Macron Warns EU Could Face Collapse Without Urgent Reforms

[webfact]

Governor grants reprieve in child killer's death sentence

 

BELLINGHAM, Wash. (AP) — Gov. Jay Inslee granted a reprieve Thursday to a man who was sentenced to death for the rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl.

 

Inslee formally granted the reprieve to Clark Elmore on Thursday, and cited as reasons a "lack of clear deterrent value, high frequency of sentence reversal on appeal, and rising cost," The Bellingham Herald reported (https://goo.gl/wfkgjc).

 

In 2014, Inslee announced a moratorium on executions in Washington state. Elmore is the first of Washington's death row inmates to exhaust his appeals.

 

Elmore, of Bellingham, killed his girlfriend's daughter, Kristy Ohnstad, in a van south of Bellingham in 1995. He raped her, choked her, drove a metal skewer through her skull, beat her and dumped her body in the woods.

 

When Ohnstad's body was found, Elmore fled before reconsidering and turning himself in to authorities. Elmore pleaded guilty as charged to aggravated first-degree murder. At the penalty phase, a Whatcom County jury found no good cause to show leniency. He was sentenced to death May 3, 1996.

 

Elmore has filed appeal after appeal since then, in hope of having his sentence overturned. He has never disputed his guilt. In October the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear his case, and weeks ago the U.S. 9th Circuit Court denied a rehearing. An execution date was set for Jan. 19.

 

The governor's office says Inslee's moratorium is not about individual cases and that Ohnstad's family spoke with Inslee and expressed a preference for Elmore to serve life in prison.

 

"As he stated when he announced the moratorium in 2014 the action is based on the governor's belief that the use of capital punishment across the state is inconsistent and unequally applied - sometimes dependent on the budget of the county where the crime occurred," the statement from the governor's office said.

 

Whatcom County Prosecutor David McEachran met with Inslee last week to ask the governor to reconsider the ban and to make an exception in Elmore's case, although McEachran said at the time it was a long shot.

 

"I am disappointed," McEachran said in a brief written statement, "that after 21 years of appeals, in which the sentence of death has been upheld by the highest courts in the state and the United States, the governor has derailed the sentence."

 

Elmore remains at the state prison in Walla Walla, along with eight other death row inmates.

 

A future governor can cancel the reprieve and allow the execution to go forward. Voters re-elected Inslee in November.

___

Information from: The Bellingham Herald, http://www.bellinghamherald.com

 

-- © Associated Press 2016-12-30

 

[evadgib]

I'm with the jury in 96.

 

As for budget; Are they seriously saying they can't afford to dispatch him yet can pick up his living expenses indefinitely?

Edited December 30, 2016 by evadgib

[mercman24]

WHY ' one evil human being, just put a bullet in his head, job done

[Fookhaht]

Voters deserve what they get.


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[evadgib]

44 minutes ago, mercman24 said:

WHY ' one evil human being, just put a bullet in his head, job done

There are some offences where being a live target on a sniper range might provide worthy payback; including  Nonses, Terrorists and killers of anyone slain while on official duty.

 

I realise it'll never happen, particularly in my homeland! 

Edited December 30, 2016 by evadgib

[lannarebirth]

57 minutes ago, mercman24 said:

WHY ' one evil human being, just put a bullet in his head, job done

 

In Washington we hang'em!

[connda]

I can't see how the death penalty is a deterrent when 20 years are more pass by between sentencing and execution of the sentence.  These capital case tie up the courts for years.  I probably don't agree with Inslee on much, but when it come to capital punishment...he's got a point.

[connda]

1 hour ago, lannarebirth said:

 

In Washington we hang'em!

Well, unless they stuff themselves until they are obese and then argue that the weight of their body will case their heads to snap off their body.  I remember some guy trying that years back.  Seemed to work for keeping him alive until he died in prison.  So the state allows these guys to game the system.

Edited December 30, 2016 by connda

[IAMHERE]

6 hours ago, lannarebirth said:

 

In Washington we hang'em!

Seems this would not be the case. Not for the next four years.

[GOLDBUGGY]

I am not really for Capital Punishment, or that much against it either, but it doesn't makes sense to me that after many years of going through the legal system, some newly elected governor can over tune even the Supreme Court decision. 

 

A King or Queen maybe! But a Governor?

[Rhys]

the sentence of  waste and  prison for life....seems appropriate.

[hawker9000]

11 hours ago, connda said:

I can't see how the death penalty is a deterrent when 20 years are more pass by between sentencing and execution of the sentence.  These capital case tie up the courts for years.  I probably don't agree with Inslee on much, but when it come to capital punishment...he's got a point.

 

What nonsense.  If the post-sentencing process takes 20 years, then SHORTEN IT!!!!!   If you can't see how the death penalty is a deterrent, then I guess you can't quite grasp how difficult it is for a dead person to ever kill anybody else, OR how life sentencing - in most places purely a legal fiction in the first place - merely manufactures a prisoner class with "nothing to lose", which essentially sentences EVERYONE incarcerated (and everyone period, when they're eventually found to be "rehabilitated" by some rock-headed counselor and get released...) to permanent risk of death from these predators.

 

[stevenl]

3 hours ago, hawker9000 said:

 
What nonsense.  If the post-sentencing process takes 20 years, then SHORTEN IT!!!!!   If you can't see how the death penalty is a deterrent, then I guess you can't quite grasp how difficult it is for a dead person to ever kill anybody else, OR how life sentencing - in most places purely a legal fiction in the first place - merely manufactures a prisoner class with "nothing to lose", which essentially sentences EVERYONE incarcerated (and everyone period, when they're eventually found to be "rehabilitated" by some rock-headed counselor and get released...) to permanent risk of death from these predators.
 

Your reading had nothing to do with the death sentence being a deterrent.  And to be clear, plenty of research stating that it is not.

Sent from my ROBBY using Thaivisa Connect mobile app
 

[Somtamnication]

The rising costs is on keeping him alive for the next 50 years!

[Baerboxer]

9 hours ago, stevenl said:

Your reading had nothing to do with the death sentence being a deterrent.  And to be clear, plenty of research stating that it is not.

Sent from my ROBBY using Thaivisa Connect mobile app
 

 

A deterrent - probably not. Criminals rarely think they will get caught, convicted and receive such a sentence. 

 

A punishment - yes. And certainly suitable for a disgusting piece of rubbish like this killer. He never denied raping her, choking her, pushing a metal skewer in her head, beating her and dumping her. She was 14 years old! 

 

Ropes don't cost much. The knot is easy to tie. I'll do it for expenses only.

[stevenl]

 
A deterrent - probably not. Criminals rarely think they will get caught, convicted and receive such a sentence. 
 
A punishment - yes. And certainly suitable for a disgusting piece of rubbish like this killer. He never denied raping her, choking her, pushing a metal skewer in her head, beating her and dumping her. She was 14 years old! 
 
Ropes don't cost much. The knot is easy to tie. I'll do it for expenses only.

Yes, agree with you.

Deterrent, as mentioned by others, no.

Sent from my ROBBY using Thaivisa Connect mobile app

[hawker9000]

14 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

A deterrent - probably not. Criminals rarely think they will get caught, convicted and receive such a sentence. 

 

A punishment - yes. And certainly suitable for a disgusting piece of rubbish like this killer. He never denied raping her, choking her, pushing a metal skewer in her head, beating her and dumping her. She was 14 years old! 

 

Ropes don't cost much. The knot is easy to tie. I'll do it for expenses only.

 

Some might actually be willing to bid for the privilege.

[Usernames]

On 12/30/2016 at 3:00 PM, connda said:

I can't see how the death penalty is a deterrent when 20 years are more pass by between sentencing and execution of the sentence.  These capital case tie up the courts for years.  I probably don't agree with Inslee on much, but when it come to capital punishment...he's got a point.

 

Then why do "bad guys" throw down their gun and say "don't shoot" when they are caught?