Posted 8:02 AM by Murph.

The latest trial update:

Hello Everyone-
 
Yesterday we had the first hearing of the second trial.  We are in a new building with three new judges, and all new lawyers.  It got off to a fast start.  The judge asked some very specific questions right off the bat.  The translater is excellent!  It went very well.
 
One of the questions asked was, "Why did you go to the Netherlands?"  Kenzi took a few minutes to formulate her answer and then said, "After something like this happens, you have to pretend you are alright, with Analouse, I did not have to pretend."  The judge nodded his head and seemed to understand.  I friend who speaks Korean said the translater got it just right.  She also makes sure Kenzi understands when she translates Korean.
 
The second hearing will be 18 September.  There is a two week wait required, then the translater was not available (and she is worth waiting for) and then there is a holiday that next Thursday.  It seemed like an eternity away when I marked the calendar.
 
Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.  Love and thanks, Heath and Kenzi

Posted 7:07 AM by Murph.

Word from Heath that they now have a reliable address to send letters to:

Hello Everyone-
 
This is just a short message.  Some people have asked for an address for us.  We are proud to announce we have moved into a very nice, never-before lived in apartment with the key money graciously lent to us by the Agape Organization (they sponsor an orphanage and a home for abandoned adults who need care).  Please pray for this worthwhile organization.
 
This is the address as given to me: 
   Incheon City
   Bupyeong-gu, Bupyeong-dong
   Street # 760-735
   Bupyeong OfficeTel Apartment Building
   Apartment #303
 
Phone:  82-032-529-1951 
   I am home most nights, if you wish to call sometime.
 
Most Sincerely, Heath Bozonie
 
PS:  This is a very personal prayer request.  I have become just too lazy over the months of inactivity, I need some help getting back on the right track of exercise and proper nutrition.  Please put in a good word for me!  Love you all,  Heath 

Posted 5:48 AM by Murph.

Ah, things are happening again. Here's Heath:

Hello Everyone-

We have gotten word that Kenzi's first hearing date will be 21 August 2003. Evidently there will be a two-part process to the upcoming sessions.

The first will be the question: Should Kenzi be tried as a Korean citizen? This is an interesting question. If she is to be tired as a Korea citizen by Korean law, then the confession would be dropped. According to Korea law, if a person signs a confession and then retracts it in court and there is no physical evidence to substantiate the confession, then the confession is found void and the case is dropped. This is just what happened the first time in court.

The second question would follow if the answer to the first questions were to be "No": Should the government of Korea listen to the FBI? Again a very interesting question, but a bit more complicated. Originally there were US GI's involved in the case (they were at the bar and dancing and talking to the group of college students (including Kenzi)), so the KNP (Korean Naitonal Police) brought in the CID (Criminal Investigation) to question the GI's. There was evidence to process, so then the FBI got involved. But the KNP released the kids (including Kenzi) and gave them back their passports and let them go home.
OK, you may ask, how did the FBI get involved in the case again? They bypassed due-process. The FBI should have gone to the KNP and through them (for the case was under Korean jurisdiction) gotten premission to continue the case. But what they did was go through the CID (but by this time there were no GI's involved, so there was no reason the CID should have been involved at all anymore).
You may think this is confusing...I warned you it was complicated.
The point is now that because the KNP were not involved, and the questioning techniques of the FBI are being questioned, should the Korean Court System pay any attention to the FBI. (Personally, I think this is great...rather embarrassing, I think)

The first judge pronounced Kenzi to be INNOCENT. You may remember me telling you the judge said (not a perfect quote, but words to the effect of), 'Not only did the FBI not have a right to question her (question 2), but they did not have a reason to question her (question 1).
I think the FBI got a little over-zealous. Maybe, doing it in the international arena was not the best planning!!

Please pray for justice, again. This is truly all we ever had or shall need. Please ask for the lawyers to be truthful and gifted in their defense and planning. We are hoping for a trial that is short enough that Kenzi can attend her brother's wedding, too. Please keep us and all those who are helping us, in so many ways, in your daily prayers that they may be blessed.

Most Sincerely, Heath

Today's AP article quotes Kenzi as saying that she's extremely bored. Judging from Heath's and the AP's reports, I think there's very little danger of Kenzi being convicted of anything--just lots of annoyance and sitting around while she waits to be allowed to be sent home. So, it's time for the Kenzi Snider In Exile Book Club: I'll mail her a copy of Ender's Game, and you all can read along at home. I'll find an address that you can use to send her your thoughts on the book. (Or any thoughts at all, for that matter...) Maybe I should encourage her to start a blog of her own.

Posted 6:12 AM by Murph.

Sorry for the dearth of updates; not too much has happened recently, trial-wise. I've spoken with Kenzi a few times in the past few weeks (no offense to Heath, but I'm happy to be talking to Kenzi directly these days), and she seems to be doing fairly well, but they've mostly been waiting for things to happen and possibilities to solidify. This morning, a summary from Heath:

Hello Everyone-
 
We have tons of great news to share!  We have a lawyer (two in fact), and an apartment (with two rooms).  Good things are dcoming in pairs!!
 
The lawyers belong to a firm which practices corporate law.  One of the lawyers is Korean (so he can read that language) and the other is an American (so he can read that language) who has lived here for 10 years.  And Mr Eom (our original lawyer) will help them!  This is absolutely the best of everything...all bases are covered!
 
The apartment is a gift of a organization who runs an orphanage and a home for abandoned adults (old or disabled).  The same organization, and the church we attend, has also given us money for food.  They have requested that we volunteer there for twenty hours a week.  I am so happy to have something to do, I may just work there all the time.  I am also getting some tutoring now, so I may even be able to pay them all back.  But it surely is a nice feeling to know that no matter what, we will not be homeless. 
 
We are starting to get our energy back, too.  Kenzi has been sitting around in her cell for months and I have been sitting in my room.  Our muscles have partially forgotten how to work.  The few weeks we have had in the mountains have been beautiful, but a rude awakening for our bodies! 
 
Another blessing is that Kenzi may be able to attend school!  Someone we were talking to got smart and reminded us that the schools on the bases here were not Korean and therefore, maybe she could attend there.  We are picking up a letter from the Embassy tomorrow that says it is legal for her to attend on base.  Now all she needs is to get financial aid.   
 
We surely do thank everyone for their blessings, gifts and support.  This has become an extended family project, and we are grateful for our generous, huge extended family.  With everyone's help, we will show "them"!!   
 
Our prayer requests for this letter are to bless all those who have helped in any and every way, and for the trial to be soon and short!  May God bless and protect you all.
 
Most Sincerely, Heath Bozonie