Posted on 12/22/2010 3:17:29 PM PST by jazusamo
The father and son convicted in the bomb explosion that killed two police officers at a Woodburn bank should both be put to death, a jury decided today.
The unanimous decision by the jury of nine women and three men, makes Bruce Turnidge and his son, Joshua Turnidge, the 35th and 36th inmates of Oregon’s death row. The Oregon Supreme Court will automatically review the decision to impose a death.
Joshua Turnidge's expression didn't change as Marion County Circuit Judge Thomas Hart read the verdict. His father's back was to the camera so his expression wasn't visible. Both men were led out of the courtroom in handcuffs.
Jurors earlier this month convicted both men of aggravated murder in the blast at a West Coast Bank branch. The officers were trying to dismantle a bomb planted as part of a robbery attempt when it went off inside the bank on Dec. 12, 2008.
The jury deliberated about four hours today and Tuesday on Joshua Turnidge’s sentence and less than five hours for his father last week. The verdict for Bruce Turnidge was held under seal pending a decision on his son’s sentence.
Jurors also could have sentenced the men to life in prison without parole or life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years.
Janet Turnidge, the wife of Bruce Turnidge and mother of Joshua Turnidge, left the courthouse with family and friends after the verdicts. Surrounded by a crush of reporters on the courthouse steps, she looked somber and said she was praying for the family of the two officers who died.
She had no direct comment about the death sentences, other than to say: "It's all in god's hands."
Ping!
Are we sure this wasn’t a political thing? Those crazy socialist “anarchist” groups are big out there.
Story continued at link
Two more who will live a life of ease and pleasure at the taxpayers expense. Perhaps up the road a lucrative book contract with movie rights.
“She had no direct comment about the death sentences, other than to say: “It’s all in god’s hands.”
The small ‘g’ God was the reporter on the paper.
I followed this from the death of the two officers and believe it’s the right verdict and sentence.
Yep, that’s the Oregonian for you.
“The small ‘g’ God was the reporter on the paper.”
Columbia grad? One of Zero’s pals?
The death penalty was made formally legal in Oregon in 1864. Since then, capital punishment has been voted out twice, and struck down once by the state’s Supreme Court, each time being reinstated again as law.
In 1997, Harry Charles Moore became the 60th person executed in the state.
Thanks for the history, let’s hope they keep it that way.
Seems to me the fact that they were police officers in irrelevant. All murderers should get the needle, rope, bullet etc. Simultaneously would be best.
“In 1997, Harry Charles Moore became the 60th person executed in the state.”
These guys have 30+ people in front of them waiting for the death penalty. It has been 13 years since the last execution. (Using solar panels to charge up the batteries for the next 100,000 volt jolt?) They should just give them life, no parole and forget about them.
It costs more to the state for a death penalty because of the endless lawyer costs for appeals.
I agree, murderes of anyone deserve a death sentence.
Not to excuse the murders but this is fatal stupidity.
Putting a bomb inside a building magnifies the blast by containing and reflecting the concussion wave.
What you have here is a collection of arrogant senior police officers who probably have no experience with bombs who decided that rather than bring in professionals decided to defuse the bomb themselves.
It was Hakim, they said, who was banging on the bomb with a hammer and prying it open with a crowbar, showed recklessness in handling the device. A witness testified that the bomb went off just as Hakim said, “There, I got it” and was opening the sealed portion that included the explosive
The only thing missing here is the Chief saying “Here hold my beer while I take care of this.”
The defendants still deserve to die but these LEO’s brought this on themselves by there own arrogance.
They didn’t “bring it on themselves” unless they built the bomb. They may have been ignorant about the way to diffuse a bomb, but they are not to blame because a couple of craven sociopaths decided to use a live bomb to rob a bank.
I still have not heard one iota about a motive. There’s something fishy about this case. No, I’m not saying they’re not guilty, just that a lot of this is being kept hushed up.
No they are to blame because they knew what the right thing to do was and they went ahead and did what they knew to be wrong anyway.
These were senior experienced officers. But out of arrogance they decided they knew better than standard policies dealing with possible bombs and moved the bomb themselves and then tried to open it with hammers and crowbars.
If that is not the definition of willful ignorance I am at a loss for a better one.
Yes the father and son team is as guilty as sin for the death of the officers but these LEO’s are as much to blame for their deaths as anyone else.
Think of this bomb as a firearm. Treat every firearm as if it is loaded until proven otherwise. These LEO’s should have treated this bomb likewise. It was a bomb until it was proven not to be a bomb.
Their company was going broke. They wanted money. They figured robbing a bank was the way to go.
That was my understanding also, they needed the money.
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