Posted on 06/23/2004 7:54:07 AM PDT by CarrotAndStick
KOLKATA: Tuesday morning was the first time in his life that Dhananjoy Chatterjee really knew he would die at the end of a rope. It was the day's newspapers that shattered what little hopes he nursed of escaping the hangman's death squeeze.
No, he did not cry. But he showed he finally knew that his time was up; that he would have to pay with his life for a crime which shook even weather-beaten policemen and doctors.
It was not Chatterjee's fault if he had started believing that he would get away with a natural death. The state government sat over a single file, which would have cleared the path for justice, for nine long years. The hang-till-death sentence — awarded by a court 13 years back — had begun to look like just another example of a system that did not work.
The fact that every court in the country that heard his crime felt he should die stopped mattering. Dhananjoy — who hasn't once show any regret for raping and killing Hetal Parekh — believed he could get away with murder. His family was shuttling between Supreme Court and Calcutta High Court, trying out all possible legal loopholes. There were mercy petitions. Then, human rights activists took up his cause.
But Tuesday's papers rocked him as nothing had — not even the day the death sentence was pronounced on him. As he read how Raj Bhavan had refused to entertain his family and friends on Monday, and how traffic policemen ensured that their bus did not get anywhere near Alipore Central Jail, the condemned man straightened up a little. He looked away for a while. Then went back to the newspapers, scanning through every story, every word, hunting for a trace of hope. But realising that there was none, he folded them away. And buried his face in his hands.
Dhananjoy has, since then, become much more jittery and much less talkative, say jail officials. And this has led to a fresh worry, they admit. He has since been brought to the "condemned cell" (in the same jail) and is under strict watch. "We would not like anything untoward to happen to Dhananjoy now," a Writers' Buildings official said. "He has been put on medical diet (better than staple prison fare) but we are wary of Dhananjoy developing suicidal tendencies," he added.
Prison officials, therefore, have been asked to keep him talking. Chatterjee is still being told that there is some hope for him and that he should wait till Thursday, say officials. "We have asked jail officials to tell him that there is some hope as long as a section of intellectuals keep clamouring against the hanging," one of them said.
By Tuesday evening, Dhananjoy had even started believing a bit of it. But how long can they keep up the facade? What of Thursday, the eve of his hanging? "We will have to tell him that day that it is his last 24 hours," the official added, grimly.
Yeah, I noticed that.
What about Hetal's human rights?
Apparently, she had none in their view.
Why is this even a story? The man is a rapist and a murderer. And he's bummed that he's going to exit this world at the end of a hangman's rope? Cry me a river...
I wonder if they'll officially inform him as the warden in Texas (I believe) did. They handed him a form saying his appeal was denied and would be carried out on a certain date, and the warden also put a smilie face on it.
Well, I like this part... It would be kinda interesting to walk up to a condemned man's cell, and say "Oh, hey, by the way, you hang in 24 hours..." in a matter-of-fact tone like one was discussing the weather...
I know. I know. I'm cruel. But, I have no use for rapists and murderers.
OMG.... I shouldn't laugh, but damn, that's funny...
I agree.
I think the most important part of a death sentence is the final 24 hours knowing what is about to happen and being powerless to stop it.
I read of it here, it's probably somewhere in the archives. The warden explained that he go tinto the habit and hadn't realized he'd added it to the warrant.
We should bring back hanging.
Its better than a bullet - ropes are recyclable.
Exactly. They should at least have some time to reflect on the imminent punishment, knowing there is no hope and that there isn't a darn thing they can do to stop their own death.
Ya know, sorta like how their victims probably felt...
Yes. Bullets are not environmentally friendly, and Electrocution wastes electricity, and lethal injection is too costly...
I think it's better for society as a whole that Hanging be brought back as the "execution of choice". It has so many benefits, and very few negatives...
Too bad they aren't interested int he rights of his victims.
For the murder he should hang. For the rape, they should first cut off his intromittent member, and do it enough in advance so that he'll have plenty of time to contemplate his stump before he hangs.
Clinton rejected pleas for clemency because the boy was not sane. He took time off his presidential campaign and returned to Arkansas for the execution.
For his last meal the boy had asked for ice cream for dessert. After finishing the main meal, he decided to save his ice cream for after the execution.
Dunno. Death, even the execution of a convicted criminal, is a solemn and serious event and should be attended the etiquette proper to such things. I'm not sure I want agents of the State making light of executions -- it sets a bad precedent and cheapens the message.
At least the victim's family is getting justice.
I didn't quite get you there. What was his crime? Could you elaborate? Who is the boy and who is the young man?
???
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.