Posted on 04/05/2011 2:43:30 PM PDT by jazusamo
Complete title: Brooklyn judge takes shot at AG Eric Holder over no death penalty for killer of two NYPD detectives
A Brooklyn judge took a shot at U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder Tuesday for "failing" to go to the Supreme Court to appeal a ruling that tossed out the death penalty for a convicted killer of two NYPD detectives.
Federal Judge Nicholas Garaufis bristled with emotion when he ordered federal prosecutors to obtain a letter from Holder pledging the government's intention to seek the death sentence against Ronell Wilson in a retrial of the penalty phase of his 2007 trial.
Garaufis said he was requiring the letter before the case moves forward "in view of the fact that the attorney general failed to exhaust all appeals and abandoned the appeal of the case."
The judge said he was concerned about the effect of an emotionally grueling retrial on the family members of Detectives James Nemorin and Rodney Andrews.
The hero undercovers were shot to death execution-style by Wilson during a gun buy-and-bust operation in Staten Island.
Wilson's conviction for the brutal double murder still stands, but the U.S. Court of Appeals reversed the death penalty verdict because of prosecutorial error.
A spokesman for Brookyn U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch has said repeatedly in the past that the prosecutor's office remains committed to re-trying the penalty phase.
Wilson, 28, appeared in Brooklyn Federal Court for the first time since his sentencing more than two years ago under heavy security.
Wilson did not look toward the spectator gallery, where Det. Andrews's widow and father watched along with about two dozen detectives.
"He's changed, he got older," noted Rodney Andrews Sr., adding that he hopes the new jury selected to determine Wilson's fate chooses death.
"He did what he did and there's consequences," said Andrews, Sr.. "He deserves the ultimate punishment whether it's for my son or somebody else's."
"If anyone warrants the penalty of death, it's Ronell Wilson," added Detectives Endowment Association president Michael Palladino.
Let me guess: the perp is one of Holder’s people. Ronell... I think I’m right.
Is that one of Holder’s people?
Beat me to it!
On FR, gotta be quick!
Don’t tell me, let me guess, this killer is one of Holder’s “people”.
Coolio just called, he said he wanted his hairdo back.
If Holder refuses to make this pledge then what? Looks to me like the case stalls, Ronell sues for his right to a speedy trial, and gets turned loose.
:-)~
It’s only the penalty phase of the trial, his conviction stood.
If the court balks and refuses to declare a penalty, the trial ain’t over.
You just gotta be kidding me.
The list, ping
Let me know if you would like to be on or off the ping list
The two detectives who were killed were black and they are both heros
Amen to that and thanks.
Prayers for their families.
The concept of racial equality, by their actions, ceases to exist.
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