News

Speaking Engagements and Keeping Busy

September 26, 2006

It’s been quite awhile since I’ve written but I’ve been so busy with speaking engagements, raising my three children and just plain living that my time goes so fast. 

I spoke at ASU to a class of graduating seniors about how the legal system fails the victim.  It was really well received and was a success on both ends.  I will be the featured speaker at Pina Cty and that will be attended by a camera crew from N.Y.  There is a lot coming up.  I will continue to be busy.

I have been receiving a lot of inquires as to when the trial will be. I will be in Florida for the trial starting Oct. 11.  There will be a whole group going to it from all over the U.S.  CBS is involved and ABC has been calling also.  This will raise awareness as to my situation and the fact I need help with my medical.

Here’s an article from 9/20/06 news:

Judge rejects request for delay in attempted murder trial of Ronald Samuels

By Missy Diaz
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Posted September 20 2006

Nine years after the crime, a third set of lawyers for Ronald Samuels asked a judge for a delay in his trial for attempted murder, citing a court record with more than 4,000 pages and the need for Samuels to have a hernia operation.

Circuit Judge Lucy Chernow Brown denied the request Tuesday and ordered the lawyers to be ready to go forward Oct. 10.

Samuels, 58, is accused of masterminding the October 1997 shootings of ex-wife Heather Grossman and her new husband at a Boca Raton intersection during a contentious child custody dispute.

Samuels, according to prosecutors, paid to have the Grossmans killed, but the shooting at Federal Highway and Yamato Road ended up rendering Heather Grossman a quadriplegic. John Grossman, who died of a heart attack last year, suffered only minor injuries.

Appointed to the case in November, attorneys Edward Reagan and Alex Brumfield are the third set of attorneys Brown has appointed to Samuels’ case since he was returned to Palm Beach County in February 2005. Samuels had fled the county in 1998, just before a grand jury indicted him. He served five years in a Mexican prison on drug charges and another 18 months in a New Orleans jail fighting extradition.

Samuels faces nine charges, including attempted first-degree murder, solicitation to commit first-degree murder, conspiracy and shooting into an occupied vehicle.

In a seven-page motion to the judge, Samuels’ attorneys said the discovery alone was voluminous—more than 4,000 pages—and four of the five co-conspirators, who have been granted immunity, have given lengthy statements and depositions that need to be reviewed as do the statements of the victims and law enforcement officials involved in the investigation. Samuels also needs surgery to correct a hernia, according to the motion.

Assistant State Attorney Al Johnson said the prosecution has whittled its witness list from 150 people to about 25 and that the state is footing the bill to transport Heather Grossman and her around-the-clock nurses to Palm Beach County for the trial, which has been scheduled for some time.

Johnson objected to the request for a continuance, saying nine months is plenty of time for “two experienced, qualified attorneys” to prepare for a big case.

“At some point, enough is enough,” he said. “The victim has been waiting nine years for some justice.”

Missy Diaz can be reached at mdiaz@sun-sentinel.com or 561-228-5505

How You Can Help

Heather Grossman's ex-husband hired a man to kill her in 1997. He was not successful in his attempt to take her life, but the gunshot wound left Heather paralyzed from the neck down. Heather was just 31 years old with three young children. During the years since the incident, Heather's family has been doing everything they can to keep her alive and well, but expenses are high, and they need as much help as they can get.

Since Heather's new website launched on September 21 with the Paypal Donation Options, Heather's family has received donations from quite a few generous people. Please take a moment to see who has donated to Heather's family so far.