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« City announces it will distribute gunlocks | Main | BU freshman dies crossing Memorial Drive » Wednesday, October 4, 2006Patrick defends letters, calls Healey criticism 'cheap political shot'By Andrea Estes, Globe Staff Democratic gubernatorial candidate Deval Patrick today defended his advocacy on behalf of a convicted rapist and slammed Republican Kerry Healey for taking a "cheap political shot." Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey's campaign moved this morning to capitalize on Patrick's relationship with LaGuer, issuing a release that asked why "Deval Patrick lied to the press and the voters about his involvement trying to free a brutal rapist?" Patrick stood his ground and shot back. "I haven't lived my life or run my career trying to make sure that there isn't something somebody in some campaign will feature to take a cheap political shot," Patrick said. "As much as I respect the lieutenant governor, that is a cheap political shot." Patrick said reports that racism may have played a role in LaGuer's conviction convinced him to advocate on LaGuer's behalf. But when pressed today, Patrick conceded he did not investigate to determine whether LaGuer, who is imprisoned at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in Shirley, was actually guilty. Many politicians, academics and lawyers have supported LaGuer over the years, but that support diminished after DNA tests conducted in 2002 linked him to the crime. Patrick said based on a recent review of the case, he believes "justice has been served" and vowed that if elected he would not issue a pardon. This morning's release from the Healey campaign carried the headline: "Dear Ben ... Best regards, Deval." The release quotes a Sept. 28 statement from Patrick in which he said he had not been involved in LaGuer's case in "more than 10 years." The Globe reported today that Patrick wrote two letters on LaGuer's behalf, sending the second in April 2000. Posted by the Boston Globe City & Region Desk at 11:04 AM
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