from
Madonna Basrraclough
47 Camlet St., My. Gravatt, Brisbane, Q 4122
05.6.91

I am writing (this letter) simply because I believe that Horst Sommer's contribution as a parent is being unjustly denied.

It is clear to me that the allegations made about his sexual misconduct with his children have been done so to hasten the complete separation his wife Keiko desires.

It concerns me greatly to think that Horst, who I have for over two years witnessed to be kind, supportive and very education-conscious with his children, should become subject to such fate.

Ikumi, Alisa and Horst have come to our home and played with our children scores of times over the past two years.

Horst came to Australia with Keiko, their girls, and Keiko's teenage daughter Yukiko from a former marriage (whom Horst supported for about 8 years) to become citizens in a country offering a good lifestyle and education opportunities. Horst had lived and studied in Australia before.

Keiko preferred to maintain a Japanese only social circle in Australia and despite the friendships between my husband, muself and Horst and our respective children's compatibility, it was made sadly clear to us that we would not be welcome by Keiko in the home. This came as a shock, as my husband with his limited Japanese always tried to communicate to Keiko, and I had begun to develop, what I thought was a friendship with her by going on a day trip to the Queensland University Sauna and Spa. This was suggested by us as a relaxation to help counteract her regular migraine headaches, insomnia and neck tension, for which she was on medication. All this may seem to be getting off the track; it is not. I wish to clearly illustrate from my experience with the Sommers how misleading Keiko's social manner is.

Keiko and her teenage daughter Yukiko had Horst financing their penchant for expensive clothing and goods. They aspired to drive in a Mercedes rather than the "trash car" which was their well-kept family van. Basically while Horst was out financially feeding their aspiration to be like the Japanese executive wives and daughters, the household held together.

Yukiko had from early days been intensely jealous of her mother's relationship with Horst. She was known to often keep Keiko talking till midnight so as to prevent them from having time together. Horst financed Yukiko's bond and rental expenses for a unit which she stayed with a friend while still at school in Brisbane. He withdrew this support on the grounds that she expected a constant flow of money, while intently turning her mother against him, so they could return to Japan together. Yukiko left for Japan soon afterwards.

The disparity between Keiko and Horst's tastes and attitudes had become clear to us. The lenghts however with which Keiko was prepared to hurt and use Horst we would never have predicted, until we heard the shock revelation that she alleges his sexual misconduct with the children. It has stunned my husband (who lived with Horst in Japan for 3 months) and I to think that the Australian legal system is being perverted in such a way by Keiko Sommer, that her slander of Horst can be allowed to go on and that the man's life-blood can be ripped out from under his feet on the basis of suggestive evidence out of context.

In well over 50 hours of observation I have noted that Horst gives Ikumi and Alisa a healthy balance between freedom and specific direction. He is not slack, he is not confining.

I consider that my account of the Sommers situation should be accepted as the unbiased version it is.

I hope that the tide will turn for Horst and his beloved daughters are not allowed to return to Japan, in which event Keiko will sever future contact and worse still feed Ikumi and Alisa with negative lies about their father.

The psychological damage that Keiko's verballing of Ikumi on tape, in which the 4 year old merely answers yes yes .. to all of the mother's questions ..optimises the crime in this case.

Horst is much better equipped as a parent to provide Ikumi and Alisa with a healthy and balanced lifestyle than Keiko.

Horst is a man who has never violated the trust and integrity of his daughters Ikumi and Alisa.

I am disgusted that he may not see them again if they go to Japan.

Yours sincerly,
Madonna Barraclough