Sunday, January 20, 2013
Arkansas Frank Williams Jr.
He arrived on Death Row on February 2, 1993.
While guilt is not an issue, at present execution seems very unlikely.
Arkansas - Christina Riggs, executed
Christina Riggs was convicted of murdering her two children and subsequently sentenced to death despite the fact that she nearly succeeded in taking her own life the same evening. Christina was suffering from a very deep depression and apparently did
not want to have her children split up after her own suicide as the children had different fathers. This is a perfect example of misapplied justice, in my opinion. Christina nearly did end her own life, and repeatedly stated she would prefer to in fact die. This is no different then suicide by police. Even if you choose to be pro-death penalty, it's a huge stretch to apply it here.
The State of Arkansas put a woman to death tonight for the first time since the state began performing executions in 1913.
The woman, Christina Marie Riggs, 28, a former nurse, was put to death by lethal injection for killing her two children, Justin, 5, and Shelby Alexis, 2, in November 1997. Ms. Riggs admitted killing the children, and explained that she was deeply depressed at the time. She said she gave her son potassium chloride and morphine and when that did not kill him, she smothered him with a pillow. Then she smothered her daughter to death. She also tried to kill herself with potassium chloride.
Potassium chloride was one of the three drugs the state used in executing Ms. Riggs tonight.
The lethal injection was administered 9:18 p.m. Central Standard Time, and Ms. Riggs was pronounced dead at 9:28 p.m.
Before the injection was administered she made a statement that began, ''No words can express just how sorry I am for taking the lives of my babies. No way I can make up for or take away the pain I have caused everyone who knew and loved them.'' After the injection was administered, her last words were, ''I love you, my babies.''
Source
Lance Morrow: Why I changed my mind on the death penalty
The state of Arkansas played the part of Jack Kevorkian in a case of
assisted suicide. Christina Riggs said she wanted to die. She had
dropped all legal appeals. She wanted to be with her children in heaven.
Just before Riggs died, she said, "I love you, my babies." Some people
said she had killed them because she was severely depressed. The
prosecutor, on the other hand, called her "a self-centered, selfish,
premeditated killer who did the unspeakable act of taking her own
children's lives."
Read More
Arkansas - Jack Greene
Jack Greene shot his own brother, stole his car and left for Arkansas. He then invaded the Johnson County home of 69-year-old Sidney Burnett on July 23, 1991 whom he also killed.
No further information is available on his victims.
Arrived on Death Row October 15, 1992
On December 09, 1999- Convicted killer Jack Gordon Greene, scheduled to be executed Tuesday, has apparently changed his mind about wanting to die and now wants the state supreme Court to hear his case.Greene, who had waived his right to appeal, is seeking to change attorneys and delay his execution so that the high court can consider his case.
Currently housed at: Varner Supermax, P.O. Box 400, Grady, AR 71644-0600
Arkansas - Don W. Davis
Arrived on Death row March 6th, 1992.
Currently housed at: Varner Supermax, P.O. Box 400, Grady, AR 71644-0600
His photo prior to time spent on death row:
Arkansas - Bruce Earl Ward
Learn more about the victim, Rebecca Doss
He has been on death row since 1990.
Execution Warrant was signed for August 16, 2011 for which he was granted a stay.
Currently housed at: Varner Supermax, P.O. Box 400, Grady, AR 71644-0600
.
Arkansas - Roger Coulter
Arrival Date: October 27, 1989 (longest serving inmate)
Currently housed at: Varner Supermax, P.O. Box 400, Grady, AR 71644-0600
Roger Lewis COULTER, Petitioner, v. STATE of Arkansas, Respondent.
No. CR 90-126. -- December 01, 2005 Denied
Currently housed at: Varner Supermax, P.O. Box 400, Grady, AR 71644-0600
Roger Lewis COULTER, Petitioner, v. STATE of Arkansas, Respondent.
No. CR 90-126. -- December 01, 2005 Denied
Ark. governor reverses course on death penalty
Beebe said he changed his mind about the death penalty after having to sign his first death warrant. "The
awesome burden of being the last person to have to sign one of those
things sobers you differently than talking about it in the abstract,"
Beebe said.
Capital Punishment Defined, Part I
Alabama
Capital Punishment
Allowable
Mitigating Circumstances
Mitigating if defendant under influence of extreme mental or emotional disturbance; forbid execution of "insane" person
Minimum Age
No minimum age but age is a mitigating circumstance
Available for Crimes other then Murder
No
Definition of Capital Murder
Homicide during the commission of kidnapping; robbery; rape/sodomy; burglary; sexual abuse; arson; hijacking; murder of police officer or public official while on duty or when related to or caused by or is related to his official position, act, or capacity; murder for pecuniary or other valuable consideration; two or more persons murdered in same act/course of conduct; victim less than 14 years old; murder under life sentence; murder during arson or by means of explosives; murder by defendant who has previously been convicted of murder within 20 years; murder of witness in civil or criminal trial when murder is caused by or related to the testimony; murder during act of unlawfully assuming control of any aircraft; murder when deadly weapon is fired outside of a dwelling when victim is in dwelling; murder by deadly weapon used from or within a vehicle.
Arkansas
Capital Punishment
Allowable
Mitigating Circumstances
If no aggravating circumstances are found or if mitigating circumstances outweigh aggravating circumstances, the court shall impose life in prison without parole; no defendant with mental retardation at the time of committing murder shall be sentenced to death
Minimum Age
Chronological age does not necessarily control jury's determination.
Available for Crimes other then MurderTreason
Definition of Capital Murder
Homicide committed by a person incarcerated for felony conviction; committed by person unlawfully at liberty after being imprisoned for felony conviction; use of threat or violence in commission of felony; knowingly created grave risk of death to person other than victim or caused the death of more than one person in the same criminal episode; committed in order to prevent arrest or escape custody; committed for pecuniary gain; committed for purposes of disrupting/hindering lawful exercise of any government or political function; especially cruel or depraved manner by use of torture or methods evidencing the defendant's pleasure in committing the murder; committed by means of destructive explosive, bomb, similar device
Arizona
Capital Punishment
Allowable
Mitigating Circumstances
Effect of Defendant's Incapacity considered mitigating circumstance
Minimum Age
15
Available for Crimes other then MurderNo
Definition of Capital Murder
Previous capital convictions or homicides; previous conviction of a "serious offense"; previous felonies with use or threat of violence; knowingly created grave risk of death to persons in addition to victim; procured commission of offense by payment; especially heinous, cruel or depraved manner; adult person and victim under 15 or over 70; victim on duty peace officer and defendant knew or should have known; in custody of state dept. of corrections, law enforcement agency or jail at time of homicide
Capital Punishment
Allowable
Mitigating Circumstances
Mitigating if defendant under influence of extreme mental or emotional disturbance; forbid execution of "insane" person
Minimum Age
No minimum age but age is a mitigating circumstance
Available for Crimes other then Murder
No
Definition of Capital Murder
Homicide during the commission of kidnapping; robbery; rape/sodomy; burglary; sexual abuse; arson; hijacking; murder of police officer or public official while on duty or when related to or caused by or is related to his official position, act, or capacity; murder for pecuniary or other valuable consideration; two or more persons murdered in same act/course of conduct; victim less than 14 years old; murder under life sentence; murder during arson or by means of explosives; murder by defendant who has previously been convicted of murder within 20 years; murder of witness in civil or criminal trial when murder is caused by or related to the testimony; murder during act of unlawfully assuming control of any aircraft; murder when deadly weapon is fired outside of a dwelling when victim is in dwelling; murder by deadly weapon used from or within a vehicle.
Arkansas
Capital Punishment
Allowable
Mitigating Circumstances
If no aggravating circumstances are found or if mitigating circumstances outweigh aggravating circumstances, the court shall impose life in prison without parole; no defendant with mental retardation at the time of committing murder shall be sentenced to death
Minimum Age
Chronological age does not necessarily control jury's determination.
Available for Crimes other then MurderTreason
Definition of Capital Murder
Homicide committed by a person incarcerated for felony conviction; committed by person unlawfully at liberty after being imprisoned for felony conviction; use of threat or violence in commission of felony; knowingly created grave risk of death to person other than victim or caused the death of more than one person in the same criminal episode; committed in order to prevent arrest or escape custody; committed for pecuniary gain; committed for purposes of disrupting/hindering lawful exercise of any government or political function; especially cruel or depraved manner by use of torture or methods evidencing the defendant's pleasure in committing the murder; committed by means of destructive explosive, bomb, similar device
Arizona
Capital Punishment
Allowable
Mitigating Circumstances
Effect of Defendant's Incapacity considered mitigating circumstance
Minimum Age
15
Available for Crimes other then MurderNo
Definition of Capital Murder
Previous capital convictions or homicides; previous conviction of a "serious offense"; previous felonies with use or threat of violence; knowingly created grave risk of death to persons in addition to victim; procured commission of offense by payment; especially heinous, cruel or depraved manner; adult person and victim under 15 or over 70; victim on duty peace officer and defendant knew or should have known; in custody of state dept. of corrections, law enforcement agency or jail at time of homicide
American Justice
While American justice is still without a doubt the best system in the world as there are no secret police that will take you away from your home never to be seen again, it is hardly just for either criminals or victims. There is no neat linear system by which you know what you will pay for your crime at any given time or circumstance.
While lady liberty is supposed to be blindfolded, money easily tips the scales in the defendants favor, which is not supposed to happen.
"Imposition of the death penalty is arbitrary and capricious. Decision of who will live and who will die for his crime turns less on the nature of the offense and the incorrigibility of the offender and more on inappropriate and indefensible considerations: the political and personal inclinations of prosecutors; the defendant's wealth, race and intellect; the race and economic status of the victim; the quality of the defendant's counsel; and the resources allocated to defense lawyers."
-Gerald Heaney, former appellate judge
I will be providing you with you current capital punishment news, information regarding both defendants and victims (who should in no way be forgotten) and other things. My position is not in fact to change your opinion of capital punishment - but rather ask you to simply make an informed decision, not one based on what has been provided solely to you by the press, but other sources as well.
Welcome!
While lady liberty is supposed to be blindfolded, money easily tips the scales in the defendants favor, which is not supposed to happen.
"Imposition of the death penalty is arbitrary and capricious. Decision of who will live and who will die for his crime turns less on the nature of the offense and the incorrigibility of the offender and more on inappropriate and indefensible considerations: the political and personal inclinations of prosecutors; the defendant's wealth, race and intellect; the race and economic status of the victim; the quality of the defendant's counsel; and the resources allocated to defense lawyers."
-Gerald Heaney, former appellate judge
I will be providing you with you current capital punishment news, information regarding both defendants and victims (who should in no way be forgotten) and other things. My position is not in fact to change your opinion of capital punishment - but rather ask you to simply make an informed decision, not one based on what has been provided solely to you by the press, but other sources as well.
Welcome!
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