Uncle: Officer wouldn't have backed verdict

Jeff Kass, News Staff Writer

Published March 18, 2001 at midnight

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Bruce VanderJagt would have been troubled by Lisl Auman's conviction, according to his uncle.

Wallace VanderJagt helped raise Bruce VanderJagt through his teen-age years after his parents divorced and his father died.

Wallace VanderJagt pointed to his nephew's study of philosophy as one reason he may have taken issue with the jury's decision.

"The conviction of Auman was vengeful, which was arguably very human in this kind of situation" said VanderJagt, 75, a retired businessman who lives in Denver.

"Everybody was extremely angry. The villain was dead, so they got whoever was there. I don't think Bruce would have gone along with it."

He is also troubled by the interpretation of the law.

"I'm not thrilled at the idea of someone being convicted of murder while they were in police custody," he said.

Wallace VanderJagt supports a "substantial commutation" of Auman's sentence.

"As Bruce's uncle, I don't think that justice was served here," he said. "I'm not necessarily a rabid opponent of her success on appeal."

Wallace VanderJagt acknowledges he had little contact with Bruce once he was on the police force, and understands that Bruce's widow may feel differently. He says he is "most sympathetic" with her and the 6-year-old girl, Hayley, she is left to raise.

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