Justice Has Gone NUMB in California Terri Winchell's murderer lives another day...

theOneRepublic ^ | 2/22/06 | Patrick Hurley

[ParsifalCA]

Michael Morales, the man who raped and killed Terri Winchell, a seventeen year-old girl in 1981 was supposed to be put to death early Tuesday morning, February 21, just after midnight. He was not. The man who used a hammer in smashing the young girl’s head in twelve times and then stabbing her an additional four times in the heart was AGAIN supposed to be lethally injected later on that same Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. Again, he was not. His execution has now been stayed indefinitely. It may take months to finalize justice for Terri Winchell, or, if someone does not legally step in and exercise the power of common sense when it comes to loopholes in the criminal justice system, there may be no justice at all.

Why?

Because the state of California cannot figure out a way to HUMANELY put this vicious murderer to death.

I am trying to keep a straight face while I type this article. The only thing that is preventing me from laughing out loud is the anger that is burning inside of me.... [more]

[ncountylee]

My heart goes out to the Winchell's, whom the courts are making suffer unnecessarily.

[TeenagedConservative]

You can't humanely kill someone. Killing is inhumane.

And that's precisely the point of the death penalty.

[rahbert]

what was the problem with lethal gas? I missed that discussion. seems to me that would be just fine,
and no anesthesiologist needed.

[generally]

I agree.

In principle, I'm against the death penalty. But if you want to talk about cruel and unusual punishment, then how about looking at the continued torture that the victim's family is being subjected to.

[DumpsterDiver]

The last paragraph in the article:

Somewhere Terri Winchell is watching all this and even though she is undoubtedly in a heavenly place, I wonder if she is saying the same thing to a justice system that stabbed her all over again. Except this time, it was in the back.

[Lunatic Fringe]

There has been studies that suggest that lethal injection is not as painless as once believed.

The inmate can become conscious during the execution and experience a "suffocating" death that can last 8-12 minutes. Regardless of what the convicted murderer has done, I don't believe that as a civilized society we should be using execution methods that cause unnecessary suffering.

[jazusamo]

My heart goes out to her family for what this judge is putting them through. This is not justice.

Judge Jeremy Fogel is a prime example of a judge who is legislating from the bench. He is a disgrace to the federal judicial system. He does not belong on the bench and should be impeached.

[ArrogantBustard]

Couple o' these oughta do the job.

[Spok]

The best argument against capital punishment is the incompetence in the way its administered. However, if only one victim's life is spared by the spurious and random application of the death penalty, it's worth it. Even in California.

[jackieaxe]

What's lost in all this is the continued suffering of Teri's family. I read they were very upset this did not happen. Imagine, someone hammers your daughter to death and for 20 odd years the appeals process continues, then finally, there is an execution date, but some friggin' do gooding liberal refuses to carry out the procedure. I think the "humane" language should be taken out of the law but continue to execute using the present method. That way if the doctor refuses, a guard could blow the murderer's head off.

California, it's time to address the suffering of Terri's family and EXECUTE HER KILLER. Remember Albert Owens? Tookie Williams blew 2 holes in his back while standing on top of him. Albert's 2 daughter's grew up without a father and Albert's father died 9 years ago heartbroken. In the meanwhile, Albert's killer is writing children's books and being nominated for the Nobel Prize. For the sake of the vitcims families' it's time to put everyone on death row to death.

[goldstategop]

Oh puhleeaze. I would like to strangle the scumbag to death with my bare hands if the authorities allowed me the privilege. I would consider it an honor to dispatch thayt foul murderer to the next world. If I weren't outraged.. I would bust a gut laughing at how stupid the SOB Judge Fogel is in being compassionate towards a child killer. That reminds me of the Talmudic aphorism, which is fitting here: "He who is merciful to the cruel, will be cruel to the merciful." That sums up where things stand today.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[granite]

How about the guillotine, it must be painless. If not, that gas chamber is still functional.

[Proud Conservative2]

This is beyond comprehension. Morales choked this innocent girl with a leather belt until the belt broke. He the beat her repeatedly on the head with a hammer and if that wasn't sufficient, he raped her and stabbered her numerous times, leaving her perhaps to die slowly. Why???? To do a favor for his cousin...

NOW they think our treatment of him is inhumane? These lowlife lawyers that come to the aid of someone like this are pond scum. I was shocked to see that Kenneth Starr was one of his lawyers. As far as I am concerned, we should line up the Judge, lawyers and Morales in front of a firing squad and make this country a better place!

[Salgak]

Good. LET 'em suffer. It's a warm-up for what's coming immediately afterwards. . .

[goldstategop]

That imbecilic federal judge is obstructing justice. But that's part and parcel of being a good liberal these days... showing the world just how stupid as well as arrogant you can be at the same time. In both respects, Judge Fogel has succeeded in lowering the stature of the judiciary. And I would never address him as His Honor. He has demonstrated loud and clear through his conduct he is not worthy of that respect due his station as a judge... much less than as a human being.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[sandbar]

So I'll do it. I never took any kind of medical oath.

[sandbar]

Wonder what kind of 'suffocating' death his victim felt.

[Proud Conservative2]

"The inmate can become conscious during the execution and experience a "suffocating" death that can last 8-12 minutes. "

Gee, that's too bad. Ever wonder how long Terri Winchell suffered?

He has already lived way too long for my taste. I am not willing to continue to cough up my tax dollars to keep this trash alive.