Teresa Lewis, 41, was executed die by lethal injection. (AP) Posted on 09/23/2010 8:23:49 PM PDT by Inappropriate Laughter
Teresa Lewis, 41, was executed die by lethal injection. (AP)
JARRATT, Va., Sept. 23 - Teresa Lewis, who plotted with a young lover to kill her husband and stepson for insurance money, became the first woman executed in Virginia in nearly 100 years Thursday night when she was killed by lethal injection.
Authorities pronounced Lewis dead at 9:13 p.m.
Lewis's case generated passion and interest across the world. The European Union asked Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell (R) to commute her sentence to life, citing her mental capacity. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad cited the case at an appearance in New York.
It began on an October night nearly eight years ago, when Lewis prayed with her husband, slipped into bed next to him and waited for her two conspirators to come inside the door she had left unlocked. The two men showed up about 3:15 a.m., opened fire, then fled.
After the shooting, Lewis waited about half an hour to call 911. Her stepson, Charles "C.J." Lewis, died quickly. But her husband, Julian Lewis, whose body was riddled with bird shot, was alive and moaning "baby, baby, baby" when police arrived.
SNIP
Lewis is the 12th woman to be executed in the United States since capital punishment was reinstated in 1976. The most recent was in Texas in 2005, when Frances Newton was killed by lethal injection for shooting her husband and two children.
On Saturday, Lewis was moved to the Greensville Correctional Center, site of Virginia's death house. She requested her final meal: fried chicken, sweet peas with butter, German chocolate cake and Dr. Pepper, corrections officials said.
Her supporters never said that Lewis was innocent or that she shouldn't be punished. But they said she did not deserve to die because she was borderline mentally retarded,...
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
His sentence was effectively commuted to life when the Supreme Court ruled in 1972 that (then) current application of the death penalty was Unconstitutional.
Loved that scene! And the one in my tagline.
Death penalty without being the one to physically pull the trigger? I’m okay with that. In fact, I can think of a whole lot of crimes deserving of the death penalty.
If you’re significantly involved with a premeditated murder, or with the planning of a crime that leads to murder, regardless of your personal role, I’m okay with the death penalty.
If you’re involved in the forcible rape of a child, I’m not going to object if the state and the jury vote to fry you, even if the child lives.
There are others, but that’s a good start.
>>>...that he saw her as a continuing threat to society, and sentenced her to death.
That’s a good judge.
Yes, stupid people are more likely to commit crime than smart people. Doesn't mean we give stupid people a pass when it comes to murder. That'd be like giving stupid people a pass when it comes to paying taxes... Oh, wait...
It amazes me the slander the anti-death penalty types get away with, against the mentally retarded.
“Sorry, Im a big death penalty advocate but this one was not deserved.”
Sure it was. And the Commonwealth did the right thing. This was not a crime of passion, but a coolly calculated, premeditated murder. The law (rightfully) distinguishes between murder committed during a fit of anger and one that is planned in advance. There is no question of malice here.
I used to be a big advocate of the death penalty, not so much anymore. While it is true that some richly deserve execution,and in most cases there is no doubt about guilt,I still have a problem with someone having to trust a lawyer with their life, that otherwise can’t be trusted with 10 cents...IMHO
Just yesterday we had a huge miscarriage of justice here in Central NC.
Two years ago 2 dreads sporting perps kidnapped the class pres. at UNC Chapel Hill. A beautiful girl.
They held her in the back seat of her car, drove to an ATM and used her card to withdraw money.
They ended up shooting her several times, the last a shotgun to the face.
Well, one of the perps escaped the death penalty because he was younger than 18 ( 17 I believe at the time of the crime).
the other perp was allowed to accept a plea deal for kidnapping, murder in federal court.
He gets life w/ no parole.
If ever 2 cretins deserved the death penalty these two did.
Just from looking at her picture, she should have opted for the DIET Dr. Pepper.
She was smart enough to conspire with two other people to kill her husband and stepson, and to understand an insurance payoff. She's smart enough to pay for her crime.
You are part of the problem.
Heehee......good one.....
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