SF appeals court overturns SoCal murderer's death sentence

Sacramento Bee ^ | 4:45 p.m. PDT Thursday, August 1, 2002 | ANGELA WATERCUTTER

[ValerieUSA]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A federal appeals court set aside a death sentence Thursday for an Orange County man who killed a woman by stabbing her a dozen times with a butcher knife.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 6-5 that a prosecutor's remarks to the jury caused William Payton to receive an unfair trial.

[ValerieUSA]

San Francisco justice strikes again.

[Lunatic Fringe]

Funny- mentioning God is only useful to these people when it allows a murderer to escape justice.

[luckodeirish]

The 9th District court? AARRGGHHHH

[Shermy]

Why can't one side say disregard what the other says? Isn't that "argument?"

[Zansman]

This couldn't possibly be the same 9th circuit court that said "under God" was unconstitutional now could it?

There ought to be a standard GOP Senate commercial that morphs the rat opponent into those idiots or heavliy borrows from these recent outrageous decisions.

Where's Lee Attwater when you need him?

[ValerieUSA]

The jury isn't supposed to do God's job of determining the state of the accused's soul - they must determine his earthly guilt and sentence for earthly crimes. The prosecutor had a valid point. The defense atty had his say, the jury heard it, the prosecutor debunked it. That's his job.

The 9th circuit court of appeals is a DANGEROUS enemy of America.

[umgud]

This court is the public arm of the ACLU.

[ValerieUSA]

The no "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance Court... they are INSANE!

[ValerieUSA]

9th Circuit Court PING

[diggerwillow]

They have been arguing over this for 22 years???

[Mo1]

Funny- mentioning God is only useful to these people when it allows a murderer to escape justice

EXACTLY .. UNBELIEVABLE

[ladyinred]

Isn't this interesting!
Apparently this kangaroo court doesn't like the mention of God in any way shape or form!
This is yet another outrage! There is nothing in that statement that should cause the conviction to be overturned! This court is out of control and something needs to be done! I know a supreme court in Florida they would love!

[Mo1]

PING!!!

Check this out

[ValerieUSA]

I wonder how well the motherless 10 yr old boy he stabbed repeatedly has healed.
A jury sentenced this murderer to death in 1982, and he's still kicking.

[Hank Rearden]

You see, Joe? This is why I said a while back that Avila will never be executed for murdering that little girl. Not in California, he won't.

I just hope he gets raped and killed in prison.

[Texasforever]

Does anyone know when the last California execution took place?

[Mo1]

I just hope he gets raped and killed in prison.

Works for me

[lawdog]

I think May 4, 1998.

[Texasforever]

Dang. I thought it would have been longer ago. Texas is slowing down a bit but mainly because of the backlog shrinking. We are at about one a month now. I sure hope we ain't going soft on crime.

[Snow Bunny]

I agree with you Valerie !!!!!