Perry (R) lets mentally ill man be executed

[JohnLocke]

Perry lets mentally ill man be executed
By Mike Tolson -- Associated Press
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
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HUNTSVILLE -- Despite a long record of severe mental illness before and since his crime, convicted killer Kelsey Patterson was put to death by injection Tuesday night shortly after Gov. Rick Perry refused to go along with a recommendation by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles that his sentence be commuted to life imprisonment.
Perry said it was a difficult decision given Patterson's mental history, but he noted that numerous courts have reviewed the case and not found a legal reason to bar his execution. He made no mention of the rare recommendation by the board or why he chose to disagree with it.
"This defendant is a very violent individual," Perry said in a prepared statement. "Texas has no life without parole sentencing option, and no one can guarantee this defendant would never be freed to commit other crimes were his sentence commuted. In the interest of justice and public safety, I am denying the defendant's request for clemency and a stay."
(...)
Patterson, 50, provided no resistance when brought to the death chamber. He was mumbling incoherently when the witnesses were brought to the viewing rooms.
"Murderer ... no kin, no kin," he said quietly to no one in particular. "I'm not guilty of the charge of capital murder ... acquitted by the Court of Criminal Appeals."
Asked by Warden Joe Fernald if he had a final statement, Patterson said, "Statement to what? Statement to what?"
(...)
"I'm not guilty of the charge of capital murder," he repeated. "They're doing this to steal my money. My truth will always be my truth. No kin to you ... undertaker ... murderer. Go to hell. Get my money. Give me my rights. Give me my rights. Give me my life back."
(...)
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Read the rest here.

[OneBlueSky]

1. as I recall, Clinton did exactly the same thing . . .

during his first run for the presidency . . . it was the one thing about him that made me question whether or not I should give him my vote . . . I did, but I never forgot that particular incident . . .

[TexasMexican]

2. I dont think being mentally retarded...

should automatically give someone a free pass getting out of the death penalty.

[LibLabUK]

3. Hmm

How does a liberal support the death penalty, let alone the death penalty for the mentally ill?

This is the one subject that I cannot understand about you guys.

[TexasMexican]

7. well as far as I know...

there is nothing incompatable with wanting fair wages, good healthcare, the right to keep and bear arms, and the support of the death penalty.

[OpSomBlood]

4. I oppose the death penalty for this very reason (and others).

A civilized society doesn't demonstrate that killing is wrong by killing.

[slackmaster]

5. Same here

People are not competent to be sufficiently certain that they are executing the right person or to have absolute clarity about the state of mind of a person when he or she committed a crime.

The slightest possibility that a person might be executed in error is enough reason to eliminate the death penalty.

[OpSomBlood]

6. I'd rather let a hundred guilty men go free than execute one innocent man.

n/t

[Que]

8. I hope

We send pretty boy packing come next election.