dagblog - Comments for "Killing Dylann Roof"

I have no problem with state

rmrd0000 — Sun, 29 May 2016 03:56:43 +0000

I have no problem with state sanctioned killing of Dylan Roof. The families of the victims have a much more important voice than mine on the matter, and my impression is that they see nothing gained by killing Roof. Their voices are the ones that should carry the day.

Only if he gets the death

CVille Dem — Sun, 29 May 2016 00:26:46 +0000

In reply to Considering the crime and the

Only if he gets the death penalty. Otherwise he will fade away,

Considering the crime and the

NCD — Sat, 28 May 2016 23:09:30 +0000

In reply to Once you have a life sentence

Considering the crime and the consequences, Roof is likely to be an exceptional case.

Once you have a life sentence

CVille Dem — Sat, 28 May 2016 22:08:55 +0000

In reply to It's more than likely that a

Once you have a life sentence, no one hears about you again (including the first twin towers bombers, but with the possible exception of the Manson murderers). If you are sentenced to death, every time an appeal comes up, Nancy Grace, CNN BREAKING NEWS! Et al, will put it out there for the next few decades.

Roof will rot in prison because he is (as The Donald says) low energy. He will fade away if he is given a life sentence. I hope they don't give him a death sentence because he isn't worthy of the expense and notoriety. It is also wrong.

It's more than likely that a

NCD — Sat, 28 May 2016 21:57:05 +0000

In reply to In Virginia, Jesse Matthew,

A 'particular' segment of the white community in SC will likely want Roof dead more than anybody..

Why?

Do they want this cold blooded white murderer and coward around for 60 years as evidence of his evil acts and ideology of hate?

Roof also precipitated the downing of the 'heritage flag' by draping himself with it, and as long as he is alive, Roof is linked to it, and owns it.

I sincerely doubt anyone in that truly Christian Parish, of the late Rev. Pinckney, will show anything but amazing grace, and plead for mercy for the convicted, by not seeking to add another death to this tragedy.

In Virginia, Jesse Matthew,

CVille Dem — Sat, 28 May 2016 21:02:24 +0000

In reply to Coates is an extraordinary

Jesse Matthew, who killed at least 2 young women in Charlottesville and tortured both of them, not to mention the hell that their parents and friends went through. He attempted to rape another woman years ago in Northern Virginia, but she was rescued by a passerby. His DNA (from fingernail scrapings) was kept in her case file although he was not identified at the time. He drove a cab, and most likely that is how he took the first college student in Charlottesville when she was not allowed to re-enter a concert venue. Her body was discovered by a farmer several months later when he saw her long blond hair blowing behind some rocks in his field.

I know a lot about Jesse's crimes because my husband worked on the case. Matthew had already gotten 2 life terms for the attempted rape in Northern Virginia, but up until the day before his hearing, no one knew how he would plead. The evidence was overwhelming of his guilt. Had he gone to trial he would have gotten the death penalty without any doubt.

The day before he plead guilty to the two murders, he gave a long deposition in which he described the events in gory detail. This got him a total of 7 life sentences; he also was required to sign an unrevocable document in which he declined the right to apply for a parole even based on old age.

Before the prosecutor could agree to this, the parents of the two dead girls were informed of all of their options and had veto power. The devastated parents accepted the plea. Not only did they acknowledge that his death would not bring their daughters back, they had no appetite for more death, but there was another point which I had never thought of. I will explain it after this:

A murderer in Virginia was put to death recently. His horrible crimes (which I will not go into, but trust me, no one would have sympathy for the POS) were committed in 1973.

When anyone gets the death penalty there are many many opportunities for appeal and hearings, every single time any of those things come up, reporters call the families of the deceased for comments. The hell that they went through never ends; the phone rings at all hours, and the misery that they can never get over is pushed in their faces again.

By agreeing to his plea, they can move forward, grieve privately, and never have to see, or be asked yet again to comment on that SOB, knowing that he will not live one day outside of prison; he will never kill another daughter. I should add that at the end of this emotional hearing, one of the mothers approached Jesse Matthew's mother and hugged her.

Coates is an extraordinary

NCD — Sat, 28 May 2016 17:32:13 +0000

In reply to Killing Dylann Roof

Coates is an extraordinary person and commentator. He says:

..killing Roof does absolutely nothing to ameliorate the conditions that brought him into being in the first place...

....And killing Roof, like the business of the capital punishment itself, ensures that innocent people will be executed...

All true.

Not seeking the death penalty for Roof however doesn't 'ameliorate the conditions' or 'ensure the innocent aren't executed' either.

Yet, it is possible that if relatives, parishioners of the church, testify for mercy, and oppose his execution, a jury would rule for life without parole. That would set an example for the nation, but would it move Congress?

The big picture is that the leaders and citizens of our nation cannot agree on, or 'ameliorate the conditions' for use of bathrooms.

Ending capital punishment for all federal crimes is not likely to happen any time soon. Coates must know that, and regret it deeply.