 Human Rights Human Rights
Once described by senior editor Gene Miller as "wondrously unassuming, quite bright and...very persistent," Miami Herald reporter Lori Rozsa has been credited by Joe Spaziano's lawyers for saving his life. "Talk to Lori Rozsa, she's the real hero in this case," said key defense attorney Michael Mello. Rozsa attributes persistence--both hers and that of her editors--and DiLisio's desire deep down to getting the truth off of his chest to her obtaining the recantation that eventually led to getting what may turn out to be an innocent man off of death row. "I just kept going back over and over until he would finally talk to me," said Rozsa. And how do Rozsa and Herald editors know DiLisio is not lying now? "Back then he was heavy into drugs and he had multiple reasons to lie," said Rozsa. "He has no reasons to lie now." In fact, said Rozsa, DiLisio has suffered quite a backlash from his friends and family for now coming forward and defending "Crazy" Joe. "Why would he go through that now if he weren't telling the truth?" "DiLisio wants to get this out of his soul." She said DiLisio has now found God and has relieved his conscience. When asked if she believes in Spaziano's innocence, Rozsa is unwavering. "Oh, yes. I don't think he did these crimes. Before his involvement with the DiLisio family, Spaziano didn't have much of a rap sheet." Since his involvement with DiLisio's stepmother, he has been convicted of murder and rape and accused of countless other crimes. "I think the worst thing Spaziano ever did was to become involved with the DiLisio family," noted Rozsa. When reviewing records and police reports, officers would tell Rozsa about atrocities Spaziano had allegedly committed. "I asked them where's the proof? Where are the bodies? It was if they were throwing accusations against the wall and seeing which ones would stick." While the Herald came out staunchly for Spaziano's innocence, the Orlando Sentinel was convinced of his guilt. Sentinel headlines such as "Essay-writing Lawyer Rejoins Killer's Case" and "Justice Delayed, Again" when Spaziano received one of his stays, were not uncommon. How can two papers look at the same case and come out with two completely different views? "I don't think they read what I read," said Rozsa. The reporter said her rival paper obtained most of their information from sources within the Florida Department of Law Enforcement who clearly, said Rozsa, had it out for Spaziano. However, noted Rozsa, the Orlando Sentinel seems to be having a change of heart. One of their reporters has written a few stories lately about Spaziano's rape case for which he is still in prison. Said Rozsa, the papers seems to be slowly conceding that Spaziano may have been wrongly accused. --Tena Jamison Lee |