Wife beaters, all of you!!!!!

[fishpoopoo]

April 10, 2007

Admitted killer says husband abused her
By HILARY RUSS
and SEAN GONSALVES
STAFF WRITERS

South Yarmouth internist Dr. Ann M. Gryboski appears in Barnstable District Court yesterday with her lawyer, Kevin Reddington. The bruises on her face are "part of the mitigating circumstances that we will be exploring," District Attorney Michael O'Keefe said.

BARNSTABLE - Her face bruised and cut from punches allegedly delivered by her husband, Dr. Ann Marie Gryboski pleaded not guilty to his murder in Barnstable District Court yesterday.

Her husband, Patrick Lancaster, 50, whom she told police she shot dead on Sunday, had abused her and their children physically and mentally ''for many years,” according to court documents.

In a videotaped interview with police, Gryboski, 51, a physician specializing in internal medicine in South Yarmouth, admitted that she shot Lancaster after an argument between him and one of the couple's two adult sons, according to court records.

She tried to intervene in the dispute, and Lancaster came at her. She fired two shots, hitting him in the midsection, court records said.

Yesterday's court proceedings followed what appeared to be a troubled, violent weekend for the couple.

On Saturday evening, Lancaster allegedly punched Gryboski in the face repeatedly as she drove a car with their 2-year-old grandson sitting in the back seat.

The next day, Easter Sunday, Gryboski called 911 at about half past noon and told police she needed them to come to the home ''as she had just killed her husband,” court documents revealed.

Inside the house, officers found Lancaster lying on the floor, face up, with two bullet holes in his torso.

A black pistol lay on a chair next to his body. A shell casing was on the dining room floor, and a live round of ammunition was on the living room floor.

Gryboski told responding officers, as well as investigators at the Barnstable Police Department later, that she shot her husband.

Violence in the household, she said, ''has been escalating,” court records indicated.

''Dr. Gryboski is a very sweet, gentle, kind woman who is just a fantastic person and a wonderful mother,” said her defense attorney, Kevin Reddington. ''She has endured some significant abuse, and the case has many mitigating factors.”

It's a case of ''pure and simple self-defense,” he said.

Gun license since 2000

Whether mitigating circumstances - the euphemism of the day - involved something beyond alleged domestic violence is still unclear.

''There are some mitigating factors surrounding this event,” Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael O'Keefe said in a press conference yesterday.

O'Keefe would not explain further, except to say that her facial injuries were ''part of the mitigating circumstances that we will be exploring.”

Gryboski has had a license to carry her gun since 2000, but O'Keefe said he did not know how long she possessed the gun she allegedly used to shoot her husband.

The history of disturbances in the family may stretch back years, though neighbors and people who knew the couple said there were no outward signs of abuse.

The Times could find no record of restraining orders against Lancaster. Public records searches conducted by court clerks in Falmouth and Barnstable district courts turned up no criminal records on Lancaster going back to 1996. In Orleans, no records were found dating back to 2000.

In the quiet, wooded residential neighborhood where the couple lived, neighbors said Gryboski and Lancaster seemed cordial and were often seen walking their two beagles.

One woman, who lives across the street from the couple's home, said she never suspected there were any domestic troubles in the home.

''The last snowstorm we had, he (Lancaster) came over and cleared out my driveway,” the woman said.

Another longtime neighbor said he ''was dumbfounded” when he saw all the cruisers and police tape.

''I would have never suspected Ann,” he said. None of the neighbors wanted their names used.

''Scared to death”

Several sources did tell the Times, however, that Lancaster had a temper.

''I think she was scared to death of him,” said Thomas Knapp of Centerville, who said he was once sued by Lancaster, with whom he used to be friendly and swap building jobs. ''The only way she was gonna escape him is to kill him.”

Lancaster was once a charter boat owner, builder and weekend fisherman. At the Barnstable marina, where he once kept his boat, several people said they knew who Lancaster was but hadn't seen him or his boat in the harbor for a year or two.

He was a certified merchant mariner while a temporary worker aboard the training ship Enterprise for Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Buzzards Bay.

But his one stint aboard the ship in 2002 ended prematurely when he was fired, Adm. Richard G. Gurnon, academy president, confirmed yesterday.

''We did not retain him for the entire two months. His employment was terminated midway through the term,” Gurnon said, declining to specify why Lancaster had been dismissed.

Yesterday family members did not comment as they rushed past a throng of cameras and reporters. When Gryboski was released on $50,000 bail at 2 p.m., she was picked up by family in a minivan and had no comment.

Reddington and prosecutors agreed on the amount of bail. O'Keefe said it was sufficient to ensure she would appear at her next court date on May 8.

[Swimmer]

She hired Kevin Reddington to represent her. He got a woman off who stabbed her husband/boyfriend in the eyes with large scissors several years ago. Th abuse defense was offered successfully on that case.

[fishpoopoo]

Poor lady is going to spend north of $100K+ for a criminal defense.

I'm not sure the shoot was 100% justified (she had a duty to retreat), but she was being abused.

[Raven]

sounds like he quit fishing and went insane.
so i wonder whose idea that was.

[Nebe]

Originally Posted by Raven

sounds like he quit fishing and went insane.
so i wonder whose idea that was.

Agian... the voice of reason

[wheresmy50]

Maybe it's just my mood today, but this seems like a load of crap to me. As far as my trigger finger is concerned, the only way you can shoot someone in this area of the country is if your life or someone elses life is in immediate danger. Being fed up with your daily beatings is reason enough to leave or call the police, but I don't see how it gives you the legal right to kill your husband.

By the same logic, a high-school student who gets bullied has the right to shoot the bully. Anyone think that's a good idea?

[mosholu]

You are a doctor (so you make enough to support yourself), your kids are grown, then the question is why didn't you move out before you were driven over the edge. It is only one article and I am sure all the facts will come out in court but it does not seem that she was doing a lot to get herself out of harm's way.

[Rappin Mikey]

Looks like I better stop beating my wife before she gets any bright ideas.

[Mugz]

Originally Posted by wheresmy50

Maybe it's just my mood today, but this seems like a load of crap to me. As far as my trigger finger is concerned, the only way you can shoot someone in this area of the country is if your life or someone elses life is in immediate danger. Being fed up with your daily beatings is reason enough to leave or call the police, but I don't see how it gives you the legal right to kill your husband.

By the same logic, a high-school student who gets bullied has the right to shoot the bully. Anyone think that's a good idea?

She probably feared for her life if she were to move out. Domestic abuse is nasty.....she probably knew that he would either kill her or one of her kids eventually. How long can you go taking beatings? and abuse? The guy beat the sh!t out of her!!!!........in my opinion, the guy is a coward and a loser....and you guys are sticking up for him, I don't care if he fished or not?
The mental abuse the woman took probably weighed heavily on her every move, every day, along with her mental state, just hoping she wouldn't get beaten.

[fishpoopoo]

Originally Posted by Nebe

Agian... the voice of reason

i hope no one's s.o.'s are reading this.

[mosholu]

Originally Posted by Mugz

She probably feared for her life if she were to move out. Domestic abuse is nasty.....she probably knew that he would either kill her or one of her kids eventually. How long can you go taking beatings? and abuse? The guy beat the sh!t out of her!!!!........in my opinion, the guy is a coward and a loser....and you guys are sticking up for him, I don't care if he fished or not?
The mental abuse the woman took probably weighed heavily on her every move, every day, along with her mental state, just hoping she wouldn't get beaten.

Mugz I do not believe that anyone disagrees with your comments about domestic abuse or the guy if that is what happened. I think the point we are trying to make is there are alternate steps to take in situations like this before you can kill someone. Not all the facts are known so we do not know. You are correct in saying that those steps often may not work. However you have to take them. At the very least it establishes that you were afraid for your life for a period of time and that supports your self defense theory.

[Mugz]

Originally Posted by mosholu

Mugz I do not believe that anyone disagrees with your comments about domestic abuse or the guy if that is what happened. I think the point we are trying to make is there are alternate steps to take in situations like this before you can kill someone. Not all the facts are known so we do not know. You are correct in saying that those steps often may not work. However you have to take them. At the very least it establishes that you were afraid for your life for a period of time and that supports your self defense theory.

She was a beaten down woman at the lowest of lows in her life.....maybe the law protects the guy from being shot, but in my opinion.......you beat a woman, your a lowlife scum, loser. If she was that bad a wife, instead of beating her he could have left her as well.
She probably bought his boat.
Facts are not proven......I agree. If he beat her....then I really don't feel sorry for him, sorry. I hope he catches the big fish in Hell.

[fishpoopoo]

IANAL so i'm not sure where the burden has to fall in this case - but

1) either the defendant has to prove that she was in immediate danger of grave bodily harm and/or death and she couldn't retreat ... (forensics will say a lot about this)

OR

2) the prosecution has to show beyond a reasonable doubt that what transpired was "merely" simple assault, for which deadly force was not justified.

without knowing the specifics of the case, it looks like to me #2.

to make it worse: based on the newspaper accounts, she probably violated armed citizen cardinal rule #1 post-shooting: "STFU and lawyer up." What she said to the cops can and will be used against her.

[ProfessorM]

If he did what they say he did for as long as he did he got what he deserved

[stripersnipr]

The article said she was intervening in an altercation between her husband and son. In my unqualified opinion a mother has every right to take whatever reasonable action is required to prevent harm to her child, including capping the violence prone dirtbag twice in the chest. Fleeing the scene without intervening would be the unlawful act in my book.

[fishpoopoo]

Originally Posted by stripersnipr

The article said she was intervening in an altercation between her husband and son. In my unqualified opinion a mother has every right to take whatever reasonable action is required to prevent harm to her child, including capping the violence prone dirtbag twice in the chest. Fleeing the scene without intervening would be the unlawful act in my book.

i guess it depends on how old and how big the son was. if an adult man is beating a two year old, that's one thing (disparity of force). but if it's a strapping 18 y.o. getting into a shouting match with pops, that's a garden variety family dispute.

[Uncle Matt]

Situational murder. Ordinary people who spend their lives as law abiding citizens. They are pushed over time and snap. In this case, she was a docor with an unblemished record. I don't condone murder or the taking of one's life but from the sounds of things I wouldn't want to walk in her shoes. On the surface it appears she fits the extreme situation of domestic violence. I am sure there is some things that do come out at trial that we are not aware of yet. I'm glad she hired the best attorney money could buy. It's just too bad it came to such a drastic ending.

[Mugz]

On another note.....if someone were to break into my house while me and my pregnant wife were there and threatened us both, without showing a gun or knife, could I legally shoot the bastid?
I think my trigger finger would be very loose if that were to happen..... What if he did have a gun, never fired a shot and I got him first? What if he had nothing and I shot him anyways? Always wondered.....
I'm sure the majority of the public would be in my favor but would the law?

[daceman63]

Originally Posted by Bassturbed

i guess it depends on how old and how big the son was. if an adult man is beating a two year old, that's one thing (disparity of force). but if it's a strapping 18 y.o. getting into a shouting match with pops, that's a garden variety family dispute.

from what I read the son is 25 years old.

[BW from AZ]

I know its very differant out here but no one has ever been convicted of a crime when they shot some one and said "I WAS IN FEAR OF MY LIFE" .... if they fired all rounds in the gun. 2 rounds and its a tuff call. No body should ever get abused, man or woman. The courts may be slow but its always your first choise.

[Mike P]

Originally Posted by Bassturbed

IANAL so i'm not sure where the burden has to fall in this case - but

1) either the defendant has to prove that she was in immediate danger of grave bodily harm and/or death and she couldn't retreat ... (forensics will say a lot about this)

OR

2) the prosecution has to show beyond a reasonable doubt that what transpired was "merely" simple assault, for which deadly force was not justified.

without knowing the specifics of the case, it looks like to me #2.

to make it worse: based on the newspaper accounts, she probably violated armed citizen cardinal rule #1 post-shooting: "STFU and lawyer up." What she said to the cops can and will be used against her.

OR

3) the Commonwealth has to find 12 jurors who will unanimously agree, without one dissenting vote, that she deserves to be sent away for life for what she did.

All it'll take for that not to happen is one juror who'll tell the other 11, "she should have shot the no-good SOB years ago. You folks do what you want. My vote's not guilty and you won't change my mind"

[fishpoopoo]

lawyers.
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.(j/k mike)

[chris L]

I wish my wife would stop beating me . I give her all I can but she wants more . plus she hates me . I keep my guns locked up in a chastity belt .

[The Dad Fisherman]

Originally Posted by Mugz

On another note.....if someone were to break into my house while me and my pregnant wife were there and threatened us both, without showing a gun or knife, could I legally shoot the bastid?
I think my trigger finger would be very loose if that were to happen..... What if he did have a gun, never fired a shot and I got him first? What if he had nothing and I shot him anyways? Always wondered.....
I'm sure the majority of the public would be in my favor but would the law?

Just remember that if you make that decision make sure he never gets back up....Dead Men Tell No Tales....theres a reason for that saying

[stripersnipr]

Originally Posted by Mugz

What if he had nothing and I shot him anyways? Always wondered.....
I'm sure the majority of the public would be in my favor but would the law?

That situation could be the reason you keep that old rusty, unregistered, obscured serial numbers .38 hidden in your basement. It would look nice in his dead hand. (Just to keep things fair).

[fishpoopoo]

Originally Posted by Mugz

On another note.....if someone were to break into my house while me and my pregnant wife were there and threatened us both, without showing a gun or knife, could I legally shoot the bastid?

I think my trigger finger would be very loose if that were to happen..... What if he did have a gun, never fired a shot and I got him first? What if he had nothing and I shot him anyways? Always wondered.....

I'm sure the majority of the public would be in my favor but would the law?

get a lawyer to answer this question.

it depends on what state you live in.

http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/278-8a.htm

PART IV. CRIMES, PUNISHMENTS AND PROCEEDINGS IN CRIMINAL CASES


TITLE II. PROCEEDINGS IN CRIMINAL CASES


CHAPTER 278. TRIALS AND PROCEEDINGS BEFORE JUDGMENT


Chapter 278: Section 8A. Killing or injuring a person unlawfully in a dwelling; defense


Section 8A. In the prosecution of a person who is an occupant of a dwelling charged with killing or injuring one who was unlawfully in said dwelling, it shall be a defense that the occupant was in his dwelling at the time of the offense and that he acted in the reasonable belief that the person unlawfully in said dwelling was about to inflict great bodily injury or death upon said occupant or upon another person lawfully in said dwelling, and that said occupant used reasonable means to defend himself or such other person lawfully in said dwelling. There shall be no duty on said occupant to retreat from such person unlawfully in said dwelling.

[Mugz]

[mosholu]

Just to be on the safe side get him in the chest!

[fishpoopoo]

Originally Posted by mosholu

Just to be on the safe side get him in the chest!

1) if he has a knife, shoot him in the PELVIS

2) if he has a gun, aim for center of mass, shoot 'til he drops

3) if he has a gun and body armor, then you take cover and mozambique the sumbitch (1 tap to the body, two taps to the head).

4) if it's wifey's time of the month, sic her on the perp with a fryin pan.

[TheSpecialist]

It's amazing that she had time to retrieve her firearm, remove the trigger lock, and load it before she shot him.....