If you were on the jury, what would be YOUR vote on Scott Roeder (Dr. Tiller killer)?

[rd_kent]

Judge bars lesser charges in abortion doc death

WICHITA, Kan. - The judge in the trial of a man accused of murdering an abortion doctor dealt the defense a major setback Thursday, ruling that the jury cannot consider a lesser charge of manslaughter.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35103652/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/



So, if you were on the jury, what would you vote to do with him?


This is just a fantasy poll, asking what YOU would do if all options were open.

[Botany]

1. If I was on the jury I would want to hear the State's case first.

n/t

BTW no way his defense team would let me sit on jury

[hlthe2b]

2. I don't believe he has been made eligible for the DP, has he?

Is that even under consideration?

[rd_kent]

3. I don't think so, this is just a fantasy poll :)

[struggle4progress]

23. No death penalty for Scott Roeder, accused of murdering abortion doctor (June 2009)

... According to the Wichita Eagle, “the death penalty may only be charged when an adult is convicted of pre-meditated first-degree murder under one of seven circumstances, none of which seem to fit Tiller’s death” ... http://newmexicoindependent.com/28665/no-death-penalty-for-scott-roeder-accused-of-murdering-abortion-doctor

[frazzled]

4. I hope people choosing the death penalty answer ...

realize the strange hypocrisy of that response in light of the arguments in this case.

I'm sure that all of us would agree to a guilty of premeditated murder charge, but it will be interesting to see how those of us who oppose the death penalty and those who support the death penalty divvy up on a supposedly "progressive" board.

[left coaster]

6. I don't know how strange it is..

Perhaps those who chose the DP option were just using Roeder's own tortured logic to decide his punishment. Putting him to death would be the ultimate way to protect other abortion doctors, like Tiller, from being murdered by Roeder.

[BOSSHOG]

8. You took the post right out of my keyboard

I'm not a death penalty proponent but its something this defendant certainly should understand.

[frazzled]

10. Protecting the public from Roeder is fully accomplished by life imprisonment

You'll have to come up with a different answer, besides revenge.

The justice system should not murder, period. People with irrational emotions murder, not institutions. And instituting a politically motivated murder to punish a politically motivated murder is the height of, well, bad thinking and moral dissolution.

[left coaster]

15. Where did you get revenge out of my post?

I was pointing out Roeder's ideology, his supposed pure conviction as motive for his act, which he should be prepared to apply to himself. In theory.

[left coaster]

18. From an MSNBC blurb..

"A jury deliberated for 37 minutes Friday before finding Scott Roeder guilty of premeditated, first-degree murder. The 51-year-old Kansas City, Mo., man faces a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after 25 years."

Having a chance at getting out in 25 years is not protecting the public. I am personally against the death penalty, in theory, however, in cases where the murder is also a terrorist act, which I think Tiller's murder most certainly was, it should be considered a viable option.

[RaleighNCDUer]

13. Only if someone is performing abortions in the pen.

Locked up for life, no possibility of parole, will keep Roeder from killing any other doctors just as well.

[notadmblnd]

7. I'm against the death penalty because I want him to suffer

giving him the death penalty allows him an easy out. I want him to live in prison to a ripe old age. After the trial, all his so called pals will abandon him, he'll no longer be their stooge and they will move on and find someone else to be their tool.

[MUAD_DIB]

11. I generally oppose the death penalty, but in this isnstance Scott Roeder

has shown no remorse whatsoever.

This is a heinous crime of assassination, and I believe that as a deterrent to the other nutcases (both left and right) out there that Scott Roeder should be shown no mercy. He broke the law and now should be subject to it.

If there had been a choice for life with no possibility of parole, at hard labor (yes, I know they really don't do that any longer) then I probably would have voted that way.

[eleny]

5. life in prison

[jaksavage]

Send a message

Make up reasons to kill law abiding citizens, you die.

[Ozymanithrax]

9. I oppose the death penalty...

Life in prsion.

But this is Kansas. I think there is at least an even chance of a hung jury.

[liberalmuse]

12. I thought I opposed the death penalty in all cases...

...but I find I don't oppose it for war criminals, terrorists, or in cases where it is clear that the perpetrator is 100% guilty of premeditated murder.

[madrchsod]

14. i voted for life but life in a mental institution would be better

[rd_kent]

16. FOUND GUILTY ON ALL CHARGES!!!!!

[BurtWorm]

17. They'd never let me get anywhere near that jury. I'd have condemnded him before they even asked me

a question.

[darkstar3]

19. Guilty,

as a motherfucker, and "crucify him on the six-o'clock news."

OK, maybe not that, but definitely the death penalty.

For those surprised that a nominal progressive would so whole-heartedly endorse the death penalty, you must understand something: I am against the death penalty strictly because of its record of application. It is too easy to send an innocent man to die, and it has in fact happened over and over again nationwide. There are many arguments against the way in which the death penalty is applied in some cases, but not others.

That said, Roeder has not only admitted to the murder, he has flat-out said he'd do it again if given the chance. Therefore he is guilty as can be, and I am against life imprisonment for the following reasons:
1. I don't think he can be rehabilitated in our current prison system.
2. I don't think it's fair that the taxpayers pay hundreds of thousands of dollars (roughly 30K a year) to keep this sicko locked up.
3. I don't think life in prison would, for him, be the torture that some people think it would be. Yes, everybody's heard the awful stories about "federal pound-me-in-the-ass penitentiaries," but have you seen this guy and heard him talk? He's going to thrive in an environment like that, not be someone's prison bitch.

I'm pro-death penalty in this case for the sheer pragmatic nature of the punishment, and because my normal objections of fair application and guaranteed guilt are moot here.

[caitxrawks]

20. life in prison, no parole.

All premeditated murderers should get this. Let them sit for 40+ years and think about what they did.

[humblebum]

21. This is a hate crime in addition to premeditated murder and

I think that should play into the severity of the sentence. Death.

[rd_kent]

22. That is an interesting comment coming from you.

Thanks for your honesty.

[humblebum]

24. The law is designed to protect diversity, not extremism.

Violence, except for immediate self-defense, is extremism and is inexcusable.

[New Dawn]

25. Death penalty. He is a very dangerous conservative terrorist.

[Sal316]

26. Life w/o parole...

...because I don't want to be in the same league as China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, etc.

Until we abolish it, we have no right chastising anyone else for their human rights records.

[Unvanguard]

27. No death penalty, no exceptions. n/t

[Deep13]

28. Assuming the evidence matches what we have all heard...

...guilty as charged.