Convicted killer in gay-bashing case set to die - 8th execution for Texas in 2003

Associated Press ^ | February 6, 2003 | Associated Press Staff

[MeekOneGOP]

Convicted killer in gay-bashing case set to die

02/06/2003

Associated Press

HUNTSVILLE, Texas - Convicted killer Henry Dunn Jr. says a murder conviction that earned him a trip to Texas' death row wasn't a gay-bashing hate crime, at least not on his part.

Dunn, 28, doesn't deny being present when 23-year-old Nicolas West was gunned down during an abduction and robbery near Tyler more than nine years ago, but says the man primarily to blame was a companion also condemned for the slaying.

"I did admit to being at the crime scene," Dunn said from a cage in the visiting area of death row. "I'm not saying I'm responsible."

Dunn faced lethal injection Thursday evening for West's slaying Nov. 30, 1993. He would be the eighth Texas inmate executed this year and second this week. Three more are scheduled for later this month.

Dunn was one day away from execution in May when the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals stopped his punishment so it could consider an appeal in which he claimed his earlier legal help was incompetent. The court later rejected the appeal, lifted its reprieve and Thursday's death date was set.

The U.S. Supreme Court was considering a request to review the case and halt the execution.

Donald Aldrich, now 38, also is on death row for the West killing. A third man, David Ray McMillan, received a life prison term.

Also Online

	Texas Executions: Coverage from TXCN.com
	Offender profile: Henry Dunn Jr.
Related links
	Texas Department of Criminal Justice
	Scheduled executions
	Offenders on death row

Dunn was 19 and McMillan 17 at the time of the slaying. Aldrich was on parole after a pair of burglary and robbery convictions.

Authorities believed Aldrich was the leader of what became know as the "CB gang" -- because they first became acquainted over CB radios -- that for months preyed on homosexuals in the Tyler area.

"I don't hate homosexuals," Dunn said last week. "That's their right to be that way if they want to."

West, a medical clerk in Tyler, was abducted from a city park known as a homosexual meeting spot. Taken to a remote area of Smith County, he was stripped, ordered to his knees and shot as many as 15 times.

"This is a crime that got out of control," Dunn said. "That's what happened."

Aldrich had lured West under the guise of seeking sex, then drove away with him. Dunn said he and McMillan were waiting nearby. According to a plan carried out several times before, Dunn and McMillan followed them out of town where the trio then could rob the unsuspecting victim.

"Aldrich was mad because the dude didn't give him all his money," Dunn said.

"It was a deliberate, preplanned, cold-blooded kidnapping and murder," Smith County District Attorney Jack Skeen said. "This wasn't an isolated incident by them in these types of attacks but the violence stepped up in this one and went all the way to kidnaping and murder."

Aldrich said at his trial it was Dunn who started the gunfire. Dunn replied from death row he could "not positively say" he did any shooting.

Evidence showed he used a .357-caliber Magnum and his shot to West's head was the last of the more than a dozen bullets and a shotgun blast fired into the victim.

West's body was found two days later. Dunn was arrested driving West's truck.

Dunn, formerly a fast-food restaurant worker, was among seven death row inmates who tried to escape from prison Thanksgiving night 1998. Only one, Martin Gurule, cleared a pair of fences that surrounded the Ellis Unit prison northeast of Huntsville. He was found drowned a week later. He never made it off prison property.

Dunn and the other five were stopped by the razor-tipped wire fences and gunfire from corrections officers.

As a result of the escape, death row was moved to the more restrictive Polunsky Unit near Livingston, about 45 miles east of Huntsville.

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Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dallas/tsw/stories/020603dntexexecute.29c4747c.html

[Sparta]

All's well that ends well. Good riddance.

[MeekOneGOP]

You know...I see a statement like this in the media and wonder how much of it was scripted for him by someone (media or anti-death penalty activists)...

In a written statement released following his death, he complained that the death penalty in Texas is "broke." He said unqualified attorneys were appointed for him under state law.

"Texas has executed innocent people, and tonight, Texas has shown just how broke and unfair its system is," he said.

Dunn accused the state of having no clemency and urged politicians to work to "fix the Texas justice system" and continue to "work for a moratorium on the death penalty in Texas."

In the signed statement, he urged his family and friends to "continue to struggle and fight against the death penalty as its only use has been for revenge and it does not deter crime."

[MeekOneGOP]

You are the first one on the ping list. Thanks for the prodding/encouragement. I thought about starting such a ping list but I wasn't sure how well received it might be. I think justice is served in Texas.

[No Truce With Kings]

"Please let me know if you want on this new ping list."

Why not? It will force me to think up new word plays involving needles.

[BenR2]

The State of Texas Dept. of Corrections also has a last dinner request menu that can get rather bizzare. James Collier requested and received thirty jumbo shrimp, cocktail sauce, baked potato, French fries, ketchup, butter, one t-bone steak, one chocolate malt, one gallon of vanilla ice cream, and three cans of Big Red before he was dripped away, years after his victims died.

/ / / / / /
Damn, after a meal like that, would I hate to be the undertaker who has to clean out his undershorts once sentence has been carried out!

[BenR2]

Wait: something isn't adding up here: First, this criminal was sentenced for murdering a homosexual before hate crimes legislation had been enacted; and, second, the assailants were not white!

[SpookBrat]

"Dunn accused the state of having no clemency and urged politicians to work to "fix the Texas justice system"

No thanks. Works just fine. Bubbye!

Add me to your ping list Meek.

[SpookBrat]

"No one will stand for poor Mr. Dunn. The NYT will not call for commutation of his sentence, hell, they won't even mention his name."

Hypocrites, eh? My, my, my...I never thought I would live to see liberals being hypocritical.

HA!

[MeekOneGOP]

Well, that happens when you elect a guy like Rick Perry, I guess. Not like it was under that fellow that had to resign the governorship and leave town - didn't he give a 30 day stay to a pickaxe murderer a few years ago?

He may have, I don't know. But if he did, it was a conscious decision, not a whiney whimpering bleeding heart type thing. The governors power is restricted to the 30 day type, not the Illinois 'set 'em all free' type, fyi...

[vinylsidingman]

it does not deter crime."

oh really,,, kinda tough committing any crime from 6 foot under

[MeekOneGOP]

lol ! You're on FRiend...

[MeekOneGOP]

Sure, Miss Spookie. You're on. Give the hubster my regards, my FRiend.

I hope everything is going well for ya'll...

[xJones]

Last meals.You see, in Texas we have gone to lethal injection, but the dear soon-to-be-departed murderers are well fed if they so request.

.Meek, if you've got a new ping list going, put me on it. Thank you as always.

[groundhog]

"he urged his family and friends to "continue to struggle and fight against the death penalty as its only use has been for revenge and it does not deter crime" It sure is going to deter his sorry butt from committing another crime.

Governor Ryan (of Illinois) cleared out his death row his way, Texas is clearing ours out our way.

[xJones]

Governor Ryan (of Illinois) cleared out his death row his way, Texas is clearing ours out our way.

The riot about Ryan's clearances is that many of the death row prisoners don't want to be put in the general prison populance. It's too dangersous out there.

[Bonaparte]

Thanks for flagging me, MnM. And yes, please keep me on your ping list!

[RushLake]

Goodie, he made the obligatory apology and begged the family for forgiveness. Always a nice touch!

[BlueLancer]

"You ought to start a Texas execution ping list."

Add my name as well.

[MeekOneGOP]

Thanks. You're on, my FRiend !

[MeekOneGOP]

#56 & #58: Ya'll are added. Thank you...