
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 18, 1990                   TAG: 9007180405
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

`YOKEL' LABEL WAS SOERING'S BIG ERROR

JENS Soering's first mistake was falling in love and becoming a wimpy scapegoat for the diabolical scheming of Elizabeth Haysom. His biggest mistake was labeling Bedford County law enforcers yokels.

Commonwealth's Attorney Jim Updike was obviously annoyed. In his summation to the jurors, in effect he said that they too were local yokels and hinted they should not be outwitted by Soering. Updike was influencing the jurors to focus more on Jens' character than on the shabby evidence against him.

When this episode (I hope) becomes a movie, there will be no question who portrays Updike. Jim Updike, of course. He earned the part. TOM HOFFMAN SALEM

by CNB