Posted on 03/03/2006 3:18:29 PM PST by Former Military Chick
Time illustrates how New Jersey has a virtual death penalty that ends in the death of the accused, although it happens without midnight vigils and satellite trucks, under the media radar.
Four days before Christmas in 1981, Richard Williams participated in the murder of New Jersey State Trooper Philip Lamonaco. Because the murder took place prior to 1983 when New Jersey reinstituted the death penalty, Williams was sentenced to 30 years in state prison.
He also had been sentenced to 45 years in federal custody for his participation in an unrelated series of bombings as a member of the United Freedom Front. Among his targets were symbols of "oppression," including Union Carbide, General Motors, IBM and Army and Navy facilities.
Williams died Dec. 7. But who knew? The Easton (Pa.) Express-Times reported his death Sunday, nearly two months later. The Associated Press picked up the Easton story and put it on the wires the next day.
State Police Capt. Al Della Fave said the report of Williams' death was on the State Police Web site in December, but no one in the print media picked it up, he said.
If Williams had been sentenced to death, his story would have been retold often, through a seemingly endless series of appeals in state and federal courts. The convoluted legal process would have cost countless tax dollars.
Instead, Richard Williams just faded away, although not without sympathy. His death was lamented on the online edition of The Nation — a publication of the hard left.
According to author Dan Berger, Williams had been put into isolation in the Lompoc prison in California within hours of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Williams' health deteriorated; he suffered from a heart attack, cancer and hepatitis C, which caused liver failure and led to his death.
After Williams had returned to the prison's general population 10 months later he responded to questions submitted by the Santa Barbara (Calif.) News-Press.
"I do not support the actions of Sept. 11th. It is not something I would do, nor would I advocate it," he wrote.
Williams took credit for the bombings he participated in, telling the newspaper: "I took up revolution in this country because it is my country. I want to see change here. I do not hate the people of the U.S. I do hate the policies the government pursues. I feel it is criminal. And to not try to change it makes me, as a U.S. citizen, complicit in my government's crimes."
"Neither his post-9/11 isolation nor his death captured headlines," reported Berger, who contrasted his death to the death of another Williams — Stanley "Tookie" Williams — whose execution in California on Dec. 12 drew legions of protesters, including Jesse Jackson, Louis Farrakhan and Joan Baez.
Berger continued: "In less than one week, two prisoners have died — flawed men, each of whom had tried in some fashion to promote social justice. One was executed openly and deliberately . . . The other was killed slowly and quietly, because he fought quite literally against the pernicious acts of his own government on behalf of the oppressed people of South Africa and Central America."
Berger made only a passing reference to the murder of Philip Lamonaco.
When Williams was sentenced in 1992, Donna Lamonaco, the officer's widow, told the court: "He fought against the system, but the system fought back. Life in prison is the only life he is suited for, until death."
Williams would spend 13 years on his personal death row.
You could make an argument — in fact, I will make the argument — that Richard Williams suffered the worst fate, dying a forgotten, broken man, while Tookie Williams died a public death, a celebrated martyr to some.
When life in prison means life in prison, allowing nature to take its course, that is a far harsher penalty than death by lethal injection.
(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.")
Bravo Sierra!!! Everybody dies -- it is called "mortality".
At least, with LI, the punk gets to know that society ain't gonna let him hang around and sponge off of us any longer...
Thank you for adding this to the discussion it was very helpful.
Hmm, I sent my response to the editor. I think I will give it until Monday just to see if there is any interest ...
Perhaps than I will send him (or you can) send him the link to this thread ...
There is always other ways to get one's point across.
Thank you for the add'y and comment.
Nooooo; shame on Dan Berger, whom Mr. Malwitz exposed.
If Williams had been sentenced to death, his story would have been retold often, through a seemingly endless series of appeals in state and federal courts. The convoluted legal process would have cost countless tax dollars.
His death was lamented on the online edition of The Nation — a publication of the hard left.
Berger made only a passing reference to the murder of Philip Lamonaco.
Sounds like this guy is not at all sympathetic to the criminal, though he is anti death penalty. He seems glad the scumbag died behind bars, forgotten & unlamented, exactly as sentenced.
The best punishment for all of these guys...is to send them to middle of Montana....max security place...no work, no books, no one to talk to, only 1 hour per day outside with absolutely no contact with people. You stay in your cell and even eat your meals there. Most of these guys would commit suicide within two years and we'd be out of this whole argument. Once you take away human contact...people slide fast. They have no reason to exist if they can't communicate with someone.
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