Will Religion (and Sex) Enter The Case?

Robert Petrick, a Wiccan currently being held on charges for the murder of his wife Janine Sutphen has requested that any information regarding his religious beliefs or his sexual and relational preferences be barred from being used as evidence in the trial.

“Petrick wants to bar evidence dealing with his sexual habits and preferences, including books, films, clothing, “sexual appliances” and e-mail messages, according to his motion. He also wants all references to paganism and witchcraft prohibited. Petrick was married to two people in a pagan wedding ceremony, according to participants in that ceremony. Petrick contends that the introduction of such evidence would be unfair to him.”

Much has been made of Petrick’s polyamorous relationships since the discovery of Sutphen’s body. Though the press hasn’t made much of Petrick’s religious affiliation up to this point.

If his religious choice is allowed as “evidence” in the murder trial it could set a precedent where one’s affiliation with a Pagan (or minority) faith becomes a “strike” against you in a criminal proceeding.

While I hope justice is served in this case, I don’t want that justice to be served by trampling on our legal rights. There is no modern Wiccan or Pagan material that could be relevant in a murder trial. If there is no “religion test” for Christian murder suspects, there shouldn’t be one for Pagan faiths.

Tags: Neopaganism