Ohio Man Executed for 1983 Fatal Robbery

Las Vegas Sun (via AP) ^ | January 14, 2004 | Andrew Welsh-Huggins

[Melas]

Tragic. Every comment I've read is a flip so what about the thug that met his maker.

Not one word about the trauma, and if you don't think it was traumatic, you're a blooming idiot, suffered by the guards who's duty it was to carry this out. I imagine most of the guards were good men, and good men don't naturally come to putting to death a man who's pleading for his life. I feel very, very, very sorry for those men.

[Houmatt]

I have leaned towards the concept of one appeal, one year to carry it out through the courts, then the electric chair.

(Not this lethal injection BS. They are doing a procedure that is normally reserved for and carried out on animals, and these bastrads are much lower on the food chain than that, especially if they rape and viciously murder someone, as Johnny Penry did. I want these bleeding heart murderer loving @#$%&*+ to look at the crime photos and then tell me killers deserve a more humane death than their victims.)

[flutters]

One of the reasons that I don't believe in the death penalty is because of the impact it has on those that carry out the execution. I imagine the scene will haunt the guards forever.

[Col Freeper]

One of the reasons that I don't believe in the death penalty is because of the impact it has on those that carry out the execution. I imagine the scene will haunt the guards forever.

One of the reasons that I do believe in the death penalty is because of the impact it has on those who get caught and convicted for preying on innocent 76 year old women in their homes. I know that those who are executed for these heinous crimes will never be able to prey on anyone else -- forever.

[Lancey Howard]

He said he was in Chmielewski's house the night she died but left before she was killed.

Well then, I hope they catch the real killer and execute him, too.

[flutters]

If they performed the execution in the middle of the prison yard, with the inmates watching, it might be effective.

I just don't agree with the death penalty. My father was murdered and I didn't want the man that killed him to get the death penalty (he didn't). I understand its causes and affects, but disagree with it just the same.

[mvpel]

A footprint on the victim's nightgown matched his shoe, and gun residue was found on a jacket at his mother's house the day he was arrested.

Sounds like pretty flimsy evidence to me. I've probably got a lot of gun residue all over the place, seeing as how I own four of them.

Did they ever find the gun?

[flutters]

The link in post #4 gives some more information. His cousin lived across the street from the lady and he admitted he was at her house the night she was killed and was seen an hour before her body was found. Also, two inmates testified that he confessed to killing the woman.

[Bonaparte]

"...pretty flimsy evidence..."

At trial, the evidence was strong. His footprint on her nightgown was convincing, since she was wearing that same nightgown when her badly beaten body was found and right under that footprint was a crushing injury to her chest, consistent with that footprint. After he had used a blunt object to beat her head and neck, and after he had shoved the barrel of his gun in her mouth and blown her brains out, he stomped her chest as her lifeless body lay on the floor. And there was much more evidence. The jury didn't have much trouble finding him guilty.

[mvpel]

In that case, nevermind.

[Col Freeper]

If they performed the execution in the middle of the prison yard, with the inmates watching, it might be effective.

I think you missed my point. I wasn't talking about it being effective on other inmates, just on the one who committed the murder of the 76 year old woman. He will no longer roam free in society preying on little old ladies.

I'm not arguing with your position on the death penalty, just stating mine. Sorry to hear about the murder of your Father.

I am curious however. Given a scenario that your Father's murderer escaped/was released from prison (life sentences aren't really life sentences), and was about to murder you and/or another member of your family, or for that matter, any other innocent citizen, and could only be stopped by killing him.

Given the chance to defend yourself or other innocents in this scenario, would you kill this murderer before he could claim another innocent victim, or perhaps support the efforts of someone else who would stop him by killing him?

[flutters]

I'm not arguing with your position on the death penalty, just stating mine. Sorry to hear about the murder of your Father.

Thank you. I honestly understand your position. I seldom announce mine, especially on a conservative board. I'm vastly conservative and generally toe the party line except when it comes to the death penalty. To me, it is a very secret and personal issue.

Given the chance to defend yourself or other innocents in this scenario, would you kill this murderer before he could claim another innocent victim, or perhaps support the efforts of someone else who would stop him by killing him?

You bet I would. Self-defense is a whole new ballgame. If I had a gun, a few years ago I probably would have shot the man that put a gun to my head during a robbery. I'm also in line for a CCW permit as soon as they become available. I understand that if I carry it, pull it out to defend myself, then I'd better be prepared to shoot to kill.

I think you missed my point. I wasn't talking about it being effective on other inmates, just on the one who committed the murder of the 76 year old woman. He will no longer roam free in society preying on little old ladies.

Sorry if I missed your point. It wasn't intentional. But the perp wasn't roaming free...he was in prison, living a miserable life among like creatures, stewing about his crime, and reliving his actions over and over.

[rabidralph]

I imagine these guards steel themselves against what it is that might haunt them and probably get counseling if they have trouble handling it. I'm sure they have no trouble remembering what it is the scum is being executed for and that thought eases their consciences. They have nothing to be ashamed of.

[flutters]

I didn't say they should be ashamed. Even though it is their job, they would have to believe in the death penalty if they are to live with themselves at the end of the day. I don't know much about how the participants are selected, do you? I wonder if it is voluntary.