Rude Epiphany!

link: Hans Reiser: Once a Linux Visionary, Now Accused of Murder
link: 20/20 (abcnews) write-up

I worked with this guy back in ‘95-96 at Synopsys.com during the 13mo I was there. He was the “PC Systems Integrator” (evaluating new technology) and I was the “PC Systems Support” (Network, servers, desktops) by title — in reality I did both jobs because his mind was perpetually “elsewhere.” In short, we didn’t get along much at all.

I wouldn’t call him a “prodigy” as 20/20 did, but I will certainly give him credit for “extreme project focus.” He was fairly intelligent, which made our e-mail sparring interesting at times.

Online, I hear a bunch of comments like “he’s freaky looking, fry him!” Ironically, I bet they were the same folks that said “Scott Peterson looks handsome, fry him!” On the other side of the coin, a lot of Linux fanboys are wailing and lashing their own backs.

Let’s talk about the possibility… If he did it; there’s no body, no weapon, no (identified) crime scene, no witnesses, and no crying confession. Prosecution’s case is apparently based upon the following:

1. His car is missing the passenger car seat.
2. They found a trace of her blood on his car.
3. Their divorce was heated — it wasn’t looking good for him to keep the kids.
4. He acted strange once when they trailed him.
5. He’s intelligent.
6. He bought some books on murder investigations (receipt was dated after he found out she was deemed missing).
7. Her best friend said he obviously did it.

Erm, that’s it? WTF.

If we fired up the “wayback machine”, someone could quote me saying ill things about Hans and his health due to our differences at Synopsys. Let’s chalk that up to youth and impatience, as nowadays I’d rather not see a man beat to death over something that they (apparently) won’t be able to prove.

Here’s to you Hans, good luck.