Posted on 07/26/2013 11:28:30 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Alabama executed a convicted murderer on Thursday who prisoners' rights groups said was mentally ill.
Andrew Reid Lackey, 29, was put to death by lethal injection at Holman Prison in Atmore, Alabama, prison officials said. It was the state's first execution since 2011. Lackey was convicted of killing Charlie Newman, an 80-year-old World War Two veteran in Athens, Alabama.
Andrew Reid Lackey, who was executed by Alabama on Thursday, was prescribed multiple psychotropic drugs, according to the Equal Justice Initiative.
Lackey made no statement before his execution, according to prison officials. He was pronounced dead at 6:25 p.m. local time (7:25 p.m. ET). Newman's grandson had told Lackey that his grandfather had a vault filled with gold bars, according to court documents.
On a 911 recording from Newman's home, the veteran's last words were, "Come sit down and let me pray for you." He was trying to calm Lackey, who was a close friend of his grandson, according to court record.
(Excerpt) Read more at usnews.nbcnews.com ...
He didnt mean it.
I agree. In fact, a mentally ill murderer seems even more dangerous to me. Aside from accidental or self-defense killings, I’m not sure why any murderer’s excuse amounts to a reason not to execute them.
If he was mentally ill, why was he loose in the public domain?
What? Are they crazy?
Stupid is as stupid does. Where do you think he’s spending eternity? Who’s the idiot?
Dogs that are dangerous are put down, and no one ever tries to save them on the basis that they had a bad puppyhood or are incapable of knowing right from wrong. It’s a matter of public safety.
The execution of murderers (mentally ill or not) should be in the same category. They have demonstrated behavior that is incompatible with the safety and well-being of others. Putting them in prison does not do much to restrain that behavior, since the prison is then in the position of having to take extraordinary measures to isolate those murderers from the other prisoners, and to protect the guards. Execute them, and more prison resources can be turned towards rehabilitating the other prisoners.
There’s a classic rule under the English Common Law that if a person does not have the mental capacity to “make their peace with their Maker” they cannot be executed.
Under that rule, Ricky Rector should not have been executed.
But, simply being mentally ill does not by itself mean a person is unable to “make peace with their Maker”.
He’s spending eternity no where.
I've never understood that one either.
You have no idea.
You made a wrong turn. This is Free Republic, not Democrat Underground.
The prisoners rights group should take the positive view...his mental illness has been cured.
My sense is that refusing to execute murderers sends the message that life is cheap.
The number of murderers who lack the mental capacity to make their peace with their Maker is very small.
I know where I am. I was unaware that conservatism required superstition.
Any murder overlooked says that life is cheap.
An execution deferred due to inability to repent says that the salvation of your soul is invaluable.
Oh well. Guess they cured his mental illness.
NEXT!
Garbage pickup, aisle 6!
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