Posted on 03/18/2010 11:30:59 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Kristie Reed was on the basement floor, her throat and wrists slashed. Her older sister, Stacie, was upstairs, dead from a stab wound to the heart. When police reached Kristie, who was then 14 years old, an officer leaned in and asked who had done this to her. Kristie mouthed two words: "Paul Powell."
On Thursday night, more than 11 years later, Paul Warner Powell, 31, was executed in Virginia's electric chair. He was declared dead at 9:09 p.m. The Jan. 29, 1999, murder of one sister and the rape and near-slaying of the other in Manassas were among the most notorious crimes in the region's recent history.
Besides the savage attacks, the case was known for Powell's boastful jailhouse letter to Prince William County's chief prosecutor, which provided the crucial evidence that resulted in Thursday's execution.
But it was Kristie Reed's eyewitness account that led to Powell's arrest and admission just hours after the slaying. She is left with decade-old memories of her sister and a neck laced with what she calls "battle scars." Formerly against the death penalty, Kristie eagerly awaited Powell's execution.
"I need to know that he's gone, that we don't have to deal with this anymore," said Kristie Reed, now 25 and an advocate for rape victims. "I was totally against the death penalty before this happened, and I didn't know why people would want to do it. But those people haven't been through what we've been through. Now I'm totally for it. He definitely deserves to die. He needs to die for what he did to Stacie."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
bzzt, gone. almost too neat and clean.
Let ‘em choke.
God, what a sad story. What a fiend.
re: What a fiend
And it took 10 years to bring him to justice. With all the evidence against him, he still managed to distort the system for over a decade, adding insult to injury with his letters to people involved in the case. He should have been put on the fast track to execution, and the whole thing should have been over in 30 days. How cruel for the survivor and the rest of the murdered victim’s family and friends.
What a classic example of far wrong our criminal justice system has wandered.
Despite having been id’d by his victim it took 12 years to send the perp on his way to hell. Totally stupid. Our legal system , like government at every level in our country, is broken.
“bzzt, gone. almost too neat and clean.”
I dunno. If we can’t hang ‘em, or shoot ‘em in front of a firing squad, the electric chair is the next best, in my opinion. I’m totally opposed to “lethal injection” as it is way too finicky, and provides little drama.
I do not need to be a victim to support the death penalty; I support it because it is the right thing to do.
Gee, I’m waiting for all “put him away for the rest of his life” morons to pipe up about how uncivilized executing this person was.
“It saddens me that a horrible crime is what cured this woman of her liberal ignorance.
I do not need to be a victim to support the death penalty; I support it because it is the right thing to do.”
Some people get it, some people learn.
I heard this on WMAL this morning. An absolutely horrible case. I pray the victims have some peace now.
heads up Virginia freepers.
Obama Makes Final Push For Health Care Plan
posted 11:41 pm Thu March 18, 2010 - FAIRFAX, Va.
from NewsChannel 8 - http://www.news8.net/news/stories/0310/717521.html
The fight for health care reform is taking a toll on President Obama’s itinerary. For a second time, the President has delayed a foreign trip to be on hand to sign the bill on Sunday. By then, Democrats think they will have finally closed the deal.
“The president believes right now the place for him to be is in Washington seeing this through,” said White House Spokesperson Robert Gibbs.
One appearance still on schedule is his visit to George Mason University Friday. It will be a final local push to gain support for his massive health care legislation.
Thursday night, supporters were busy making phone calls and signs.
“Fortunately, this bill has tax credits in it... It will help small business owners like myself,” said Pat Worth, a health care reform supporter.
Thursday, the President got some good news from the nonpartisan congressional budget office.
He shared, “The reform we seek would bring 1.3 trillion in deficit reduction over the next two decades.”
The CBO says the bill will cost $940 billion over the next 10 years, extends Medicare’s solvency and expands coverage to 32 million Americans. Democratic leaders hope that will help in a battle with Republicans to lure fence-sitters to their side.
“There is no limit to what the other side will do to protect the insurance companies,” said Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
About two dozen democrats remain undecided.
Rep. Baron Hill said, “I need to see the final version. Cross the T’s and dot the I’s.”
Meanwhile, Republicans are marching in lockstep opposition to the bill .
“I have three simple questions, Ms Pelosi. Are you so arrogant? Are you so ignorant? And are you so incompetent that you are going to ignore the Constitution of the United States?” said Rep. Phil Broun.
Thomas Rackowski is one Virginian not planning on attending Friday’s rally.
Rackowski said, “I don’t really think it’s going to solve any issues...It’s going to raise taxes.”
The rally will start at 11:30 p.m. at the Patriot Center.
She was 15 at the time of the crime. Not many 15 year old females are FOR the death of anyone.
At 15, did you think much about the death penalty? Probably not. I’ll give her a pass on that.
She had the bravery to face this all the way through.
Good. Now burn in Hell for all Eternity.
Kristie was all of 13 years old (eighth grader) when this happened. She probably hadn’t given the issue much thought at that age.
She was brutalized by this attack and it’s only by a miracle of God that she lived to testify. I know the family and I am glad, so glad, that this horrific “man” has been permanently taken care of.
I’m surprised he didn’t manage to get married and have children during that time.
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