Court spares killer over jury's use of Bible

MSNBC ^ | March 28, 2005 | Unknown

[Sola Veritas]

Condemned man gets life in prison for killing waitress Updated: 2:47 p.m. ET March 28, 2005 DENVER - The Colorado Supreme Court threw out the death sentence Monday of a man convicted of raping and killing a cocktail waitress because jurors consulted the Bible during deliberations. The court said Bible passages, including the verse that commands “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,” could lead jurors to vote for death. The justices ordered Robert Harlan to serve life in prison without parole for the 1994 slaying of Rhonda Maloney. Harlan’s attorneys challenged the sentence after discovering five jurors had looked up Bible verses, copied some of them down and then talked about them behind closed doors. Prosecutors said jurors should be allowed to refer to the Bible or other religious texts during deliberations.

[Sola Veritas]

More proof that courts don't understand the difference between "Freedom of Religion" as stated in the First Ammendment and "Freedom from Religion" which is not guaranteed or implied by the constitution.

[wrathof59]

More lawyer bullshit

[2banana]

But they could watch "Pulp Fiction" and "Natural Born Killers" at any time...?

[Sola Veritas]

"More lawyer bullshit"

Agreed, I said it numerous times here on FR. We don't have the "Rule of Law" in this country anymore, we have the "Rule of Lawyers."

[yobid]

Does this surprise anyone?

[lonevoice]

Ohfercryinoutloud! How much more ridiculous can this get?? If there were atheists, Muslims, or whatever among this jury, nothing required them to agree with 5 Christian jurors quoting scripture!

[Guillermo]

Absolutely amazing...

I'm speechless.

[Delta 21]

Maybe they should have consulted the koran? I am sure that would have been acceptable.

We ordained therein for them: "Life for life, eye for eye, nose or nose, ear for ear, tooth for tooth, and wounds equal for equal." But if any one remits the retaliation by way of charity, it is an act of atonement for himself. And if any fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (No better than) wrong-doers. Sura al-Maida 5:45 (Yusuf Ali's translation)

[Brilliant]

Not a bright move by the jurors.

[yellowdoghunter]

Nothing to see here...move along...I mean there has been an earthquake thousands of miles away and we are anxiously awaiting the tsunami....forget about judicial tyranny, etc....there are more important things going on half way around the world.

[Polyxene]

Welcome to the Judicial Oligarchy of America.

[knarf]

"The court said Bible passages, including the verse that commands “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,” could lead jurors to vote for death"

Sounds like it's time to pull out the jury nullification classbook.

"No your honor, we don't believe murder is a just charge nor is the law that forbids it.

The law does, after all find it's way to us from the Bible and ... well ... your honor, someone might think killin' is wrong.

Can't let that happen, now can we judge?"

[anniegetyourgun]

Who told the Colorado Supreme Court to fear the Word of God?

[sinkspur]

Not a bright move by the jurors.

Nope. When I've sat on juries, we were not allowed to take ANYTHING into the deliberation room. I'm sure it's the same for a capital case.

Some folks don't think that instruction applies to them.

[Saint Reagan]

I would have rather seen a mistrial than overturning the death sentence. Although upholding his death sentence would be most appropriate.

[Steve_Seattle]

"Not a bright move by the jurors."

I see that someone on this thread understands the law. Jurors are prohibited from bringing ANY outside materials into their deliberations; they are supposed to rely solely on the testimony they have heard and on the judge's instructions. You can't bring in a Bible, a law textbook, Time magazine - nothing. This ruling has nothing to do with anti-Bible or anti-Christian sentiment. The jurors who did this were idiots.

[Sola Veritas]

"we are anxiously awaiting the tsunami....forget about judicial tyranny, etc....there are more important things going on half way around the world"

I can't stop a tidal wave, I can oppose judicial tyranny.

[concerned about politics]

Supreme Court threw out the death sentence Monday of a man convicted of raping and killing a cocktail waitress

Terri has committed no crime, but MUST DIE for her non crime! Had she killed someone before she collapsed, she'd be a liberal saint! They'd be praying to statues of her right now!

[yellowdoghunter]

Excellent post!! Well said.

[Birdstrike]

And I'll bet it won't really be life without parole either.