By Marc Klaas

For the second day in a row, Lorena Chandler brought her ten-year-old daughter to court. Although she has not directly pointed the little girl out to the jury, the child who bears a remarkable resemblance to the defense attorney sits next to one of Ms. Chandler's investigators. She mentioned her daughter twice yesterday during her closing argument.

The entire defense is premised on the issue of child abuse. In their version, the actions of the adult Davis are a direct result of the abuse and abandonment of the child Davis. The defense never raised the issue of the killer's conduct and actions as an adult without first reminding the jury of the terrible mis-treatment he suffered as a child. We are not watching a movie. This is grim reality. How can anyone who places such emphasis on the treatment of children subject her child to the graphic testimony and chilling detail emphasized during closing arguments? Is this not a form of child abuse?

The jury asked Judge Hastings for a copy of the closing statements this afternoon. Fortunately the judge refused their request because their decision must be based upon the evidence presented, not the attorney's interpretation of that evidence. Ms. Chandler's final words to the jury prior to the reading of instructions were: "The execution of Richard Allen Davis is not the legacy you would like to leave for Polly Klaas. Please show mercy on Rick Davis. For he is one of God's children." My entire family is greatly offended by this woman who flaunts her own child in our face while invoking the legacy of our dead child as a reason to spare him from execution.

Lorena Chandler has totally minimized the extreme, agonizing abuse of little Polly, who had so many gifts to offer the world. Well, Polly is dead so she no longer factors into the equation. Instead, she maximizes the abuse, documented in only two instances, of her client, Polly's executioner. Given what we know about this monster, I suspect that he deserved every punishment he ever received. The tortured reasoning and intellectual gymnastics of this so-called advocate are a disgrace to her profession and the criminal justice system designed to protect the innocent.

Given all that we now know about child abuse and its effects it is highly inappropriate for Lorena Chandler to conduct herself in this manner. Her audacious attempt to influence the jury by sitting her child and Darlene Schwarm's four young children in the front of the courtroom is an act of flagrant hypocrisy.