Posted on 02/15/2002 6:33:52 PM PST by cactmh
Friday, February 15, 2002
Guards acquitted on all charges in slaying of death row inmate
By RON WORD|
Associated Press Writer
STARKE, Fla. (AP) ‹ Three former prison guards charged with murder in the stomping death of a death row inmate were acquitted of all charges Friday.
Capt. Timothy Thornton, 36, and Sgts. J.D. Griffis and Charles Brown, both 28, were charged with second-degree murder in the July 17, 1999, slaying of inmate Frank Valdes at Florida State Prison. The jury of five men and one woman deliberated for 3 hours before returning its verdict.
The former officers hugged their attorneys when the verdicts were read. The guards were also accused of conspiracy to commit aggravated battery, battery on an inmate, and official misconduct. Thornton faced an additional charge of accessory after the fact.
Prosecutors had alleged Valdes was beaten to keep him from talking to reporters about mistreatment of inmates. The attorneys for the guards argued that some of the five corrections officers to be tried later may have been responsible for killing Valdes. They also argued some of Valdes¹ injuries were caused by his climbing the bars in his cell and throwing himself onto the floor and his bunk. Defense attorneys also said some of his ribs may have been broken when guards were performing CPR.
Two medical examiners who examined Valdes¹ body determined he was stomped to death. ŒŒYou jump up in the air and you come down with your feet on somebody,¹¹ Dr. Ronald Wright, a former South Florida medical examiner, said during earlier testimony.
Valdes had fractures of his sternum, vertebrae, nose and jaw, along with numerous internal injuries. There were boot prints on his face, neck, abdomen and back, according to autopsy reports. Valdes had 22 broken ribs. ŒŒOnce you get this many rib fractures, you can¹t breathe,¹¹ Wright said. Valdes, 36, was sentenced to death for the 1987 murder of Fred Griffis, 40. He was not related to defendant Jason Griffis.
Fred Griffis, a corrections officer at Glades Correctional Institution, was shot to death when Valdes and another man attempted to free an inmate in a prison van outside a West Palm Beach doctor¹s office.
From what I've read throughout this whole ordeal, this animal called Valdes got exactly what he had coming. Not only was he on Death Row, he was on the section on Death Row where the animals among the animals are stored. These officers did us a favor in my opinion. Five more officers will be on trial later this year.
Saved us some bigbucks.
From the article......
"Prosecutors had alleged Valdes was beaten to keep him from talking to reporters about mistreatment of inmates. The attorneys for the guards argued that some of the five corrections officers to be tried later may have been responsible for killing Valdes."
Your comments imply that you think these gaurds were guilty. If so then you must approve of killing people to keep them from talking.
The erosion of the "Rule of Law" occurs because of attitudes such as yours.
There is nothing this PoS could have said that any reasonable person would want to hear. Oh, I am suuure he had sooo much to say about how things were not being done properly being suuuch an expert and all. Now he is just an X.
Removing him from this world 10 years sooner saved millions in court costs, imprisonment expenses and possibly even lives.
Were you at the trial? I have no idea if he was guilty or not, convince me he was and I still would not agree he should have been brutalized and killed.
I will concede they saved the state money. If that is your motive for your wanting him killed, just eliminate the death penalty and save a lot more.
You seem pleased with the manner in which he was killed. Why? Do you harbour hate for this man?
You stated..."There is nothing this PoS could have said that any reasonable person would want to hear. "
Justshutupandtakeit(your screen name fits).
Judgement is mine, sayeth the Lord.
You all have a nice day now. You hear?
Perhaps you could go into death row and council the inmates on anger management?
You seem pleased with the manner in which he was killed. Why? Do you harbour hate for this man?
Perhaps if someone ever brutally murders a family member you will be able to understand why some do hate this man. I've never lost a family member to murder, however, I can certainly imagine how it would feel. Of course, you're such a moron you'd probably try to spare the guys life even if he did kill somone in your family. You've obviously been brainwashed.
;>) regards.
Some people clearly need killing and you can get your panties in a twist over this case but don't expect me to; call Amenesty International and get them on the case.
I will let the Lord judge his soul gladly but that means it will have to be separated from his body. So be it.
Would I want to be locked in there with them? No.
Does the fact that you are apparently an xcon give you some kind of credibility? No.
Comparing Frank Valdes to the average run of the mill scum such as yourself is silly. He was not just a criminal. He was a vicous animal and I am not too upset that he's gone. He was already sentenced to the death penatly...
I suppose that a prison is the real world? Only for you buddy, only for you. BTW, I have family who used to be on the "goon" squad a long time ago. Maybe he gave you an ass whipping?
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