Posted on 12/01/2005 10:48:33 AM PST by doug from upland
NOTE: More than 600 death row inmates who had been sentenced to death between 1967 and 1972 had their death sentences lifted as a result of Furman, but the numbers quickly began to build up again as states enacted revised legislation tailored to satisfy the Supreme Court's objections to arbitrary imposition of death sentences. The first execution under the new death penalty laws took place on January 17, 1977, when convicted murdered Gary Gilmore was executed by firing squad in Utah. Gilmore's was the first execution in the United States since 1967. After Gilmore, 998 more have been executed. Tookie Williams has a shot at making history and being No. 1000. He should see it as an honor. If a FReeper artist wants to illustrate, maybe I could write a nice children's book about it that could be posted online. That is the lesson that Tookie should be teaching. If you murder four people in cold blood, you must give up your life. Got it, kids? =================================================================
Texas Execution Delayed
The state’s final execution of 2005 has been delayed for at least 90 days.
El Paso State District Judge put the Dec. 7 execution of death row inmate Tony Ford on hold Tuesday to allow time for DNA tests on clothing,
Ford’s attorneys contend the test will show their client is innocent of the 1991 murder of Armando Murillo, 17.
The 32-year-old death-row inmate's attorneys contend eyewitnesses misidentified him as the killer.
But El Paso District Attorney Jaime Esparza has said he's confident the right man is on death row.
Prosecutors allege Ford forced his way into the victim’s mothers home and demanded money, jewelry and a vehicle.
Murillo’s mother and sister were also shot, but survived.
The delay means Texas finishes 2005 with 19 executions.
That's four fewer than last year but still the most in the country.
At least eight inmates have execution dates for 2006, three in January.
Wow, maybe Tookie IS getting set up ... to be a lesson.
Even if he makes No. 1001, that would be okay. He could be the first in the death penalty millenium, or something like that.
If it turns out he's innocent, are you still going to be upset that the execution was delayed?
I wonder if the father has ever bothered to read the bible?
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