[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----PENN., OHIO, NEB., N. MEX.
Sept. 11 PENNSYLVANIA: Recent court ruling in James Dennis case shows why Pa. should abolish death penalty On Aug. 24, the Third Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled in favor of James A. Dennis. Dennis was convicted and sentenced to death over 2 decades ago for killing a high school student in Philadelphia. But there was more to the story. Prosecutors deliberately kept evidence of his innocence from Dennis as well as the jury. The ruling is encouraging for those of us opposed to the death penalty. It should be a cautionary tale for all of us. To those who would like to speed up the execution process by limiting appeals, I ask that you consider that if we had "expedited" Dennis's case, Pennsylvania would have executed an innocent man. His case is exactly why people who support the death penalty in theory, have problems with its actual practice. This case is a glaring example of why the state needs to get out of the business of killing its citizens. The Pennsylvania justice system is flawed and it's important to understand that all justice systems, because they involve human beings, are similarly flawed. Honest mistakes are made. In this case, there was no "mistake" made. The dishonesty of the prosecution almost killed Jimmy Dennis. The state has already taken away over twenty years of his life. It could have ended his life. If we don't end the use of the death penalty, we will almost certainly execute an innocent person. Let's not take that chance. RAZVAN VITEAZU, Spring Twp., Berks Co. (source: Letter to the Editor, pennlive.com) OHIO: Death penalty possible in trial for 2013 double murder Monday marks 1,327 days since police say Harvey Lee Jones shot and killed two people while the 10-year-old son of one of the victims hid upstairs. Jones, 37, could face the death penalty if he's found guilty in the Jan. 24, 2013 aggravated double murder of Carly Hughley, 32, and Demetrius Beckwith, 29. Jones' potential 3-week trial is scheduled to begin Monday in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court after years full of motions. If Jones is found guilty, the jury would then hear a mitigation phase to determine whether he should be put to death. Defense attorney Dennis Lieberman estimated that jury selection could take most of the week and that opening statements might not happen until Friday. Lieberman said there are about 180 to 190 prospective jurors in 4 different pools to consider the case from early 2013. "Death penalty cases are very serious; there's no room for being wrong because you can't release somebody from prison if they're dead," Lieberman said Saturday. "I think the court and system itself wants to make sure that all possible motions are filed that need to be filed and that the investigation is as thorough as it can possibly be." Jones pleaded not guilty to 6 counts of aggravated murder, 2 counts of aggravated burglary, 2 counts of kidnapping, 2 counts of aggravated robbery, and one count of having a weapon under disability. All but 1 charge has an added mandatory 3-year firearms specification. Prosecutors said Jones - a previously convicted sex offender who served a decade in prison - shot both people in the presence of Hughley's then 10-year-old son in a Harrison Twp. apartment. "The defendant made both of these victims lie on the floor and shot both of them multiple times, killing both of them," prosecutor Mat Heck Jr. said during a press conference more than 3 years ago. "After the defendant stole a number of items from the deceased victims, he fled the residence. The 10-year-old child then left the residence and went to a neighbor's and summoned help." Heck said then that the child plans to testify in court. The now 14-year-old boy called 911, identified Jones by name and described the car Jones drove. Jones was arrested hours after the alleged crime. "It's always traumatic when you have to rely and put a child through this type of an ordeal, but it???s something that this child is able to do and most children can do," Heck said in 2013. "He'll be fine and he???s doing fine." Montgomery County Sheriff Phil Plummer said in January 2013 that detectives were working to determine Jones' motive but said he and Hughley had a previous relationship and he had moved out of the Catalpa Crossing Apartment Complex apartment on Turner Road. FOLLOWING THE STORY We covered the death penalty-eligible case from its beginning in January 2013. Jones is the only Montgomery County Common Pleas Court defendant facing possible death as a penalty. (source: Associated Press) NEBRASKA: How much does the death penalty cost Nebraska? Economist stands by his $14.6 million-per-year figure, despite criticism Life or death. When it comes to crime and punishment in Nebraska, what costs more? As they go to the polls in November to pass judgment on the Nebraska Legislature's 2015 repeal of capital punishment, voters will
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide
Sept. 11 IRAN: Request from UN to prosecute Iran regime for 1988 massacre A number of families of the prisoners executed in 1988 massacre have sent a letter to Mr. Ahmad Shahid (Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran) asking him to get involved in regime's horrific crime during 1989 massacre and prosecute Iranian regime for committing this crime. Following is the text of their letter. Honorable Mr. Ahmad Shahid So far, we have individually sent you a number of letters asking you in each one to intervene, to reveal and ask the international community to prosecute those responsible in committing this horrific crime, the 1988 massacre. It should be pointed out that this is not only our request but the request of all mothers, fathers and families of those executed all over Iran. As we previously told you, they may not have the possibility to write you a letter since a lot of them live in villages and remote areas of Iran. We'd like to report a case to you which is related to one of regime's notorious agents named "Mohammad Ali Kazemi Jorakani". This murderer is one of those who got fired from the prison and was then employed by plainclothes suppression group who secretly commit inhumane acts against youth. He is currently serving the regime in Isfahan and has confessed that he has trapped and killed a member of People's Mojahedin Organization(PMOI/MEK) on the road leading to the airport. Mr. Shahid Now that this hired agent confesses to his suppressive and inhumane act, it is not clear how many similar acts he has committed, only to be transferred from his workplace so as not to be seen by local people and keep killing the children of people in a new location. As those responsible in the 1988 massacre, like "Pour Mohammadi" current minister of justice, who have confessed to their criminal acts and even committed additional horrific mass executions during this past month, they are going to keep suppressing and violating human rights even more freely if this massacre remains with impunity. We, the families of those massacred in Khuzestan province, are grieving so much and our families are also being harassed by these executioners. Once again, we are asking you to use all the mechanisms you have in hand to help put on trial all those responsible for committing this horrific crime in Iran's prisons. They are still ruling disgracefully while the international community is silent. We're hoping for that day to arrive With respect The families of massacred prisoners in Khuzestan province September 8, 2016 The facts: -- More than 30,000 political prisoners were massacred in Iran in the summer of 1988. -- The massacre was carried out on the basis of a fatwa by Khomeini. -- The vast majority of the victims were activists of the opposition PMOI (MEK). -- A Death Committee approved all the death sentences. -- Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi, a member of the Death Committee, is today Hassan Rouhani's Justice Minister. -- The perpetrators of the 1988 massacre have never been brought to justice. -- On August 9, 2016, an audio tape was published for the 1st time of Khomeini's former heir acknowledging that that massacre took place and had been ordered at the highest levels. (source: NCR-Iran) TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: The real issues relating to crime reduction The respective teams led by the Prime Minister and the leader of the Opposition met 2 Fridays ago on violent crime. The main promise afterward was that there would be co-operation on anti crime legislation, including the Government giving the Opposition early notice of the bills it intended to introduce and facilitating discussion to find out from the Opposition any area of concern about the contents of a bill. There was talk of greater use of a Joint Select Committee. The population was sceptical that legislative co-operation may make a dent in crime. "We have so much legislation already but it is not enforced". "The police don't hold anybody". These were 2 common expressions of the skepticism that legislative co-operation would bring down violent crime in an environment where if one citizen has a dispute with another he can then shoot, stab or chop the other to death and walk away with complete impunity. This column long ago identified the impunity factor as a major incentive to the perpetration of violent crime. I am amused to see that some persons living nice within the establishment have suddenly found their voice on this subject. A 2nd output of the joint talks was the ritual reference to the death penalty still being "the law of the land". I say the reference is ritual because the death penalty cannot be carried out currently for reasons that have been repeatedly identified in these columns. There are at least 4 such columns, entitled respectively The Fallacy of the Death Penalty, Remedies for a Murderous Land, Death Penalty Advice and Death
