Letter to the Editor: Not Enough

Dear friends and colleagues, I was pleased that The Philadelphia Inquirer printed my letter about the plea bargain for the killer of 20-year-old Sahmya Garcia, whom he murdered after she had the courage to end their relationship. An appalling miscarriage of justice!

Not Enough

To the editor:

The family of 20-year-old Sahmya Garcia — who was tormented and beaten by Marcus Burney and murdered after she ended their relationship — has every right to be “disappointed” by her killer’s plea deal, which spared him from life imprisonment. The family has every right to be enraged. I surely am. Garcia’s murder occurred just moments after the police were unsuccessful in delivering Burney a protection from abuse order. However, even if they had been successful, history shows that this order is not a deterrent for someone determined to kill. These murders are carried out by those who lose control of their rage once they lose their power to dominate their partner. In Burney’s case, fury and lawlessness were palpable, but some who murder for these reasons appear to be model citizens. A response to the following question is long overdue: Why is the abuse and murder of women less important than the protection of their killers?

SaraKay Smullens

Philadelphia

The Philadelphia Inquirer, September 3, 2023