I believe CC's comments were not in reference to this most recent execution; I think they were about the execution of Cameron Todd Willingham, which took place in 2004.

I believe CC's comments were not in reference to this most recent execution; I think they were about the execution of Cameron Todd Willingham, which took place in 2004.

I firmly believe the State of Texas and Governor Rick Perry committed murder. What's worse, they show absolutely zero remorse about it.

Perry wasn't the judge and jury. This kid was found with a 15" stick with a screw on the end in her vagina. what more do you want? He's dead and no one cares. I don't hear any family crying. No. I have no remorse. Nada. Zero. Zilch...

I firmly believe the State of Texas and Governor Rick Perry committed murder. What's worse, they show absolutely zero remorse about it.

So, i'm coming in here a little late, as I just heard about this this morning.... but I'm curious C since you're in Tx... NPR made it out as tho it wasnt clear that he was guilty, sounded like she'd been at a party and in pretty bad shape and was gang raped.... he claims that he was taking her home and she was ranting, got out of the car and "hit her head" on a rock.... his DNA wasnt found on her...
is this the story? I know I should look it up.... it's been a long day.

I firmly believe the State of Texas and Governor Rick Perry committed murder. What's worse, they show absolutely zero remorse about it.

I followed that case, and that was really disgusting.

Honestly I have no knowledge of the details of the case, his defense, any of that. What little I read indicated the evidence was clear, but you never know. Supposedly the evidence was clear in another case, an arson case, and a man was executed. Turns out the arson investigators had practically no real training. Forensic experts have established the burn patterns that supposedly indicated arson (accelerant) can also be created by regular household combustibles. The Governor impeded the investigation at every turn, going so far as to remove several board members and replace the chairman. Of course this was long after the man was executed, but still.

google 'Cameron Todd Willingham' and see how disgusted you become.

So, i'm coming in here a little late, as I just heard about this this morning.... but I'm curious C since you're in Tx... NPR made it out as tho it wasnt clear that he was guilty, sounded like she'd been at a party and in pretty bad shape and was gang raped.... he claims that he was taking her home and she was ranting, got out of the car and "hit her head" on a rock.... his DNA wasnt found on her...
is this the story? I know I should look it up.... it's been a long day.

it's supposed to make you feel better....

From what I've read so far, he has been executed. But the headlines read; Mexican Executed. Why did the media put it that way?

From what I've read so far, he has been executed. But the headlines read; Mexican Executed. Why did the media put it that way?

Apparently the whole thing is a mess. The guy had been in the U.S. practically all his life, apparently has mental issues and was abused himself. Certainly he had no idea he could contact the consulate, and the Texas authorities either were not aware of his citizenship, or didn't know the law, or didn't feel it necessary to tell him about it.

The guy is a monster, there is no doubt about that. I won't shed a tear over him. But that doesn't mean we should not follow the laws, including the international treaties we have agreed to.

To quote Phil Ochs' song "The Iron Lady": "...a rich man never died upon the chair".  Just sayin'

I will agree with you. Without money and especially if you are of color, you will most likely be assigned a public defender who has already passed judgment on your case. And that can be in any case in any state. Looks like a good read though.

I will agree with you. Without money and especially if you are of color, you will most likely be assigned a public defender who has already passed judgment on your case. And that can be in any case in any state. Looks like a good read though.

I read a book recently called The Autobiography of an Execution by David R. Dow. The author is an attorney in Texas who specializes in death sentence appeals. Apparently a lot of the people on Death Row in Texas had extremely poor representation at trial - attorneys getting drunk during the trial, attorneys falling asleep in court, attorneys not cross-examining witnesses or investigating their clients' case at all. But since these issues aren't new evidence, they're not enough to overturn the verdict.

It's an eye-opening book. There are times when viscerally I just want a criminal to die for what he's done - child molesters, rapists, particularly brutal murderers. But I have serious doubts about whether that's justice or vengeance. It doesn't seem to be deterring anyone from committing crimes. And if a criminal knows he's going to be executed for what he's done, why wouldn't he just go on a big spree, then shoot it out with the cops when they catch him and go out in a blaze of glory? What's to stop him from being the worst, most violent nightmare in the prison system and killing a few of his fellow inmates and maybe some prison guards? 

The more I think about it, the less sense the death penalty makes to me.