death penalty news--CALIFORNIA, LOUISIANA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To Multiple recipients of list From Rick Halperin Date Mon, 6 Apr 1998 11:24:08 -0500 Reply-To deathpenalty@assocdir.wuacc.edu Sender deathpenalty@assocdir.wuacc.edu -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Monday, April 6, 1998--- LOUISIANA: In Opeloussas, a victim's family persuaded prosecutors not to try to send serial killer John Malveaux to the death gurney. Malveaus, who had already pleaded guilty to killing 3 women, pleaded guilty Friday to killing Tammy Smith, 38, of Lafayette, and then got a 4th sentence of life in prison, DA Earl Taylor said he decided to allow the guilty plea after talking to Smith's family; her relatives were worried a trial would hurt Smith's children. Taylor said that "if it had been solely up to me, I would have sought the death penalty." Guilty pleas in cases such as these can be accepted only if prosecutors agree to a life sentence. Malveaux, 33, said he could not explain why he killed, but he stated that "I am not a killer. I am not a murderer. I have feelings. I am a ternderhearted person. I have feelings for all the families I have hurt. I pray for them." (source: Dallas Morning News)