Posted on 01/12/2017 8:18:32 AM PST by Beautiful_Gracious_Skies
Facing overwhelming evidence against him and a possible death penalty, Esteban Santiago's legal team has only two realistic options, experts say: Try to make a swift plea agreement or pursue an insanity defense. Neither of those choices is a sure thing,....
Santiago, 26, is accused of fatally shooting five people and injuring six others last week at the international airport in Fort Lauderdale. -snip-
"But you're not defending against guilt in these types of cases, you're defending against the punishment. ... -snip-
Federal prosecutors rarely seek a death sentence and even more rarely persuade jurors that execution is appropriate. The federal death penalty is completely separate to Florida's ... [which] has been very frequently sought and imposed.
The federal death penalty statute is different: After determining guilt, federal jurors issue a separate verdict — which is not a recommendation and must be followed by the trial judge — on whether the person should be executed. A unanimous verdict for death is required. Only 63 people are on federal death row, ... -snip-
"If they don't seek the death penalty, it will be because of his history of mental health problems, the fact that he is a veteran who served in Iraq — we [society] treat veterans differently — and he went to the government looking for help with his problems before the crime,"... a plea agreement that would avoid a trial and guarantee multiple life terms in prison for Santiago -snip-
The initial decision on whether to seek death is made by U.S. Attorney Wifredo Ferrer but the U.S. Attorney General would have to sign off on it....
(Excerpt) Read more at touch.sun-sentinel.com ...
If the prosecution seeks the death penalty, that will most likely be how Santiago's defense lawyer plans to explain his actions. Whether these claims or true or not, it sure lays the foundation for every other calculating killer to jump on the band wagon and escape justice for their actions.
Since Santiago was hospitalized and examined only briefly after going to the FBI asking for help there's a good chance he will use that to escape capital prosecution. The fact that both federal and Alaskan authorities returned his gun to him prior to the airport shooting will additionally become a huge issue.
Gee, why isn’t he being referred to by his Islamic name?
I mean, if he IDENTIFIES as a Muzzie, shouldn’t we honor his request and treat him as such?
Dust off ol’ Sparky...
Maybe he should try the Hillary Defense:
I didn’t intend to Violate Any LAWS, I was merely following my destiny to commit jihad in the name of Islam as commanded by Sharia. Islam is a Religion of Peace.
I vote for lethal injection or the electric chair.
Why offer him a plea deal? The only reason to offer one IMO is if it will be hard to convict him, or if you want him to rat on some accomplices. He acted alone and they’ve got him on video and people saw him. Open and shut case.
How about “dead man walking”?
He tried to pre-position himself for an insanity plea. We’ll see if it works.
I guess that’s the latest trend - I’m not a homegrown terrorist, I’m just crazy.
They missed one option. An Obama pardon. Because the victims were all infidels.
Will the media finally admit that this POS is a muzzie?
“I vote for lethal injection or the electric chair.”
I know that everyone wants this guy dead including me, but ignoring the expense of incarceration, it might be more cruel ( and hence good) to put him away for the rest of his life. Dying is the easiest way out for him.
The latest articles are fully denying the muzzie association. The focus is 100% on the mental health status.
Read this complete article, it’s primarily the opinions of legal experts that have prosecuted or defended similar cases.
It would have been much better if the state of Florida was prosecuting the case than the federal government. Only 63 inmates sit on federal death row. The last two executions were in 2001 & 2003.
The Ministry of Propaganda is doing their best to keep any mention of his jihadist intentions out of their coverage.
I’m with you. He made too many plans and carried them out .
1. Stopped by FBI to exhibit mental defect
2. Cooperated enough with psychiatric doctors
3. Tried to get the gun back 11/30
4. Went and got the gun back 12/7
5. Reserved a plane ticket to NYC for NY Eve
6. Cancelled the ticket and rebooked to FLL
7. Pawned his laptop to pay for stuff
8. Checked the gun and amno w/out incidence
9. Remained calm to fly Anchorage to MN/St.P
10. Changed flights to fly into FLL, again cool style
11. Collects his bag and loads the weapon in secret
12. Selects victims and executes them in cold blood.
13. Lays down and awaits arrest w/out incident
They forgot: “Pardon by Obama.”
No raisins = insanity.
Its explosive. The 5th victim was the intended target Christopher Prather a CH47 load master at Lackland and also worked for Dyncorp. It was initially announced then changed. The other victims were cover murders.
Webb implicates McCain,Rubio and Graham in the now “Senate oil arms rape and drub club” He lays it all out. Drugs are being run in through Texas with Rick Perrys’ knowledge and assistance just like Mena in the 80’s. My God.
Please deal is unnecessary given the evidence. Insanity is a lie and should be rejected by the court. I’ll take Door #3.
There is no damned excuse for a “plea deal.” And there is no valid “insanity” defense unless the American judicial system is ready to ascribe Insanity to all Moslems and give them that pass for all their interactions with the criminal justice system.
We are past the inhuman “death penalty” now. Give him a compassionate and very short Life Sentence.
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