[American72]

This is yet another example of the 'religion of peace.' But it's NOT a hate crime - only whites can commit those!

[American72]

Can you ping the Houston list? Thanks!

[Steel Wolf]

Not that I support hate crime laws in the slightest, but isn't this exactly the sort of thing that they were written for? I mean, this is more of a hate crime than the vast majority of hate crimes.

[freedomcrusader]

A Saudi millionaire's son who went from a freewheeling Houston college student to an observant Muslim pleaded guilty Monday to nearly decapitating a longtime Jewish friend in the accused's Galleria-area apartment but offered no explanation.

He didn't need to, all you need to know is right there. Became an "observant" Muslim and slaughtered a Jew. I hope we don't have too many "observant" Muslims like this guy in the U.S.

[jocon307]

"He had dropped out of school and was in violation of his student visa, authorities said."

So why was he still here? Has Bush addressed this issue? NO! Will Bush address this issue? Will Bush be asked about this issue?

[Live free or die]

Yeah, and now we have lawyers demanding that such cases stay away from juries because the rabble can't be trusted.

[jtminton]

Alayed's bail was set at $5 million after prosecutors said they feared the Saudi Arabian government would help post his bond. The Saudi consulate had posted previous bonds for Alayed on minor traffic violations, St. Martin said.

Great. Now they are bailing out criminals, too. Why do we even mess with the Saudis? Does anybody else have those stupid 'We're the Saudi's and we are just like you' radio ads on? They come on from time to time on WBAP and they make me want to puke.

[GladesGuru]

This crime occurred in Texas, where they still have the death penalty.

If Texas wishes to prevent such crimes in the future, make sure that the execution is well recorded and broadcast. Then deliver the "remains" coated in lard and wrapped in a pig skin, to the parents.

Do this so that any hope of such religious fanatics that their acts will elevate them to a whore's heaven won't happen. Instead, greased with the 'unclean' grease of the pig, they will start on their long slide down to what Muslims call the realm of "Shatan" - Satan to Americans.

Know your enemy - Use his weaknesses

[Captain Rhino]

Let's see...23 now and a sentence of 60 years. Theoretically, he could be 83 when released. Length of imprisonment can be reduced for good behavior, participation in certain in-prison programs, etc. However, a number of states require a minmum percentage of the sentence be served (80 to 85%?). What are Texas rules regarding minimum time served and the amount a sentence can be reduced for good behavior?

[Ancesthntr]

There was no strategic advantage to prosecuting the slaying as a hate crime, because that and murder by itself carry a maximum sentence of life in prison, St. Martin said.

What?! The maximum sentence is LIFE? For a premeditated murder like this, the penalty should be EXECUTION - period. This is Texas, where we put down a convicted murderer/oxygen thief every couple of weeks, and I see no reason to treat this murdering scumbag any differently from any other murdering scumbag.

As to the "hate crime" issue: I'm against it on principle - you want to punish bad acts, not bad thoughts (it is supposed to be a free country, after all, and freedom to think what you wish, no matter how absurd or insane, is our birthright). I also wouldn't want to see a white murderer of someone I'm related to punished any less harshly than a non-white because of this legislation - the fact that such a person was dead would be enough for me, regardless of the melanin content of the murderers skin. However, if any crime qualifies for "hate crime" status, this one does; the fact that it wasn't prosecuted as such betrays the motivation of those who proposed and enforce such laws.

[Alouette]

Although there was no direct evidence the killing was a hate crime, attorneys said jurors might have been particularly unsympathetic to Alayed because the slaying raised the specter of Islamic extremism and stereotypes surrounding terrorists.

Stupifyingly ridiculous. The guy recreates the Daniel Pearl snuff video and it's the jury that's prejudiced?

[Redleg Duke]

NO, only white Christian males can commit a hate crime!

[LibWhacker]

I'd rather own a rabid pit bull than have a muslim "friend."