his witness as a perjuror. Sorry, I just don't buy it.
Oliver | 11.01.08 - 7:02 pm | #
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Sir. I don't come here to make anyone "Buy" anything. I do know the entire History of this case , every day and every hour( as I did write in my diary) and I do know..If it were not for Mr. Trent and his thoughtful and compassionate treatment of the children that did testify in this case...My Child would have suffered longer at the expense of Aron. The charge of anal sex did come to light after the charges of oral rape were made. WE both came to the agreement that it would be in the best interest of the VICTIM ( My son) to leave it out of of the case that had already been filed. The facts were there. The bottle of lubricant that Aron had used and then buried was recovered. My God, SIR, My son was threatened with a gun by him..he was fearful to sleep in his bad again. He was traumatised and did have to eventually spend 25 days in a Mental health facility for his his Safety at the age of 7. Your "sympathy" sir, is not needed nor required. This will be my last Post. Each person must search their own soul and conscience.
Oliver, I based that part of my post on this:
"Second: The victim did testify to the threats Aron made. Perhaps you have forgotten about that. Aron also showed him a realistic looking gun and said he would do a drive-by on the victim's family if he told. While a threat like that might seem childish to an adult, it was very real to a six year old boy.
Before you can ask why I think it is a fact, I'll answer. Because it was sworn testimony in a court of law. I'll leave it to you to say that a 6-year old was lying or was manipulated by a malicious prosecutor, who obviously has nothing better to do than to put innocent teenagers in jail for crimes they did not commit.
And yes, I have a great deal of faith in the American justice system, (despite its flaws) where you are also innocent until proven guilty. And Aron was found guilty, there is no further presumption of innocence.
So he is back on Icelandic soil, apparently as a cause celebre. Believe what you want, but really read Bette's posts above. Yet another phony liar? Someone practicing their creative writing? Or perhaps part of the anonymous cabal of people trying to railroad an innocent man? Sorry, not buying any of that. Too many other problems to deal with here.
To the Icelandic posters, I pray that the state head of child services, with all of the passionate defense of her job, doesn't have to eat her words.
There's no way I am going to believe these things are as you say, and charges were not brought. No way whatsoever. If physical evidence did indeed exist of such serious crimes as these, and charges were not brought, then this is a signal failure of public service by the prosecution, as indeed your warning calls are testament to.
Buried bottle of lubricant? If that does not scream "fabricated evidence", then I don't know what does.
I also wonder what treatment your son was given for 25 days. Did it include hypnosis perhaps?
JD, what you describe does not add up to a fact, although you treat it so. Aron was not convicted, or as far as I know charged, with threats of violence. This is where your concept of presumption of innocence fails: Even after conviction, it still holds for everything other than the convicted charges. Apparently the presumption of innocence is much narrower in the USA than where I live. Since you brought it up, the american justice system is a failure to my mind, compared to what we have here: (proportionally of course) much fewer crimes, much fewer people in jail, much less legal costs, much fewer frivolous lawsuits and threats thereof, and much fewer judicial murders - to say nothing of outright witchhunts.
As Oliver talked about the presumption of innocence being much narrower in the US.
The Department of Homeland Security(sometimes referred to as the Department of Hopeless Stupidity) has now begun treating all visitors to the US going though Atlanta as common criminals, requiring 10 fingerprint from every single traveller.
A more outright disdain for the presumption of innocence can not be found than treating all foreigners as criminals.
http://www.earthtimes.org/
articl...on,254685.shtml
Interesting debate
Bette first of all,i feel so sorry for you, Im very ashamed of being an Icelandic right now, but this is just how they are ignorant and cold, i would never let Aron near my children and hope that in my future i will be able to live in another country, because the Icelandic people act like a group of high schoolers, its very sad, and the only reason famous people come here is to have sex with the loose girls and women here, its known around the world how this is and i wished i wasn't an Icelander.
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