State (Texas) Carries Out Fourth Execution Of 2006

KWTX.com ^ | Feb. 15, 2006 | KWTX

[COEXERJ145]

Clyde Smith, 32, was executed just after 6 p.m. Tuesday in the state’s death chamber in Huntsville for the 1992 murder of a cab driver in Houston.

Jacobs was shot four times in the head and robbed of about $100.

Smith confessed to detectives about the February 1992 slaying and the similar shooting and robbery six weeks later of another cab driver, but later said the confession was made under duress.

He later claimed he wasn’t present when Jacobs was slain, but arrived at the scene after the shooting.

[COEXERJ145]

[jazusamo]

Anyone who would shoot a person 4 times in the head for $100 deserves Smith's sentence.

[76834]

Here's the Houston Chronicle article:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/3662623.html

Next on the execution schedule is Steven Staley, condemned for the 1989 slaying of a Fort Worth restaurant manager during a botched robbery. Staley, scheduled to be executed Feb. 23, won a reprieve last year.

[TheDon]

The world is a safer place, but I'm guessing Texas is way behind in executions for the year. How many murders have been committed in Texas this year already?

[taillightchaser]

Don't mess with Texas!!!

[freedumb2003]

For the first time, California is keeping pace. Despite the stupid delay, we'll get the next guy in a week or so.

All those 20 year wait times are finishing up -- and the time to pay up is nigh.

[Dov in Houston]

If they want to step up and risk being in that spot I have one thing to say

"NEXT"

[76834]

Read about that earlier.

Congrats to California.

You have a bit of catching up to do.

[RushLake]

Too bad you can't get Manson.

I'm curious if the subject of this thread made the de riguer apology to the family before execution. Its always such a compassionate (NOT) touch.

[Paleo Conservative]

What's the holdup? It's already mid-February.

[COEXERJ145]

Five set for next month, three (in a row) for April, and five more in May.

[Dog Gone]

I think Texas is about on schedule. Four this year so far in the first six weeks.

Remember, not all murders in Texas qualify for the death penalty. Most don't.

[TexCon]

Since we're on the topic of Texas executions, I thought I'd bring the following up. Whatever happened to executions being a deterring factor? I mean I love the fact that we have the most executions here in Texas but there is still not enough. It costs too much too! It's insane and disturbing. A person should be allowed two appeals with DNA evidence use. That's all! No more of this lethal injection stuff too. For instance, when a man who has raped 8 women and killed them peacefully goes to sleep, how is this justice? I'm glad the state executed Smith. He stripped Jacobs of his constitutional 14th amendment rights to life, liberty, and a pursuit of happiness, therefore, at that moment, Smith lost his rights as well.

[pollyg107]

Execution is a deterrent: a specific deterrent. The person who is executed will not ever murder another person. General deterrence may be debatable. However, consider the alternative: without a death penalty and only life without parole as the ultimate sentence, what is to stop a lifer from killing jailers and other inmates?

[ConservaTexan]

"No more of this lethal injection stuff too"

We should have hangings from the goal posts at halftime of the Texas-OU football game! We could have a coin flip and let the condemned pick which end-zone they would swing from.

[2dogjoe]

Na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na
Hey hey hey, goodbye.

[Just Lori]

I like what comedian Ron White has to say about the death penalty in Texas:

"If you kill someone, we will kill you back."

[TexCon]

Haha! Nice one!

[geezerwheezer]

I hope for that guy's sake that the Good Lord has mercy on his soul. I don't, and wonder why we have to wait so long for these criminals to be executed. Damn!!

[denydenydeny]

Here in Pennsylvania, I'm hoping that the election year will make Rendell do the right thing with Mumia.