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Originally Posted by Sun Tzu
....I don’t mean this question to be passive aggressive, and if this applies to anyone here and they choose not to answer I understand.. I’m asking this with a perspective of sincere interest . Is there anyone here that has had something terrible happen to someone they love by a criminal and does not support the death penalty?
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Why is your question even relevant, if we're talking about justice in the context of a system of law? The abuses of the system are there. For every question designed to conjure up emotion based arguments, there is the reality of the unfairness and abuse of the justice system's responsibility for investigating, prosecuting and bringing justice to the guilty:
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http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/01/11/il...row/index.html
'Blanket commutation' empties Illinois death row
Incoming governor criticizes decision
From Jeff Flock
CNN
Monday, January 13, 2003 Posted: 1:54 AM EST (0654 GMT)
....Prosecutor: 'They've had their years in court'
Friday's pardons, coupled with early word that the governor was planning to issue commutations, sparked outrage from prosecutors and family members of victims. ....
....."I believe that he is wiping his muddy shoes on the face of victims, using them as the doormat as he leaves his office," said Peoria County State's Attorney Kevin Lyons on CNN's NewsNight. "It says much more about George Ryan than it does about the death penalty."
Ollie Dodds, whose daughter died in the fire Hobley was convicted of setting and remains convinced he is responsible, said, "This brings back memories just like it happened."
Lyons accused Ryan of arrogantly substituting his own judgment for those of juries and courts that have imposed and upheld the death sentences, assuming that "none of us get it but him."
"Everybody has had not their day in court, they've had their years in court," Lyons said. "It's shameful that the victims of this state, in fact, have to not fear the courts, not the defense lawyers, not the defendants, but they have to fear their very own governor."
Ryan said he decided to pardon the four men rather than commute their sentences to life because he is convinced they did not commit the crimes that sent them to death row. All four men say they were tortured by police....
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Later, it turned out that former Illinois Gov. Ryan was found guilty of charges of corruption and has now <a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&q=ryan+illinois+reports+prison&btnG=Search">reported to prison to begin serving his own sentence.</a> What is easier to take, a governor later convicted of corruption who commuted all death sentences in response to his determination that justice was not equally and fairly served, or a former governor in a state known for injustice and questionable prosecution, and a poorly structured clemency board, who signs a record number of death warrants as governor, more than all other states combined in the same time period, with the help of a close legal counsel who later is revealed as a corrupt and rabidly partisan US atty. general, while the former governor goes on to act like a war criminal POTUS, and an advocate and authorizer of torture......
I prefer the jailed ex-gov. Ryan, how about you?
Here is a Texas woman initially convicted of killing her five children. Are her crimes any less an offense to our sensibilities than the ones described in this thread's OP....three more killings...young innocent lives snuffed out by a parent....or does the torture killings of two, trump the drowning of five? Is it even relevant? Should the killer of five be treated with less deference, in the same state, as the killers described in the thread OP? Why?
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http://dying.about.com/od/suddendeath/a/yates.htm
Postpartum Psychosis Defense Works in 2006
In her second trial in 2006 Andrea Yates was found not guilty by reason of insanity of systematically drowning her 5 children in 2001. This acquittal means that instead of spending life in prison for the 5 murders, Yates will be committed to a state mental hospital.
In 2002 she was tried and convicted of murdering her 5 children, but the charges were overturned last year due to erroneous testimony.
Before announcing the verdict, this jury observed 10 minutes of silence, 2 minutes for each child. Foreman Todd Frank told "Good Morning America,"
"I honestly feel so peaceful right now that we made the right decision.We understand that she knew it was legally wrong. But in her delusional mind, in her severely mentally ill mind, we believe that she thought what she did was right."
Susan Dowd Stone, MSW, LCSW, President of Postpartum Support International, was encouraged by the verdict as "the appropriate recognition and characterization of postpartum psychosis." Postpartum Support International (PSI) is the world's largest organization offering support, referrals, education, training and resources to health care providers, women and their families coping with perinatal mood disorders.
Postpartum Psychosis Defense
In this trial Yates' attorneys never disputed that......
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