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| Julie and Robin Kerry: anti-racism activists opposed to the death penalty | Julie and Robin Kerry: anti-racism activists opposed to the death penalty |
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| Julie Kerry | Julie Kerry |
| At the time of her death Julie, 20, was studying English literature at the University of Missouri-St Louis. The second of four daughters, she lived with her mother Virginia in the Spanish Lake neighbourhood of St Louis, about two miles from the bridge. Julie was a volunteer for Amnesty International and Greenpeace, and her family and friends admired her for her strong sense of justice. She had a motto hanging on her bedroom wall: “Who says you can't change the world?” Her mother Ginna told police on the night of the incident: “Julie is a very friendly, trusting and idealistic girl”. | At the time of her death Julie, 20, was studying English literature at the University of Missouri-St Louis. The second of four daughters, she lived with her mother Virginia in the Spanish Lake neighbourhood of St Louis, about two miles from the bridge. Julie was a volunteer for Amnesty International and Greenpeace, and her family and friends admired her for her strong sense of justice. She had a motto hanging on her bedroom wall: “Who says you can't change the world?” Her mother Ginna told police on the night of the incident: “Julie is a very friendly, trusting and idealistic girl”. |
| Julie's overwhelming enthusiasm was for writing poetry and songs. As her cousin, Jeanine Cummins, puts it in her book about the tragedy, A Rip in Heaven: “Julie was having a full-blown love affair with words. Her poetry was her passion; it helped her to interpret her life, to put things in perspective.” It was poetry that brought Julie and her sister to the bridge that night – they wanted to show their cousin, Thomas Cummins, a poem Julie had written and that they'd painted on the bridge. | Julie's overwhelming enthusiasm was for writing poetry and songs. As her cousin, Jeanine Cummins, puts it in her book about the tragedy, A Rip in Heaven: “Julie was having a full-blown love affair with words. Her poetry was her passion; it helped her to interpret her life, to put things in perspective.” It was poetry that brought Julie and her sister to the bridge that night – they wanted to show their cousin, Thomas Cummins, a poem Julie had written and that they'd painted on the bridge. |
| Julie's body was found three weeks after she went missing, near Caruthersville, 297 miles downstream. She is buried in Calvary cemetery in St Louis. | Julie's body was found three weeks after she went missing, near Caruthersville, 297 miles downstream. She is buried in Calvary cemetery in St Louis. |
| Robin Kerry | Robin Kerry |
| A year younger than her sister Julie, Robin, 19 at the time of her death, was also studying at the University of Missouri-St Louis, in her case linguistics. She was active in the local community, helping six-year-olds with their homework after school at the local Salvation Army family haven. A strict vegetarian, her bedroom was festooned with sculptures she had made and sketches of dragons and fairies. | A year younger than her sister Julie, Robin, 19 at the time of her death, was also studying at the University of Missouri-St Louis, in her case linguistics. She was active in the local community, helping six-year-olds with their homework after school at the local Salvation Army family haven. A strict vegetarian, her bedroom was festooned with sculptures she had made and sketches of dragons and fairies. |
| Her cousin Jeanine Cummins wrote that “Robin was bright and defiant. Julie was her mentor, her muse, but Robin was one hundred per cent her own person. She was the shier of the two sisters, but her quiet demeanor masked an ever active wellspring of activity in the mind. She was witty, sarcastic and passionate.” The sisters' mother, Ginna, told police on the night they went missing that “if there was a struggle, Robin would defend herself and sister and would fight to the death”. | Her cousin Jeanine Cummins wrote that “Robin was bright and defiant. Julie was her mentor, her muse, but Robin was one hundred per cent her own person. She was the shier of the two sisters, but her quiet demeanor masked an ever active wellspring of activity in the mind. She was witty, sarcastic and passionate.” The sisters' mother, Ginna, told police on the night they went missing that “if there was a struggle, Robin would defend herself and sister and would fight to the death”. |
| Robin's body has never been found. | Robin's body has never been found. |
| Thomas Cummins | Thomas Cummins |
| The son of a Catholic deacon from Gaithersburg, Maryland, Tom Cummins was training to become a fire fighter when the Chain of Rocks tragedy occurred. Aged 19, he had travelled with his family to St Louis for the spring break to spend time with his cousin Julie. On the night of the 4 April he drove with Julie and her sister Robin to the bridge to see a poem that Julie had written and painted on it. After the women fell to their deaths, Cummins became the star witness in the prosecution case against Reggie Clemons and his two other black co-defendants. He testified in three separate trials that they had raped his cousins and pushed them into the river, then forced him to jump after them by threatening to shoot him. | The son of a Catholic deacon from Gaithersburg, Maryland, Tom Cummins was training to become a fire fighter when the Chain of Rocks tragedy occurred. Aged 19, he had travelled with his family to St Louis for the spring break to spend time with his cousin Julie. On the night of the 4 April he drove with Julie and her sister Robin to the bridge to see a poem that Julie had written and painted on it. After the women fell to their deaths, Cummins became the star witness in the prosecution case against Reggie Clemons and his two other black co-defendants. He testified in three separate trials that they had raped his cousins and pushed them into the river, then forced him to jump after them by threatening to shoot him. |
| But police initially considered Cummins the murderer. Police records suggested that when they first encountered Cummins after he had sounded the alarm they were puzzled by his dry and neatly combed hair. Records also show that when he was questioned by detectives he changed his story several times, at one point saying that Julie had stumbled into the river after he had unwittingly startled her by trying to hug her. | But police initially considered Cummins the murderer. Police records suggested that when they first encountered Cummins after he had sounded the alarm they were puzzled by his dry and neatly combed hair. Records also show that when he was questioned by detectives he changed his story several times, at one point saying that Julie had stumbled into the river after he had unwittingly startled her by trying to hug her. |
| Police dropped their investigation of Cummins after they corroborated his statement that four other men had been on the bridge that night. Cummins later issued a lawsuit against the St Louis police alleging they had tried to frame him for the murders – beating him and then fabricating the police reports - and he received a settlement of $150,000. | Police dropped their investigation of Cummins after they corroborated his statement that four other men had been on the bridge that night. Cummins later issued a lawsuit against the St Louis police alleging they had tried to frame him for the murders – beating him and then fabricating the police reports - and he received a settlement of $150,000. |
| Today he lives back in the north-east of the US. | Today he lives back in the north-east of the US. |
| Daniel Winfrey | Daniel Winfrey |
| Aged 15, Winfrey was the youngest of the group of four men accused of murdering the Kerry sisters on 4 April, and the only white person among them. He had moved to the small town of Wentzville outside St Louis just three weeks before the incident, where he became friendly with Marlin Gray. | Aged 15, Winfrey was the youngest of the group of four men accused of murdering the Kerry sisters on 4 April, and the only white person among them. He had moved to the small town of Wentzville outside St Louis just three weeks before the incident, where he became friendly with Marlin Gray. |
| At just 5 ft 6 inches, he was described as an awkward teenager, though polite and respectful. He was arrested having been implicated by Thomas Cummins as one of the four perpetrators. After interrogation, he agreed to turn prosecution witness, confessing that he had been involved in robbing Cummins and the sisters and had held down the women but had not raped them. He gave evidence in court in the three separate trials of his co-defendants in exchange for a lesser charge of second-degree murder for which he pleaded guilty and received a 30-year sentence. | At just 5 ft 6 inches, he was described as an awkward teenager, though polite and respectful. He was arrested having been implicated by Thomas Cummins as one of the four perpetrators. After interrogation, he agreed to turn prosecution witness, confessing that he had been involved in robbing Cummins and the sisters and had held down the women but had not raped them. He gave evidence in court in the three separate trials of his co-defendants in exchange for a lesser charge of second-degree murder for which he pleaded guilty and received a 30-year sentence. |
| Winfrey was a key witness for the prosecution whose testimony was crucial to the conviction of Reggie Clemons, testifying he had seen Clemons rape the sisters. By his own account, though, he was not on the bridge at the moment the Kerry sisters fell into the river. He didn't “know what happened down there” and he “never saw what went on after [Cummins] was put in the hole”. | Winfrey was a key witness for the prosecution whose testimony was crucial to the conviction of Reggie Clemons, testifying he had seen Clemons rape the sisters. By his own account, though, he was not on the bridge at the moment the Kerry sisters fell into the river. He didn't “know what happened down there” and he “never saw what went on after [Cummins] was put in the hole”. |
| Winfrey was released on parole in 2007. He now lives outside St Louis with his mother. When the Guardian visited him, he said: “I have nothing to say. Talk to my lawyer.” | Winfrey was released on parole in 2007. He now lives outside St Louis with his mother. When the Guardian visited him, he said: “I have nothing to say. Talk to my lawyer.” |
| Marlin Gray | Marlin Gray |
| Marlin Gray, 23 at the time, was the oldest of the four men accused of murdering the Kerry sisters. On the evening of 4 April he was driving around Wentzville when he spotted Daniel Winfrey who he had got to know shortly before, and the two of them went off to visit Gray's friend Reggie Clemons in St Louis. | Marlin Gray, 23 at the time, was the oldest of the four men accused of murdering the Kerry sisters. On the evening of 4 April he was driving around Wentzville when he spotted Daniel Winfrey who he had got to know shortly before, and the two of them went off to visit Gray's friend Reggie Clemons in St Louis. |
| After the four were arrested, Winfrey told police that Gray had had the initial idea to go back on the bridge and accost the Kerry sisters and their cousin, alleging that Gray had said he “felt like hurting someone”. Gray also made a confession to police, but shortly afterwards retracted it, saying it had been beaten out of him. Winfrey and Thomas Cummins testified at Gray's trial that he had raped the women. Cummins said that Gray had threatened to “pop him”. But by their account, Gray had left the bridge by the time the women were allegedly forced into the river and he was found guilty of murder as an accomplice. Gray continued to insist he was innocent until 26 October 2005 when he was executed by lethal injection. Before he died, he made a final statement. He said: "I go with a peace of mind that comes from never having taken a human life. This is not a death, it is a lynching.” | After the four were arrested, Winfrey told police that Gray had had the initial idea to go back on the bridge and accost the Kerry sisters and their cousin, alleging that Gray had said he “felt like hurting someone”. Gray also made a confession to police, but shortly afterwards retracted it, saying it had been beaten out of him. Winfrey and Thomas Cummins testified at Gray's trial that he had raped the women. Cummins said that Gray had threatened to “pop him”. But by their account, Gray had left the bridge by the time the women were allegedly forced into the river and he was found guilty of murder as an accomplice. Gray continued to insist he was innocent until 26 October 2005 when he was executed by lethal injection. Before he died, he made a final statement. He said: "I go with a peace of mind that comes from never having taken a human life. This is not a death, it is a lynching.” |
| Reggie Clemons | Reggie Clemons |
| Born on 30 August 1971, Clemons was the youngest of six children of Roosevelt and Vera Robinson (now Thomas). Clemons had a difficult childhood, suffering from abuse on the part of his father. Vera eventually divorced Roosevelt, and remarried a church pastor, Reynolds Thomas, when Clemons was six years old. Clemons's home background stabilised, and by the time of the Chain of Rocks incident, aged 19, he was described as a compassionate and caring teenager who showed no inclination towards violence and had no previous criminal record. | Born on 30 August 1971, Clemons was the youngest of six children of Roosevelt and Vera Robinson (now Thomas). Clemons had a difficult childhood, suffering from abuse on the part of his father. Vera eventually divorced Roosevelt, and remarried a church pastor, Reynolds Thomas, when Clemons was six years old. Clemons's home background stabilised, and by the time of the Chain of Rocks incident, aged 19, he was described as a compassionate and caring teenager who showed no inclination towards violence and had no previous criminal record. |
| Clemons was put on trial for the murder of the Kerry sisters on the basis of his own confession to raping one of the women and on the testimony of Thomas Cummins and Daniel Winfrey. Clemons complained two days after he had made the confession that it had been beaten out of him. | Clemons was put on trial for the murder of the Kerry sisters on the basis of his own confession to raping one of the women and on the testimony of Thomas Cummins and Daniel Winfrey. Clemons complained two days after he had made the confession that it had been beaten out of him. |
| Cummins told the jury at the trial that he heard Clemons and Winfrey discussing whether he should be allowed to live or die. But neither Cummins nor Winfrey testified that they had seen Clemons push the women into the river, and the prosecution did not allege that he had done so, arguing he was an accomplice to murder. | Cummins told the jury at the trial that he heard Clemons and Winfrey discussing whether he should be allowed to live or die. But neither Cummins nor Winfrey testified that they had seen Clemons push the women into the river, and the prosecution did not allege that he had done so, arguing he was an accomplice to murder. |
| Clemons, who has consistently proclaimed his innocence, is being held at the Potosi Correctional Center in Missouri. He was sentenced to death on 18 February 1993 and has been on death row ever since. | Clemons, who has consistently proclaimed his innocence, is being held at the Potosi Correctional Center in Missouri. He was sentenced to death on 18 February 1993 and has been on death row ever since. |
| Antonio Richardson | Antonio Richardson |
| Richardson lived around the corner from his cousin, Reggie Clemons, in a suburb of St Louis. Aged 16 at the time of his arrest, he was brought up by a succession of relatives and suffered periods of abandonment. By 15 he had a drug and alcohol problem, and dropped out of school. | Richardson lived around the corner from his cousin, Reggie Clemons, in a suburb of St Louis. Aged 16 at the time of his arrest, he was brought up by a succession of relatives and suffered periods of abandonment. By 15 he had a drug and alcohol problem, and dropped out of school. |
| At trial, his lawyer presented the jury with evidence of Richardson's impaired mental capacity and brain damage. Richardson was the first of the four co-defendants to be arrested after police found a flashlight on the bridge that he had stolen and lost on the night of the murders. Under questioning, Richardson turned on Marlin Gray and Clemons, saying that they had killed the Kerry sisters. But at his trial Thomas Cummins, the sisters' cousin, said it was Richardson who pushed the women in and then ordered him to jump after them. | At trial, his lawyer presented the jury with evidence of Richardson's impaired mental capacity and brain damage. Richardson was the first of the four co-defendants to be arrested after police found a flashlight on the bridge that he had stolen and lost on the night of the murders. Under questioning, Richardson turned on Marlin Gray and Clemons, saying that they had killed the Kerry sisters. But at his trial Thomas Cummins, the sisters' cousin, said it was Richardson who pushed the women in and then ordered him to jump after them. |
| In July 1993 Richardson was found guilty of murder, but the jury was unable to decide whether or not he should be given the death penalty. In their place, the trial judge put him on death row. He came within an hour of execution in March 2001, and two years later had his death sentence commuted to life imprisonment with no chance of parole. He is being held at the Jefferson City Correctional Center, Missouri. | In July 1993 Richardson was found guilty of murder, but the jury was unable to decide whether or not he should be given the death penalty. In their place, the trial judge put him on death row. He came within an hour of execution in March 2001, and two years later had his death sentence commuted to life imprisonment with no chance of parole. He is being held at the Jefferson City Correctional Center, Missouri. |
| 11pm: Reggie Clemons, 19, along with Marlin Gray, 23, Antonio Richardson, 16, and Daniel Winfrey, 15, drive to the disused Chain of Rocks bridge across the Mississippi river. They drop a flashlight on the bridge. | 11pm: Reggie Clemons, 19, along with Marlin Gray, 23, Antonio Richardson, 16, and Daniel Winfrey, 15, drive to the disused Chain of Rocks bridge across the Mississippi river. They drop a flashlight on the bridge. |
| 11.25pm: Two sisters, Julie and Robin Kerry, go onto the bridge with their cousin Thomas Cummins. They see the four on the bridge and chat briefly. The two groups then part. | 11.25pm: Two sisters, Julie and Robin Kerry, go onto the bridge with their cousin Thomas Cummins. They see the four on the bridge and chat briefly. The two groups then part. |
| According to Clemons, he and his three companions then left the bridge. | According to Clemons, he and his three companions then left the bridge. |
| Thomas Cummins gave a different account: the four men returned and raped his cousins. Then one of them pushed the women into the river, and forced him to jump in after them. Cummins survived, the two women did not. | Thomas Cummins gave a different account: the four men returned and raped his cousins. Then one of them pushed the women into the river, and forced him to jump in after them. Cummins survived, the two women did not. |
| Early hours: Thomas Cummins stops a passing truck and asks driver to call police. He is taken to a police station in St Louis where he faces questioning. | Early hours: Thomas Cummins stops a passing truck and asks driver to call police. He is taken to a police station in St Louis where he faces questioning. |
| During day: Cummins changes his story several times. According to a police report, he tells detectives that Julie Kerry stumbled off the bridge into the river after he had tried to hug her. Cummins later says that the police report was fabricated. | During day: Cummins changes his story several times. According to a police report, he tells detectives that Julie Kerry stumbled off the bridge into the river after he had tried to hug her. Cummins later says that the police report was fabricated. |
| Cummins is held on suspicion of double murder | Cummins is held on suspicion of double murder |
| Police find the flashlight dropped by the group of four on the bridge and trace it back to Richardson, whom they arrest. Then they pick up Clemons, Gray and Winfrey. Clemons confesses to rape, though not to murder. | Police find the flashlight dropped by the group of four on the bridge and trace it back to Richardson, whom they arrest. Then they pick up Clemons, Gray and Winfrey. Clemons confesses to rape, though not to murder. |
| Thomas Cummins is released from police custody. Police later clear him of suspicion | Thomas Cummins is released from police custody. Police later clear him of suspicion |
| Reggie Clemons makes formal complaint to St Louis police that his confession was beaten out of him. Marlin Gray makes a separate complaint of police brutality, as did Cummins. Both Clemons' and Gray's complaints are dismissed, and their respective confessions are allowed to be presented to the juries at their separate trials. | Reggie Clemons makes formal complaint to St Louis police that his confession was beaten out of him. Marlin Gray makes a separate complaint of police brutality, as did Cummins. Both Clemons' and Gray's complaints are dismissed, and their respective confessions are allowed to be presented to the juries at their separate trials. |
| Trial opens of Marlin Gray | Trial opens of Marlin Gray |
| Gray sentenced to death. | Gray sentenced to death. |
| Trial opens of Reggie Clemons | Trial opens of Reggie Clemons |
| Clemons found guilty of two counts of first degree murder | Clemons found guilty of two counts of first degree murder |
| Jury imposes death sentence for both counts and Clemons is put on death row | Jury imposes death sentence for both counts and Clemons is put on death row |
| Cummins files a lawsuit against the St Louis police force claiming he was brutally treated by detectives. Lawsuit ends in a settlement in which Cummins is paid $150,000 | Cummins files a lawsuit against the St Louis police force claiming he was brutally treated by detectives. Lawsuit ends in a settlement in which Cummins is paid $150,000 |
| Judge at Clemons's trial fines prosecutor Nels Moss $500 for criminal contempt for comparing the defendant to serial killer Charles Manson | Judge at Clemons's trial fines prosecutor Nels Moss $500 for criminal contempt for comparing the defendant to serial killer Charles Manson |
| Antonio Richardson sentenced to death by a judge after the jury fails to reach a verdict. | Antonio Richardson sentenced to death by a judge after the jury fails to reach a verdict. |
| Antonio Richardson comes within an hour of execution. The US supreme court stays the execution | Antonio Richardson comes within an hour of execution. The US supreme court stays the execution |
| Antonio Richardson's death sentence reduced to life imprisonment after courts rule the death penalty should not be handed down by a judge alone | Antonio Richardson's death sentence reduced to life imprisonment after courts rule the death penalty should not be handed down by a judge alone |
| Marlin Gray executed by lethal injection | Marlin Gray executed by lethal injection |
| Daniel Winfrey, who pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 30 years in jail, is paroled after 16 years | Daniel Winfrey, who pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 30 years in jail, is paroled after 16 years |
| US court of appeals stays the execution of Reggie Clemons, 12 days before he was scheduled to die. | US court of appeals stays the execution of Reggie Clemons, 12 days before he was scheduled to die. |
| The Missouri supreme court appoints a “special master” to the Reggie Clemons case to review the entire case and recommend what should happen next. | The Missouri supreme court appoints a “special master” to the Reggie Clemons case to review the entire case and recommend what should happen next. |
| Hearing of the “Special master” scheduled to begin. After hearing, Judge Michael Manners will recommend to Missouri supreme court whether Clemons should live or die. | Hearing of the “Special master” scheduled to begin. After hearing, Judge Michael Manners will recommend to Missouri supreme court whether Clemons should live or die. |
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| Poetry brought Julie and Robin Kerry to the Chain of Rocks bridge on that terrible night. Julie had written a poem on the theme of anti-racism which she called Do The Right Thing, borrowing the title of Spike Lee's film. | Poetry brought Julie and Robin Kerry to the Chain of Rocks bridge on that terrible night. Julie had written a poem on the theme of anti-racism which she called Do The Right Thing, borrowing the title of Spike Lee's film. |
| United We Stand Divided We Fall It's Not a Black-White Thing We as a New Generation Have got To Take a Stand Unite as One We've got II STOP Killing One Another | United We Stand Divided We Fall It's Not a Black-White Thing We as a New Generation Have got To Take a Stand Unite as One We've got II STOP Killing One Another |
| A couple of months before they sisters were killed, Julie, Robin and their friend Holly McClain went on to the bridge and painted the poem in large white letters over a 20-metre span. They signed it with the peace symbol and Julie's pet name, Jules. | A couple of months before they sisters were killed, Julie, Robin and their friend Holly McClain went on to the bridge and painted the poem in large white letters over a 20-metre span. They signed it with the peace symbol and Julie's pet name, Jules. |
| "She wanted to show the poem to Tom because she was really proud of it," McClain recalls, referring to Thomas Cummins, the cousin of the Kerry sisters who was visiting them at the time at their home in Spanish Lake, a suburb of St Louis, Missouri. | "She wanted to show the poem to Tom because she was really proud of it," McClain recalls, referring to Thomas Cummins, the cousin of the Kerry sisters who was visiting them at the time at their home in Spanish Lake, a suburb of St Louis, Missouri. |
| McClain spoke to the Guardian, giving her first public comments about her friend Julie Kerry since she died. She said that she herself had almost gone onto the bridge that night but had turned back at the last minute because she was accompanied by a marine who didn't want to be seen trespassing on private property. | McClain spoke to the Guardian, giving her first public comments about her friend Julie Kerry since she died. She said that she herself had almost gone onto the bridge that night but had turned back at the last minute because she was accompanied by a marine who didn't want to be seen trespassing on private property. |
| McClain says they had chosen the poem Do The Right Thing to paint on the bridge because of its theme calling for unity and an end to racism. "We were dealing a lot with that at the time. We decided we wanted to say something about us – that showed who we were, so that's how we came to write what we did." | McClain says they had chosen the poem Do The Right Thing to paint on the bridge because of its theme calling for unity and an end to racism. "We were dealing a lot with that at the time. We decided we wanted to say something about us – that showed who we were, so that's how we came to write what we did." |
| More than two decades after she drowned, McClain is still palpably affected by the loss of her friend. "There are so many things about Julie that are important to remember," she says. "She was a beautiful person. But she wasn't perfect – she was human. | More than two decades after she drowned, McClain is still palpably affected by the loss of her friend. "There are so many things about Julie that are important to remember," she says. "She was a beautiful person. But she wasn't perfect – she was human. |
| "She tried really hard to do right in every way that she could, she was a loving person and I miss her a lot. I think my life would have been different had I never known her, and it's certainly different because she isn't here. | "She tried really hard to do right in every way that she could, she was a loving person and I miss her a lot. I think my life would have been different had I never known her, and it's certainly different because she isn't here. |
| "She was imaginative, she was creative. She was a poet and a songwriter. And she wanted to save the world." | "She was imaginative, she was creative. She was a poet and a songwriter. And she wanted to save the world." |
| Julie Kerry was 20 when she died, studying English literature at college. She devoured all sorts of poetry and ballads, from Chaucer to Sinead O'Connor. She and McClain volunteered for numerous causes together, working with groups on HIV and Aids and joining charity walks for the homeless. | Julie Kerry was 20 when she died, studying English literature at college. She devoured all sorts of poetry and ballads, from Chaucer to Sinead O'Connor. She and McClain volunteered for numerous causes together, working with groups on HIV and Aids and joining charity walks for the homeless. |
| Robin was equally passionate about social justice. The Christmas before they died, the sisters were so moved by a feature in the St Louis-Post Dispatch about needy families in the city that they announced they were each going to help out. In a matter of days they raised $600 and delivered several car loads of food and Christmas gifts to two of the families. | Robin was equally passionate about social justice. The Christmas before they died, the sisters were so moved by a feature in the St Louis-Post Dispatch about needy families in the city that they announced they were each going to help out. In a matter of days they raised $600 and delivered several car loads of food and Christmas gifts to two of the families. |
| If Julie was a poet, Robin, a year younger, was a fighter. In her book A Rip In Heaven: a Memoir of Murder, Jeanine Cummins, a cousin of the sisters, recounts the story of how Robin dealt with a bully at her school who was picking on another pupil. "She simply could not stand by while this jerk tormented the little guy day after day. She slammed her locker, marched over to the bully, and punched him in the jaw." | If Julie was a poet, Robin, a year younger, was a fighter. In her book A Rip In Heaven: a Memoir of Murder, Jeanine Cummins, a cousin of the sisters, recounts the story of how Robin dealt with a bully at her school who was picking on another pupil. "She simply could not stand by while this jerk tormented the little guy day after day. She slammed her locker, marched over to the bully, and punched him in the jaw." |
| At the sisters' funeral, mourners were given a scroll as mementos. Printed on it were words taken from the bedroom walls of Robin and Julie. "Give to the world the best you have and the best will come back to you"; "Let the Christians of the world agree that they will not kill each other"; "If love comes from the heart, where does hate come from? Let's not teach our children hatred and prejudice"; and Julie's own personal mantra: "Who says you can't change the world." | At the sisters' funeral, mourners were given a scroll as mementos. Printed on it were words taken from the bedroom walls of Robin and Julie. "Give to the world the best you have and the best will come back to you"; "Let the Christians of the world agree that they will not kill each other"; "If love comes from the heart, where does hate come from? Let's not teach our children hatred and prejudice"; and Julie's own personal mantra: "Who says you can't change the world." |
| McClain stressed that Julie Kerry was a member of Amnesty International and a staunch opponent of the death penalty. "She was against death row. She felt strongly – she was against it." | McClain stressed that Julie Kerry was a member of Amnesty International and a staunch opponent of the death penalty. "She was against death row. She felt strongly – she was against it." |
| Asked by the Guardian what she thought should happen to Reggie Clemons, bearing in mind the Kerry sisters' position on the death sentence, McClain declined to comment. All she would say was: "When it's all said and done, God's going to handle it." | Asked by the Guardian what she thought should happen to Reggie Clemons, bearing in mind the Kerry sisters' position on the death sentence, McClain declined to comment. All she would say was: "When it's all said and done, God's going to handle it." |
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