Posted on 11/30/2005 6:18:12 AM PST by meandog
Robin McKennel Lovitt will not die by injection tonight as the 1,000th person executed in the U.S. since the death penalty was allowed to resume in 1976.
Gov. Mark R. Warner commuted Lovitt's death sentence to life without parole yesterday. He found no fault with the jury that convicted Lovitt and said he was mindful of the loss suffered by the family of the victim, Clayton Dicks.
Nevertheless, citing the destruction of evidence in Lovitt's case by a court official, Warner said the state "must ensure that every time this ultimate sanction is carried out, it is done fairly."
Mary Dicks, the 84-year-old mother of Clayton Dicks, said she had wanted Lovitt executed but was not disappointed.
"Whatever they do with him, it ain't going to hurt me, it ain't going to help me. Only thing that hurt me was when he killed Clayton," said Dicks, of Washington.
Kirkland & Ellis, the law firm that represented Lovitt, said in a statement, "We believe this decision to be entirely proper given the extraordinary circumstances of Mr. Lovitt's case."
Had the execution...
(Excerpt) Read more at timesdispatch.com ...
Tookie, Tookie! Tookie, Tookie!
Gov. Warner a soft spot for criminals. He also has wanted perks for illegal aliens, even reduced college admission.
Can Ohio have the honor of the 1000th, please.
A scumbag in Ohio will be the 1,000th, not Tookie.
Also from the article:
"Warner, a presidential hopeful, said on his WTOP radio talk show yesterday morning that his decision would be based on the facts of the case, not political considerations. "This is the most troubling case I've had to deal with," he said on the show.
Warner had let all 11 previous executions proceed during his administration, which will end in January."
Yeah, right, it wasn't a 'political decision' ... and I suppose he's not really planning to run for POTUS in '08! I think he just doesn't want the tag of 1'000th death penalty to shadow him during his primary run.
i knew that jerk would pardon him.
Kind of reminds me of those cheesy internet promotions: "You're the 1,000,000th Visitor! - You've won an iPod!"
Except in this case, it's "You Would be the 1,000th to be Executed - You Win a Reprieve!"
I think I see the 'rats evil plan here. Pardon killers, give the right to vote to felons, and then they might swing a close election...
That's good. It would be bad to turn Tookie into more of a symbol than he already is. His execution should not be considered significant. He's just trash.
I wonder if anybody had any money on this guy as number 1000.
Couldn't he at least wait until the needle was in?
I was driving through Ohio yesterday listening to some local talk host. He was upset that Ohio would not have the honor of #1,000. He talked of a party, cake and all the works. Guess he better get in the kitchen now?
He didn't "pardon" him. The guy still gets life in prison.
grant clemency. excuse the inaccuracy. but i think you knew what i meant.
It was a media thing.
If this guy had been the 996th since the scotus ruling, he'd be pushing up daisies as we speak.
Anybody know how many murders have occured since the SC ruling in 1976?
I would bet that the odds are 1000 to one that murderers never get the death penalty.
I didn't know that. But thanks for the clarification.
i just wish Kaine had been on the hook for this one, in order to put the lie to his "oh i will uphold the death penalty" malarkey.
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.