ATTLEBORO SECT TRIAL - "THE BODY" MASSACHUSETTS Robidoux sentenced The Sun Chronicle TAUNTON -- Attleboro religious sect leader Jacques Robidoux, who admitted he was "stone cold" when his son died, stood stoically after a jury convicted him Friday of first-degree murder for slowly starving his son to death. DA: Sect members arrogant The Sun Chronicle "TAUNTON -- After winning a guilty verdict, Bristol County Assistant District Attorney Walter Shea is accustomed to meeting with the family of victims of crime to tell them justice was delivered." Neighbors surprised by verdict The Sun Chronicle "ATTLEBORO -- The conviction of Jacques Robidoux on first-degree murder charges sparked both shock and satisfaction in the quiet Knight Avenue neighborhood where Robidoux once lived with other members of a small religious sect known as 'The Body of Christ.'" Jurors seen rejecting faith as a defense Mayors cases see tougher verdicts The Boston Globe "By choosing the harshest possible verdict yesterday, the jurors who convicted Jacques Robidoux of first-degree murder gave further evidence that the public does not accept religious belief, no matter how sincere, as a defense for harming a child, legal analysts said." Probe continues as sect members close their ranks The Boston Herald "Yesterday's murder conviction of cult leader Jacques Robidoux ended the heart-wrenching, three-year mystery of a missing toddler but the probe into the reclusive sect continues as the group apparently remains as tight as ever." Jacques Robidoux led from courthouse.

NEW YORK
Real-Life Ghost Hunters Are No Scooby Doo
FOXNews
"On Friday, America's favorite meddling kids and talking dog will be busting phantoms on movie screens.But though Scooby Doo's specters inevitably turned out to be human, real-life ghost hunters have been plying their trade in haunted houses across the country — and their supernatural investigations don't end with the doffing of rubber masks."

TEXAS
Krishnas' honesty in scandal could prove costly;
Catholics' secrecy may have helped in suit
The San Francisco Chronicle
"Child abuse by servants of God can happen in any religion, and no one knows that better than Windle Turley, the Melvin Belli of Texas. This Dallas lawyer is more interested than most folks in the 300 black- suited bishops who have flown into this hot Texas town for two days of talks on the escalating sex-abuse scandal in the American Catholic church."

WASHINGTON, D.C.
Why Islam Attracts Criminals
NewsMax.com Wires
"WASHINGTON – What exactly is it that makes people such as suspected "dirty bomber" Abdullah al Muhajir turn to Islamic extremism? According to sociologists of religion and theologians, it is the search for security and structure in their lives."

MANHUNT FOR RUBEN ECLEO, JR - Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association PHILIPPINES Ecleo is Caraga’s most wanted man The Manila Times "CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- The Caraga police yesterday raised the bounty against wanted parricide suspect Ruben Ecleo Jr. to P150,000 and declared the ex-mayor and cult leader as the most wanted man in Region 13. The reward hanging over Ecleo’s head was raised by P50,000 a day after his congresswoman-mother Glenda and his cult, the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA), failed to hand him over to authorities." Caraga police chief threatens to file charges vs Rep. Ecleo The Manila Times "CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- Caraga police Chief Alberto Olario yesterday threatened to file obstruction of justice charges against Surigao del Norte Rep. Glenda Ecleo and leaders of the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA) for their failure to make good their promise to hand their cult leader over to authorities." Cebu: Ecleos told police to kick out 'guide' SunStar http://sg.news.yahoo.com/020616/39/2zkrn.html Cebu: Ecleos told police to kick out 'guide' SunStar "Search teams not only lost the assistance of a police squad from Cebu, but also a guide who knows about possible hiding places of Ruben Ecleo Jr. Booted out of Dinagat Island, Ben Bacolod now blames the Surigao del Norte police for siding with the Ecleo family and failing to arrest Ecleo."

AUSTRALIA
Mad about Safran
The Australian
"John Safran is an anxious and questioning individual who achieves highly at work despite being withdrawn and mistrustful in his personal relationships." This is what the Church of Scientology had to say about the 29-year-old media personality after Safran sat its 242-question personality test in Melbourne last week.

HONG KONG
Falun Gong Members Head to Trial
The Associated Press
"As Hong Kong prepares to bring its first criminal case against followers of the Falun Gong movement, human rights watchdogs are predicting another ominous test of the former British colony's freedoms and autonomy."
Also:
Hong Kong's freedoms may face test as Falun Gong members go on trial
The Associated Press
"HONG KONG -- As Hong Kong prepares to bring its first criminal case against followers of the Falun Gong movement, human rights watchdogs are predicting another ominous test of the former British colony's freedoms and autonomy."

THAILAND
Buddhist Funeral Rites Held for Ape
The Associated Press
"BANGKOK -- They flocked to his extravagant wedding, avidly followed his spicy love life and on Saturday came to bid farewell to Mike, Thailand's celebrity ape."

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