1985: Doyle Skillern, under the law of parties

ExecutedToday.com ^ | January 16, 2019 | Headsman

[CheshireTheCat]

A philosophical Doyle Skillern was executed in Texas on this date in 1985, one of the more galling victims of Texas’s controversial “Law of Parties” — in which all parties involved in a lesser felony (such as armed robbery) may be held liable for a greater felony (such as murder) committed by any of their number.

Skillern and a buddy named Charles Sanne were drug dealers being set up for arrest by a narcotics agent.

In the course of a buy, the suspicious Sanne got the officer, Patrick Randel, into his vehicle on the pretext of doing business elsewhere — intending in fact to rob Randel. While Skillern trailed in a different vehicle, Sanne shot Randel to death (and robbed him). By the accounts of both men the shooting wasn’t premeditated; Sanne said that Randel tried to pull a gun on him and a spontaneous fight ensued......

[Lurker]

“ one of the more galling victims of Texas’s controversial “Law of Parties.”

Every State in the Union has a Felony Murder rule. Texas just uses it.

L

[PLMerite]

“...one of the more galling victims of Texas’s controversial “Law of Parties” — in which all parties involved in a lesser felony (such as armed robbery) may be held liable for a greater felony (such as murder) committed by any of their number.”

FAFO.

[Boogieman]

“By the accounts of both men the shooting wasn’t premeditated; Sanne said that Randel tried to pull a gun on him and a spontaneous fight ensued......”

The robbery was premeditated though, and if you set out to rob someone, you’re surely aware that you might have to kill them, especially since you brought a weapon along for just such an eventuality and were quick to use it.

[Glad2bnuts]

Did they have a chance to ask the dead guy whether it was premeditated? One thing we don’t have enough of is, death sentences carried out promptly.