Girl says dad, paranormal TV figure, abused her
Source: Agencies |
August 11, 2012, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE daughter of a US doctor who has appeared on national TV for his research on near-death experiences told investigators he "waterboarded" her several times by holding her face under a running faucet.
An attorney for Dr Melvin Morse called that description an "attention-getter" by authorities, based on an allegation from an 11-year-old who had made a false abuse claim against a family member before.
"Whatever's being described is not waterboarding," Joe Hurley said. Waterboarding simulates drowning, and it has been used in the past by US interrogators on terrorism suspects. Many critics call it torture.
Morse and his wife, Pauline, were charged with several felony counts on Tuesday based on the daughter's claims.
Morse has written several books and articles on paranormal science and near-death experiences.
At the time of his arrest, Morse, 58, was out on bail on misdemeanor charges of assault and endangering the welfare of a child. Those charges relate to a July incident in which authorities allege Morse grabbed the 11-year-old by the ankle and, as her six-year-old sister watched, dragged her across a gravel driveway, took her inside the family's home and began spanking her.
The older girl told investigators that beginning in 2009, her father had disciplined her by what he told her was "waterboarding." State police said the girl was subjected to such punishment at least four times and that her mother witnessed some incidents but did not stop them.
An attorney for Dr Melvin Morse called that description an "attention-getter" by authorities, based on an allegation from an 11-year-old who had made a false abuse claim against a family member before.
"Whatever's being described is not waterboarding," Joe Hurley said. Waterboarding simulates drowning, and it has been used in the past by US interrogators on terrorism suspects. Many critics call it torture.
Morse and his wife, Pauline, were charged with several felony counts on Tuesday based on the daughter's claims.
Morse has written several books and articles on paranormal science and near-death experiences.
At the time of his arrest, Morse, 58, was out on bail on misdemeanor charges of assault and endangering the welfare of a child. Those charges relate to a July incident in which authorities allege Morse grabbed the 11-year-old by the ankle and, as her six-year-old sister watched, dragged her across a gravel driveway, took her inside the family's home and began spanking her.
The older girl told investigators that beginning in 2009, her father had disciplined her by what he told her was "waterboarding." State police said the girl was subjected to such punishment at least four times and that her mother witnessed some incidents but did not stop them.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
