Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: AKcurly on May 23, 2004, 10:47:41 AM
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I was browsing tonight and noticed that Texas had recently executed an insane man. At the very bottom of the story, it noted that George Bush (while governor of Texas) had commuted Henry Lucas' death sentence to life in prison. Note life in prison (imprisonment until dead) in Texas does not exist - all are elgible for parole.
Lucas was Bush's only pardon. The parole board recommended the pardon even though Lucas confessed to killing the woman (not to mention the other 600 odd souls - controversial number.)
Bush later said he commuted Lucas' sentence because the victim turned out not to be from Texas.
You guys familiar with this?
curly
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The death penalty baffles me. From what I've read, it's effectiveness as a deterrent is suspect. If this is true, there is really only one purpose in using it, removal of the threat from society.
If that's the goal, insane people shouldn't be exempt.
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I do not, nor have I ever, looked at the DP as a 'deterrant'. It's punishment for actions committed that warrant its use. It's pretty simple, you kill, you should in turn expect to die. I am ok with it as long as there is evidence that DIRECTLY connects the suspect to the killing beyond reasonable doubt.
Why Bush commuted Lucas' sentence is beyond me. If any POS deserves the full penalty of law it's Henry Lee Lucas.
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Dmn your hypnotic avatar.
If a murderer became brain damaged in the midst of apprehension, would he still get the D.P.?
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It has a recidivism rate of zero.
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Originally posted by DiabloTX
I don't not, nor have I ever, looked at the DP as a 'deterrant'. It's punishment for actions committed that warrant its use. It's pretty simple, you kill, you should in turn expect to die. I am ok with it as long as there is evidence that DIRECTLY connects the suspect to the killing beyond reasonable doubt.
Why Bush commuted Lucas' sentence is beyond me. If any POS deserves the full penalty of law it's Henry Lee Lucas.
Hmmm... Punishment is the same thing as deterrance, I think.
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Originally posted by Sandman
Hmmm... Punishment is the same thing as deterrance, I think.
If you have no respect for it then how can you be deterred?
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Originally posted by DiabloTX
If you have no respect for it then how can you be deterred?
If it won't change your behavior, how can it be punishment?
We're arguing semantics. :)
I agree with you. A cancer should be removed. It doesn't matter to me one bit if the cancer knew what he/she was doing at the time or had a knowledge of wrongdoing. Cancer is cancer.
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So lets say Grun goes on a murder spree capping liberals, gets caught and the cops "nudge" him into a coma. After a period of time he wakes up with total amnesia or a mind of 4 year old. Since the Grun who commited the murders no longer exists, what happens?
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Henry Lee Lucas deserves parole. He killed his mother, chopped her into little pieces and burned them in his pot belly stove. Why wouldn't you try to keep this man alive?
Bush is 7eh 74rD.
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Originally posted by AKcurly
I was browsing tonight and noticed that Texas had recently executed an insane man. At the very bottom of the story, it noted that George Bush (while governor of Texas) had commuted Henry Lucas' death sentence to life in prison. Note life in prison (imprisonment until dead) in Texas does not exist - all are elgible for parole.
Lucas was Bush's only pardon. The parole board recommended the pardon even though Lucas confessed to killing the woman (not to mention the other 600 odd souls - controversial number.)
Bush later said he commuted Lucas' sentence because the victim turned out not to be from Texas.
You guys familiar with this?
curly
I think you may the facts a little twisted Curly. Bush gave him a reprieve from execution because there was evidence Lucas was not in Texas at the time of the murder for which he was to be executed.
"On June 27, 1998 Governor George W. Bush spared Henry's life because of overwhelming evidence proving that Henry was not in Texas when "Orange Socks" was murdered. Although Lucas confessed to killing her, work records and a cashed paycheck indicated he was in Florida at the time of the murder. Bush issued the reprieve on the recommendation of the state parole board. "I can only thank them for believing the truth and having guts enough for standing up for what's right," Lucas said from death row."
Pretty sordid story:
http://www.houseofhorrors.com/lucas.htm
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Originally posted by stiehl
If a murderer became brain damaged in the midst of apprehension, would he still get the D.P.?
NO ... as a matter of fact he wouldn't even stand trial.
To stand trial for a crime a defendant must be able to assist in his or her defence and knew what he or she did was wrong at the time he or she did it.
However until such time as a defendant is able to stand trial they must remain in a locked hospital setting until it is deemed that he or she is able to stand trial.
Oh and amnesia doesn't count ... just because you can't remember what you did doesn't mean you can't assist in your defense.
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Originally posted by AKIron
I think you may the facts a little twisted Curly. Bush gave him a reprieve from execution because there was evidence Lucas was not in Texas at the time of the murder for which he was to be executed.
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Thanks for the correction, Iron. I still have trouble understanding this. He was convicted of murder; he's confessed to murder. And George (Hang'm High) Bush commuted his sentence? It makes no freaking sense! If Bush believed Lucas was innocent, shouldn't he be pardoned of the crime and freed? If Bush believed Lucas was guilty of murder, why did he commute his sentence? If Bush believed Lucas was guilty of murder (outside Texas,) again, why did he commute his sentence?
Bush executed a number of men who were believed to be insane, so I don't think that's the issue.
Henry Lucas is the most notorious mass murderer in the US. How could Bush commute his sentence, knowing full well that eventually, Lucas will be released from prision?
curly