Arkansas executes Ledell Lee in first death penalty use in 12 years

[Tallguy88]

Arkansas has executed Ledell Lee in the US state's first use of the death penalty in 12 years.

It came after the US Supreme Court rejected a challenge arguing Arkansas was unfairly rushing several executions before its supply of a lethal injection drug expires at the end of April.

...

He had been on death row for more than 20 years after he was convicted of beating Debra Reese to death with a tyre thumper in 1993.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/39662139

 

[Tallguy88]

I think "tyre" might be a British misspelling of "tire".

 

[bhsmte]

I am personally not big on capital punishment, but it is the law in some states and the supreme court has upheld the legality of capital punishment.

 

[Goonie]

I think "tyre" might be a British misspelling of "tire".

Or is it an american misspelling?

 

[dgiharris]

I am personally not big on capital punishment, but it is the law in some states and the supreme court has upheld the legality of capital punishment.

My biggest fear with Capital punishment cases is that our justice system isn't very good if you don't have a lot of money to pay for a good lawyer.

Public defender spends an average of 9 minutes on a case.

Even when they knuckle down and take your case, they end up spending less than 10% of the time that a hired defense attorney would spend on your case.

Beyond that, there is our whole system. Police plant evidence all the time when they "believe" that you are guilty. And then there is circumstantial evidence. If you are in the wrong place at the wrong time...

Add all that up, and it leads to an uncomfortable amount of innocent people being convicted of crimes. Granted, I have no hard numbers for what percentage of death row inmates are innocent.

 

[bhsmte]

My biggest fear with Capital punishment cases is that our justice system isn't very good if you don't have a lot of money to pay for a good lawyer.

Public defender spends an average of 9 minutes on a case.

Even when they knuckle down and take your case, they end up spending less than 10% of the time that a hired defense attorney would spend on your case.

Beyond that, there is our whole system. Police plant evidence all the time when they "believe" that you are guilty. And then there is circumstantial evidence. If you are in the wrong place at the wrong time...

Add all that up, and it leads to an uncomfortable amount of innocent people being convicted of crimes. Granted, I have no hard numbers for what percentage of death row inmates are innocent.

Main reason I am not for capital punishment.

 

[Tallguy88]

My biggest fear with Capital punishment cases is that our justice system isn't very good if you don't have a lot of money to pay for a good lawyer.

Public defender spends an average of 9 minutes on a case.

Even when they knuckle down and take your case, they end up spending less than 10% of the time that a hired defense attorney would spend on your case.

Beyond that, there is our whole system. Police plant evidence all the time when they "believe" that you are guilty. And then there is circumstantial evidence. If you are in the wrong place at the wrong time...

Add all that up, and it leads to an uncomfortable amount of innocent people being convicted of crimes. Granted, I have no hard numbers for what percentage of death row inmates are innocent.

In my state (the one in question) the public defenders in death penalty cases tend to be better than private attornies, since the public defenders have a much greater amount of experience with the cases. 99% of private criminal attornies will never argue a death penalty case.

 

[bhsmte]

In my state (the one in question) the public defenders in death penalty cases tend to be better than private attornies, since the public defenders have a much greater amount of experience with the cases. 99% of private criminal attornies will never argue a death penalty case.

That may be, but it does take a lot of money in our system to put up a robust defense. The hiring of experts for testimony and the research and investigation that has to be done, is typically not within the abilities of a public defenders office.

 

[TLK Valentine]

I am personally not big on capital punishment, but it is the law in some states and the supreme court has upheld the legality of capital punishment.

so long as due process is followed... Personally, I think we need a better reason to take shortcuts around it then "we gotta do this quick before our poison passes its expiration date!"

 

[Nithavela]

Or is it an american misspelling?

Now you're just being sillie.

 

[Tallguy88]

Two more executions done tonight.

Timeliness of events and description of their crimes.

The Jack Jones, Marcel Williams execution thread | Arkansas Blog

 

[Nithavela]

Wuuuuh! Death! Death! Death! Yeah!

 

[pat34lee]

Wuuuuh! Death! Death! Death! Yeah!

Death is not a cause for celebration. Justice served is the cause.

 

[Nithavela]

Death is not a cause for celebration. Justice served is the cause.

More cause for partying if you celebrate death. Just like that old Rick Springfield song.

 

[TLK Valentine]

Death is not a cause for celebration. Justice served is the cause.

Perhaps -- but remember what the reason was for the big hurry.

 

[Tallguy88]

Wuuuuh! Death! Death! Death! Yeah!

Please don't post mocking nonsense. No one here is celebrating these men's deaths.

 

[Nithavela]

Please don't post mocking nonsense. No one here is celebrating these men's deaths.

I am. Party at my house, bring your own bottle.

 

[Tallguy88]

Do it your own thread then. It's distasteful.

 

[TLK Valentine]

If this is not an event to be celebrated, why the hurry to do it?

 

[Paradoxum]

I think people have a right to life, and you should only kill if you have to. The death penalty is never needed because they can be locked up for life is necessary.