Gunman's wife praises Amish mercy

THE widow of a gunman who killed five Amish girls and injured five others at a school in Pennsylvania has released a statement thanking relatives of the girls and others in the religious community for their "forgiveness, grace and mercy".

In the letter, which was made public by a family spokesman and addressed to Amish friends, neighbours and the local community in Lancaster County, Marie Roberts said that she and her three young children had been overwhelmed by the support they had been given since the shootings on 2 October.

Members of the Amish community have said they forgive Charles Carl Roberts IV, who shot five girls aged between seven and 13 dead at the West Nickel Mines Amish School before killing himself as police closed in. And they have even helped set up a fund for the Roberts family at a local bank.

Meanwhile, one of the five girls who was injured by Mr Roberts has been discharged from hospital, according to reports.

Barbie Fisher, 11, whose 13-year-old sister Marian was among those killed, woke up at home on Saturday, a day after she was released from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, her grandfather told a newspaper.

A hospital spokeswoman would not confirm the report, citing the family's request for privacy.

In suicide notes found before the shootings, Mr Roberts, a 32-year-old milk-van driver, said he was angry at God for the death of his infant daughter in November 1997. He also said he was driven by memories of molesting two young relatives 20 years ago, a claim investigators have not substantiated.

Mrs Roberts said she had been taken aback by the generous response of local Amish people towards her family.

"Your love for our family has helped to provide the healing we so desperately need," she wrote. "Gifts you've given have touched our hearts in a way no words can describe.

"Your compassion has reached beyond our family, beyond our community, and is changing our world, and for this we sincerely thank you.

"Please know that our hearts have been broken by all that has happened. We are filled with sorrow for all of our Amish neighbours whom we have loved and continue to love."

The mother and grandmother of Marian and Barbie Fisher were visited by Mrs Roberts' aunt the day after the shootings, and her grandfather also attended Marian's funeral.

Mrs Roberts said she hoped the community also looks to God for support in the coming days, months and years.

"We know there are many hard days ahead for all the families who lost loved ones, and so we will continue to put our hope and trust in the God of all comfort, as we all seek to rebuild our lives," she wrote.

Builders tore down the bloodstained schoolhouse on Thursday, a step that community members hope will help them to move on. Funds also have been set up for the families of the Amish children, as well as the Roberts family.

Young Americans die at the hands of other people at a rate greater than any other western nation. Every day in 2003, an average of about 15 people aged ten to 24 were the victims of intentional and accidental killings, according to the most recent statistics available from the US authorities.