Posted on 05/18/2004 6:29:44 PM PDT by new cruelty
HUNTSVILLE, Texas (AP) - A mentally ill killer was executed Tuesday evening after Gov. Rick Perry rejected a parole board's highly unusual recommendation to commute his death sentence or delay the execution.
Kelsey Patterson, 50, also lost an appeal to the Supreme Court in the hour before he was put to death.
A diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic, Patterson was condemned for a double slaying almost 12 years ago. His lethal injection renewed the legal quandary of whether it is proper to execute someone who is mentally ill when the Supreme Court says it is unconstitutional to execute someone who is mentally retarded.
Strapped to the death chamber gurney, Patterson mumbled, "No kin, no kin, no kin. I'm not guilty of a charge of capital murder. Give me my rights. I'm acquitted of capital murder."
As the warden leaned over him and asked if he had a final statement, Patterson responded, "Statement to what? Statement to what? I'm not guilty of the charge of capital murder."
He continued to ramble, saying "give me my life back" as the lethal drugs took effect. He was pronounced dead at 6:20 p.m.
At least three mentally ill prisoners have been executed in Texas since the Supreme Court ruled two years ago that severely mentally retarded inmates should not be executed.
In a 5-1 vote, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles endorsed a petition from Patterson's lawyers and supporters that he be spared. Texas resumed carrying out executions in 1982, and Monday's board action marked the first time at this late stage in a condemned inmate's case the panel recommended the governor commute a death sentence.
"State and federal courts have reviewed this case no fewer than 10 times, examining his claims of mental illness and competency, as well as various other legal issues," Perry said in a statement less than an hour before Patterson's execution time. "In each instance the courts have determined there is no legal bar to his execution."
Patterson's lawyer, J. Gary Hart, said he was outraged by his client's death.
"I don't even know what to think about this," he told The Associated Press. "I didn't see what the downside would be for (the governor) to follow the recommendation of the parole board."
Patterson was condemned for the 1992 shootings of Dorthy Harris, 41, a secretary at an oil company office in Palestine, and her boss, Louis Oates, 63.
Evidence showed Patterson left his home in Palestine, about 100 miles southeast of Dallas, shot Oates in the head with a .38-caliber pistol and then shot Harris when she began screaming.
Then he went home, took off his clothes and was arrested walking on the street.
Harris' daughter, Michele Smith, sobbed after watching the execution.
"I want to especially thank the governor for giving me a chance to start again and have an end to such a horrible time in my life," she said.
"I started the day off very pessimistic, but it ended as I prayed it would."
In 1980 in Dallas and in 1983 in Palestine, Patterson was ruled mentally incompetent to stand trial on charges related to nonfatal shootings.
Throughout his trial, outbursts earned Patterson repeated expulsions from the courtroom. He frequently talked about "remote control devices" and "implants" that controlled him.
While on death row, he wrote nearly incomprehensible letters to courts about having amnesty and a permanent stay of execution.
In March, Perry for the first time since taking office in 2000 commuted the death sentence of a prisoner. That inmate is mentally retarded, and was not within hours of a scheduled execution.
In 1998, four days before former self-confessed serial killer Henry Lee Lucas was to die, then-Gov. George W. Bush commuted Lucas' sentence after questions were raised about his conviction. It was the only death sentence commuted by Bush in his six years in office when 152 executions were carried out.
I especially like this line. Somehow it is always Bush's fault to the media...LOL.
The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles has
six members? Since when?
The Texas Gov. can commute death sentences?
Since when?
Unless the victems of mentally ill or retarded murderers are somehow less dead than victems of sane and mentally healthy murderers, I see no reason why they should be given a pass.
This paragraph tells you all that you need to know about the AP's agenda. The Governor of Texas can "commute" a death sentence for 30 days, one time. Permanent disposition is then up to the Board of Pardons and Paroles. I believe that once they make a decision, the Governor can agree or disagree.
I thought the governor could only issue a 30-day stay. He doesn't have the authority to commute sentences.
How many members does it have, in your opinion?
The Texas Gov. can commute death sentences? Since when?
How does a death sentence get commuted in Texas?
Good riddance.
The original AP headline must have read:
"Bush Appointee Puts To Death Retarded Black Man" but the editor probably changed it.
This is the first proven cure for mental case/murder I've read about. They ought to keep testing.
Some information - that the AP apparently doesn't want to read or recognize - is available at:
http://www.txexecutions.org/ppboard.asp
You make me laugh, boy, I tell you what.
Paranoid schizophrenia is a lot worse than merely an "emotional problem." But paranoid schizophrenics may well be able to tell the difference between right and wrong.
I've also seen cases where people where "diagnosed" paranoid schizophrenic because the idiot shrink just can't believe a sane person could be so mean.
I guess this is where I got the 30-day stay from. The difference here is that the board *did* recommend changing the sentence and Perry refused.
You are correct. We covered this in spades when the left tried to paint then Governor Bush as a death penalty happy sadist. The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles is the final authority on these cases. This article looks like a reporter still wants to make President Bush look bad, facts be dammed.
Read the two links. Apparently, he *can* do more than issue stays *if* the Parole Board recommends it. In this case, from what the story says, the Board recommended a change of sentencing but Perry refused to abide by it.
I guess Perry has no plans to run for President. ;-P
Keep reading....... http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/bpp/exec_clem/exec_clem.html
Which is, as the Governor, his right to do. And I would support him in his action.
I weigh the actions that the perp did, versus what benefit to society he would serve if allowed to live. I find the balance leans heavily, very heavily to the former. Just my opinion.
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