Fasting inmate to be subject of film on reforming family court
November 17, 2006, 6:50 PM EST
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) _ An inmate who has been fasting for more than 100 days to protest his sentence for failing to pay child support will be featured in a documentary.
John Murtari, 50, is serving six months at the Justice Center jail and has not eaten since he was incarcerated July 31. On Thursday, Angelo Lobo, a San Diego-based producer, interviewed Murtari for a documentary on people who have been affected by family court decisions and are advocating for reform.
Murtari is given breakfast drinks through a feeding tube inserted Aug. 10 and his weight is stable, Sgt. Joe Powlina said.
Murtari owes more than $60,000 to his ex-wife. He has said he can’t afford to pay because the support was calculated using an income he no longer has. He is the founder of AKidsRight.org, which criticizes the child support system.
Lobo’s movie, “Support System Down,” will include interviews with 38 people.