...it's not dark yet, but it's gettin' there...
I'm no criminal lawyer, but I think there's got to be some way to simplify a jury verdict form that's 42 pages long. That's just insane.
One interesting tidbit I gathered from the jury verdict (until I got bored and gave up reading it) was that the jury unanimously rejected two of the most often cited arguments against the death penalty in this case, namely
That a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of release . . . will be a more severe punishment . . . than a sentence of deathand
That the execution . . . will create a martyr for radical Muslim fundamentalists, and to al Qaeda in particular. [see pages 6 and 7]The jury unanimously refused to buy either argument.
But nine jurors seemed to agree that the touchy-feely rationales of "unstable childhood," "dysfunctional family," "physical and emotional abuse" blah blah blah, were mitigating factors in this case. [id.]
That's disturbing.
So let's say we catch OBL? If he claims a bad childhood would another jury let him off? Even if he killed 3000+ people, was unrepentant, and the jury agrees that life in prison is not the most severe punishment available? Dr. Laura should have sent the jury a copy of her book.
I don't know. I can't say I undersand how the jury came to its decision, and I don't really have time to study all 42 pages of this thing, but something stinks.
Anyways, I don't have a major problem with sticking the guy in jail for the rest of his life. Except for the fact that Amnesty will probably be agitating for his release within about six months. And how much you wanna bet the lefties will be carrying signs with his picture on it during the next anti-war rally. Right along with the free Mumia signs.
And how long do you think it will take for al Zarqawahiri to kidnap another hostage and then demand this guy's release from prison?
Oh well. They say he won't be in the general population, so there's little chance he'll get the shiv. But you know, these things have a way of happening, even when you think they won't. I wouldn't be surprised if ten years from now we hear about ZM's unexpected "suicide." If you know what I mean.
Findlaw link via Dr. Rusty.
[CP: A Western Heart]
I'll be surprised if he doesn't catch a shiv from some goofball with a swastika tattoo...
Posted by: BobG on May. 4, 2006" But you know, these things have a way of happening, even when you think they won't".
I don't think it be murdered. He will be protected by the black Muslim gangs that are active in prison these days
Posted by: Jake on May. 4, 2006In a supermax? He'll be lucky to hear a human voice once a month. My layman's guess is that this will accelerate his psychotic behavior. I'd like to buy the suicide in the first year block please.
Posted by: Casca on May. 4, 2006Actually Casca, Supermax is already under attack. I give it ten more years before the ACLU and Amnesty get it outlawed. The Wikipedia entry on ADX Florence, where ZM was housed is pretty worrisome. They took down a lot of the touchy feely stuff this morning, but here is a copy from the google cache:
"Psychological Effects
Many have argued that the psychological effects of long-term solitary confinement can be devastating. Prisoners may suffer from hallucinations, anxiety, problems with impulse control, and self-mutilation. In addition, confinement may encourage anger and rage, resulting in further violence. Depression may set in, with prisoners becoming extremely lethargic, losing memory, and refusing to exercise.
[edit]
Human Rights
Prisoners have complained about excessive steps taken by guards and officials in these types of facilities to control inmates. Constant surveillance and random searches at the whim of prison staff can be humiliating, and their frequency may be used as methods of intimidation and sleep deprivation.
The maximum security facility at Marion, Illinois, which is the model ADX Florence is based on, has been denounced by Amnesty International for violating the United Nations' Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners.
[edit]
Environmental Issues
In 1958, Cotter Corporation, a company owned by Commonwealth Edison of Chicago, Illinois, began to process uranium ore in Cañon City, Colorado. In the process of mining uranium ore, the company contaiminated the surrounding land, and compromised the water supply of nearby Lincoln Park, Colorado, 10 miles from ADX Florence. In a class-action lawsuit filed by 340 people, the company was accused of lowering nearby land values due to radioactive contamination both at the site of the mill and along the railroads of Santa Fe Railway. Subsequently, in 1983, the state of Colorado sued over these damages to the environment; settling for $15 million, Cotter Corporation promised to clean up the mill site. The company resumed work in 1999, but laid off the majority of employees in 2005 after it was determined that shipping ore from Colorado's Western Slope was cost-prohibitive. The water contamination in Lincoln Park remains, and the area has been declared a Superfund site.
While there are continuing problems for residents of the Lincoln Park neighborhood, there is no evidence that the area around Florence has been affected."
the anti-American idiots have been at work for years and they will not stop until there is no such thing as punishment.