ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, March 21, 1996 TAG: 9603210031
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO WHAT'S ON YOUR
SOURCE: RAY REED
Q: The homes of suspected terrorists and rock throwers in Israeli-controlled lands are destroyed or boarded up without due process. What has been done to the home of the Israeli accused of the assassination of Itzak Rabin?
G.R., Lexington
A: Israel's High Court of Justice heard seven petitions last week from terrorists' families who wanted to save their houses from demolition.
Some of the bombings occurred last summer and other attacks came in the past three weeks, so due process occurs before the army flattens terrorist homes.
Does the due process amount to justice?
Yigal Amir's house was not destroyed after he assassinated Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.
Lawyers argued this point in court, the Jerusalem Post reported. Prosecutors contended all of Israel denounced Amir's act and no one was following his footsteps.
In contrast, prosecutors said, the suicide bombers are heroes to many Arab people in the occupied territories. Demolishing homes of the bombers' families is seen as a deterrent.
The families' attorney said the sparing of Amir's house indicated a double standard exists.
Case appealed
Q: I wondered about the picture in the paper Tuesday of Ren Heard. I thought he was sentenced to prison for having sex with an underage minor. How did it come to be that he's back doing his work?
D.T., Roanoke
A: Ren Heard has been free on $50,000 appeal bond since being convicted in April 1995 and sentenced to 10 years for statutory rape. The victim was 14.
Heard's appeal was denied by the state Court of Appeals and a new one has been filed with the Supreme Court of Virginia.
Assistant Roanoke Commonwealth's Attorney Gerald Teaster said this court ruling may not come until midsummer, but it should be the last appeal. The time would be served starting then unless the Supreme Court intervenes.
Royal title
Q: I would like to know the last name of the queen of England, and also the Queen Mother, after she signed Elizabeth R. on the condolences card for the children in Scotland.
M.B., Roanoke
A: Elizabeth R. is Elizabeth Regina, which is her title. Her formal name is Elizabeth II.
Her son Charles and daughter Princess Anne bear the surname Windsor, by her own declaration. Her other two sons, Andrew and Edward, are named Mountbatten-Windsor.
Windsor is the royal house of Great Britain. Mountbatten is from Philip Mountbatten, her husband.
The Queen Mother, born in 1900, is called Elizabeth. Her maiden name was Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon; her husband was King George VI.
Have a question about something that might affect other people, too? Something you've come across and wondered about? Give us a call at 981-3118. Or, e-mail RoatimesInfi.Net. Maybe we can find the answer.
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