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James Broscious,
one of three lawyers representing the Mattheys, said the
children's statements referred to in the prosecution's
brief "are very
confusing and, at times, internally inconsistent." He said
the prosecutors have taken "snippets" of the children's
statements and put them together to paint an unfair picture
of the Mattheys.
Broscious said the prosecutor is selectively putting out information
to make his clients look bad to the public.
"They are not monsters," he said. "Are they strict
disciplinarians? Yes, they are. Do they believe in raising kids
in a fashion that could be deemed old-fashioned? Yes."
In an e-mail last week, Bob Matthey called the basis for the charges
lodged against him and his wife "unfounded rumors that were
solely created to smear the truth."
Pastor Szierer said he, too, is troubled by the reports of how
the children were questioned, saying detectives played on the
family's strong religious convictions to get information from
them.
He said he got the impression the State Police were looking for
some kind of link between the church's teachings and the injuries
Viktor presented when he arrived at the emergency room.
"I am teaching discipline, I do teach that," Szierer
said. "Never have I taught beating, never. To me, I think
we need to have authority, but based in love, not in anger, not
in hostility. That's when beatings and all this takes place, and
that's abuse and I don't agree with that. We as a church do not
teach beatings or anything like that. Yes, discipline, hold you
accountable."
Szierer said that what he has read in news accounts of Viktor's
death does not square with what he knows about the family.
"Knowing the parents, knowing the family, I don't see it,"
he said. "But, hey, do I know everything? I just see a side
of them that doesn't exhibit that. But nevertheless, they are
good people, faithful people."
Szierer said the Mattheys, like other church members, would occasionally
come forward during the Sunday services for special prayers by
the minister "if there were difficulties, colds, kids not
listening at home, things like that."
But they did not bring Viktor to their minister to be prayed over
for refusing to eat or for injuring himself.
"No, nothing like that took place," Szierer said.
Szierer said he and the rest of the church are standing by the
Mattheys, "but the most important thing in all of this is,
let truth be revealed."
The Mattheys were indicted March 28, 2001, on charges of aggravated
manslaughter, manslaughter, four counts of endangering the welfare
of a child and one count of tampering with witnesses.
The Mattheys lost custody of their six other sons at the time
of their arrest a year ago. Their four biological sons now live
with Szierer. The twins are with a foster family in Hunterdon
County. A separate legal fight for the return of the children
is being waged in Family Court.
Viktor's remains were cremated in November 2000. Bob Matthey said
last week that DYFS and the law guardian who represents Viktor's
twin brothers would not allow the twins to attend a memorial service
last May.
"For that reason, we have delayed the final disposition of
his remains until such time as his entire family can honor his
memory," Matthey said in an e-mail.
Bob and Brenda Matthey remain free on $30,000 bail each. No trial
date has been set. They are due to appear in court Tuesday
for a pretrial hearing.
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