Killer of Pittsburg officer said death penalty is no problem

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 11/3/7 | Henry K. Lee

[SmithL]

The killer of a Pittsburg police officer said in court Friday that he was fine with being sentenced to death but had no interest in hearing from the slain man's family, telling a judge, "Let me get on my way."

"I'm not asking for sympathy," Alexander Hamilton, 20, said in a Martinez courtroom before formally being sentenced to die for killing Officer Larry Lasater after robbing a bank in 2005. "I got the death penalty. I ain't got no problem with that."

But he told Judge Laurel Brady of Contra Costa County Superior Court that he didn't see any point for testimony by the slain officer's family. "Let me get on my way, plain and simple," he said.

Lasater's widow, Jo Ann Lasater, blasted Hamilton for showing no remorse, adding that she would never be able to forgive him for killing her husband and the father of her young son, Cody, who was born two months after the officer was killed.

"My son has to grow up in a world where there are people out there like you," she said in addressing the court. "Cody now has to grow up without his father to guide him. You are simply an evil man not worthy to be in society."

Larry Lasater's mother, Phyllis Loya, said she thinks constantly about the sacrifices made by her son and Pittsburg police Inspector Ray Giacomelli, who was gunned down in 2003 while investigating a homicide.

When her son and Giacomelli pinned on their badges to go to work, "that's an act of courage," Loya said.

...Hamilton did not look at Loya or Lasater as they spoke in a hearing attended by several Pittsburg police officers, including Chief Aaron Baker.

[SmithL]

-- Hamilton

---

-- Officer Larry Lasater had been with the Pittsburg Police Department for three years when he was shot to death on April 23, 2005.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Tell that killer on death row the world does not revolve around him.

[Gay State Conservative]

A filthbag like that has no conscience so hearing from the dead man's family won't cause him to feel shame,remorse or embarrassment so there's really nothing to be gained from having him hear the family.

Hopefully,in the not too distant future,he'll be "shot while escaping" so as to avoid the otherwise obligatory 25 years worth of appeals.

[AngelesCrestHighway]

“I got the death penalty. I ain’t got no problem with that.”.....Glad to hear it tough guy!...your still gonna mess your pants!

[teenyelliott]

That officer was a beautiful man.

I hope they bungle the execution, and the murderer suffers greatly.

[Brilliant]

Of course it’s no problem. When was the last time PA executed someone?

[Concho]

This little gangsta is just a tip of the iceberg example of what is out on the street. These young street hoodlums have no conscience and no will power. You pass them every day and just dont recognize it. I saw this coming in the mid ‘90’s when I owned a large bail bonding company. To these street people life has no value. They have no allegiance to anything but money and to live by the minute.

[SmithL]

Pittsburg, California (No “h” in the name)

[Brilliant]

Ah, well, Arnold zapped a couple earlier, but other than that, not much more in CA.

[Oshkalaboomboom]

My brother-in-law works with juvenile gang members in Chicago, not just the run of the mill ones but the murderers, rapists and repeat violent offenders. None of them are over 16 and they would kill you without a second thought. He can’t wait to retire and move as far away from civilization as possible.

[trimom]

When was the last time PA executed someone?

Um, it's in California. The REAL Pittsburgh has an H at the end. Very regrettable loss of life, no matter which city.

[L98Fiero]

“He can’t wait to retire and move as far away from civilization as possible.”

Civilization. HA! If it were civilized I’m betting he wouldn’t want to move.

[aroundabout]

But the killer is BLACK!!!!!

Isn’t he a victim? Where’s Jessie and Fat Al?

[Oatka]

It is a pity that our Constitution forbids “cruel and unusual punishment”. There are some noises I would like to hear from this creep before he departed.

[Old Professer]

With the unofficial moratorium in place will the prisons still put those sentenced to death in special cells for the so-called “death row?”

[Eagles6]

We just had a black heroin dealer convicted of killing a White State Trooper, Cpl. Pokorny here in Pittsburgh, PA. Even if sentenced to death, this a$$ will never be executed in PA. In Cali it may take 20 yrs but it may be done.

[Cobra64]