Nurse Who Killed 29 Patients Gagged In Court

The Indy Channel ^ | 03/10/06 | AP

[Abathar]

ALLENTOWN, Pa. -- Charles Cullen is not going quietly to prison.

The man who killed 29 patients in New Jersey and Pennsylvania disrupted his sentencing in the Keystone State Friday afternoon. The judge ordered court officers to gag Cullen.

Cullen kept repeating, "Your honor, you need to step down."

Court workers tried gagging him with cloth. When that didn't work, they tried duct tape.

That didn't work either, so the judge went ahead with the proceeding as Cullen repeated the statement hundreds of times over the course of half an hour.

Cullen was apparently angry about a newspaper article in which the judge said he would force Cullen to be present for his sentencing -- at which he got six life terms.

Earlier in the day, a judge added another life sentence for the death of a retired Bethlehem, Pa., steel worker in 1998. At the sentencing, the judge criticized hospitals for not warning each other of suspicions when Cullen switched jobs.

Cullen was sentenced to one life term on top of the 11 terms he got last week in New Jersey.

[Abathar]

What the heck kind of bailiffs have they got there?

They can't duct tape a handcuffed mans mouth shut? They just needed to go around the top of his head a few times, at least it would be funny to listen to him take it off...

[AppyPappy]

The terrible thing is that he will demand an appeal based on the fact he couldn't hear the verdict because he was talking over it.

[dirtboy]

They can't duct tape a handcuffed mans mouth shut?

Need better duct tape, apparently.

[Gay State Conservative]

This scumbag ain't gonna do well in The Big House.

[Abathar]

So being an a$$^%&$ during your sentencing is grounds for appeal now? The scary thing is I think your right.

[Ace of Spades]

That's okay, he'll be doing it from his NJ jail cell, where he'll already be serving a life sentence. So it won't do him much good.

[Bubba_Leroy]

No courtroom should be without one.

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

Saddam, take notice.

[Unkosified]

The judge ordered court officers to gag Cullen. This is what they need to do with Saddam to get things rolling and keep them rolling. Hope Iraqi court guards are better with a roll of duct tape.

[demlosers]

Saddam needs one.

[TravisBickle]

Now THIS is how to use duct tape for restraint.

[theFIRMbss]

>What the heck kind of bailiffs have they got there? They can't duct tape a handcuffed mans mouth shut?

Bailiffs should contract
out that kind of work to pros
like Lady Heather . . .

[prairiebreeze]

At the sentencing, the judge criticized hospitals for not warning each other of suspicions when Cullen switched jobs.

What a laugh. Perhaps the judge isn't aware of the propensity of civil suits to be threatened or filed against employers to try to give an honest evaluation to another potential employer about an employee's poor conduct.

In fact, most HR depts. will only allow confirming dates of employment. Period. You aren't permitted to even indicate if the person is eligible for re-hire at your facility because that would indirectly let the inquiring employer know there was a problem with the employee.

The lawyers, legislators and legal system CANNOT HAVE IT BOTH WAYS.

[sgtbono2002]

A knuckle Sandwich makes a good gag. Especialy when wearing leaded gloves.

[Doc Savage]

The mistake was not executing him in the public square!

[null and void]

ping...

[BeHoldAPaleHorse]

They can't duct tape a handcuffed mans mouth shut?

They should've treated him like a King.

[nina0113]

So being an a$$^%&$ during your sentencing is grounds for appeal now?

That's what keeps Mumia breathing.

[livius]

At the sentencing, the judge criticized hospitals for not warning each other of suspicions when Cullen switched jobs.

This is a major problem. Hospitals and medical institutions of any kind always protect nurses, doctors or any other personnel who have left under a cloud. They're probably afraid of law suits, and I wish we had a process in place to protect them when they release information about former employees.

[T'wit]

Why are they persecuting this modest, commendable mercy killer? Don't they understand his compassion, his oneness with spiritual litigation? Don't they see he's ahead of his time? Killing patients is peak liberal fashion. Whole liberal societies exist to advocate exactly what this nurse practices. Bioethicists get fancy awards for snuffing a few patients. This fellow has snuffed 29! He's better than all of them!

< /a teensy bit of sarcasm>