Does a life sentence end if you briefly die? Inmate says yes, but Iowa court says no

Miami Herald ^ | 11/08/19 | CHACOUR KOOP

[Openurmind]

According to the western movies there may have been a reason why they always sentenced them to “Death by hanging UNTIL DEAD”. Wonder how many lived through it? There were a couple westerns involving this very situation.

[Ezekiel]

Do you think a life insurance company would ever pay out a settlement to this guy’s family if he had a $1 million insurance policy and he “died” for five minutes? LOL.

They could be millionaires for five minutes. Like those people who scoop up and spend money that flies out of an ATM. It's a miracle!

This guy was free from his life sentence for the amount of time he was dead, and he's complaining?

Looks like he squandered the time! :)

[Wuli]

It is kinda weird. In one moral sense we were required to try to rectify his medical situation, and that even included ressusitation to save his life. But that was, apparently, just so we could after all execute him.

Did we have to save his life, in as much his sentence was “death” anyway?

Did we save his life so that he could not deny us the execution sentence we gave him?

I am morally perplexed on this case.

[LeoTDB69]

Jon Snow might beg to differ. He walked off from Castle Black and said “My watch has ended!” after being revived from the dead. :)

[bert]

In the movie Hang ‘em High, Clint survived hanging and went on to see all the ad hoc judge, jury and executioners dead

[Seruzawa]

Doesn’t hurt to try. All they can do is say “No”. After all you’re already in prison for life.

I give him an A for creativity.

[scrabblehack]

There was also an episode of Twilight Zone. I guess it was this one:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0734566/?ref_=ttep_ep6

[dsrtsage]

The John Snow defense

[Steve Van Doorn]

Legally dead is the day the death certificate shows up which can take weeks.

[mkmensinger]

Right. If he were all dead, they would have gone through his pockets to check for loose change.

[MuttTheHoople]

[Openurmind]

Yep, I remember that now, famous movie.

[Eddie01]

Point a gun at his heart. Ask him, do you want out of prison?

[Not A Snowbird]

Body functions may cease but you aren’t dead until brain activity stops. Am I doctor? Nope.

But that’s my 2 cents.

He didn’t die. He was briefly nonfunctional.

[stylecouncilor]

Interesting legal question ping.

[Redcitizen]

Lol! I like how you think. I hadn’t thought about the cleanup part. 😁

[Grimmy]

Heh. He pissed himself. Literally.

[tallyhoe]

Hoe can you briefly die?

[Redcitizen]

So was being on watch a lifetime vow or obligation?

[BipolarBob]

I regret that I have but one two lives to give to the state penitentiary.