U.S. Supreme court stays Powell’s execution
PETER CLHEL/AP
Paul Warner Powell (right) is led into the courtroom before sentencing May 8, 2003, at the Prince William Judicial Center.
RELATED: |
The U.S. Supreme Court has stayed the execution of Paul Warner Powell set for tomorrow night in the 1999 slaying of 16-year-old Stacie Lynn Reed.
The stay will hold at least until late September when the justices have their next regular conference to consider what cases to take up in the coming term.
The high court could decide to hear Powell’s double jeopardy claim, further delaying any execution; turn him down, automatically lifting the stay; or do nothing, indicating the court may wait until it decides a different case in which another issue raised by Powell is being considered.
Powell, 31, had had asked to die in the electric chair.
After his first death sentence was thrown out, Powell, 31, got himself onto Virginia’s death row a second time for the capital murder of Reed.
Powell’s first death sentence was overturned by the Virginia Supreme Court in 2001, saying it had to be proved that Powell had raped, robbed, or attempted to rape or rob Stacie in addition to killing her.
Believing there was no risk of execution in a retrial on a lesser charge of first-degree murder, Powell wrote a mocking letter to the prosecutor, revealing he had attempted to rape Stacie before killing her in her Manassas-area home.
That letter was the basis of the state’s second prosecution, which Powell’s lawyers contend is being tried twice for the same crime.
Reader Reactions
Yes, Lola, in a way it would be torture. Without a constitutional amendment, our system could not hold people like Powell in a cell such as the one you and I envision. Nor could our system isolate him as we wish.
Others do not seem to see the fact that he would suffer for what would seem to him an eternity, in his own self-made version of H#&l.
Powell is a coward. He’s blessed to live in a country where the courts uphold everyones rights, even criminals. He should have given his victims an opportunity to live. He made his choices he should accept his punishment like the man he thinks he is and stop prolonging the families torment.
I see your point Lola and ddan.
I guess my counter to that would be: sometimes criminals like Powell have no remorse and over time may become angrier and more aggressive. The fact that he still after several years, can demine the memory of Ms. Reed, just disgusts me. For Ms. Reed’s family sake I hope they can get the justice they deserve.
Powell, 31, had had asked to die in the electric chair.
Huummm! Let’s make it a game like lawyers and judges do.
Let him pick what’s behind door number 1 2 or 3 and I will gladly plug in his self desired extinction cord.
That way I don’t have a guilty ???, or feel guilty about ????, or FEEL NOT a DAMN thing about giving him what he needs, has asked for and deservers!
Period!
You’re right we don’t need a constitution. We just need people like you who can read a newspaper article.
I read the newspaper article. I know he’s guilty. He doesn’t deserve a fair trial or rights. He should have been hunted down and killed before he was even arrested the first time. I’m tired of little technicalities like the constitution getting in the way.
“What sickens me the most is the fact that Powell has rights, a lawyer defending him and even a choice how he dies.“
****************
Take a look at Saudi Arabia or Afghanistan where they don’t need lawyers and courts to kill anyone they want. Is that the kind of system you’d like to have here in the USA?
The standards of law have to be applied equally to everyone, no matter how heinous their crime. When we fry Powell, we’ll fry our whole justice system.
This is just the saddest thing—this poor family, the TRAGEDY that precious girl suffered at the hands of a MONSTER. Other countries don’t have such monsters. Their penalty would be too outrageous! Our prison system is a joke. I’ve KNOWN in maximum security prisons drug dealers with $5000 cash and drugs all over! Guys tattoo, enjoy computers, cable (which I can’t afford), etc. Do you remember Richard Speck who murdered 7 nurses? Videos of him in his undies with another mass murdere (his lover) were on a TV special a few years ago. (he’s since died-?) His JOB was described as pushing a GIFT CART around so that other prisoners could purchase cards, tooth paste, etc. I’LL NEVER FORGET THAT SHOW. Shocking! There should have been a major out-cry. Obviously there wasn’t… Is this punishment? No, it’s a joke.
What sickens me the most is the fact that Powell has rights, a lawyer defending him and even a choice how he dies. The victim had NO ONE- her sister had NO ONE and if his plan had worked out-the parents would have walked into a situation with NO ONE there but Powell. So- Powell was the only one there with this family -to play JUDGE and jury. Whatever he decided to do- he could do it. Yes- I know- we have the system and laws to go by, etc. Powell was bragging about what he did and laughing in the face of the judicial system. Especially taunting the parents thinking he had escaped the death penalty shows he has no remorse. He feels NOTHING for the victims and no matter how long he is in jail- he will not feel sorry for what he did. Yes- he will bother him (only for his own sanity) if he was alone for the rest of his life and saw no one. However- he would still have not been raped, stabbed, terrified what would come next- like the victims. So any way that you look at it- he will never feel the kind of pain he inflicted on them. Justice would be served if his cell door was “accidentally” left open. He needs to meet a bored equal who enjoys showing him pain so he can be on the receiving end. If he was held down, raped, stabbed and beaten- maybe then he could apppreciate what he put them through. What a whimp he would be- I’m sure- having to beg them not to kill him-then having to fear and remember what it felt like. How does he think the family of the deceased victim and the little sister feels now? The parents have lost one daughter and he destroyed a big part of the other daughter’s life and therefore was successful in ruining so much about this family. HE DESERVES THE WORST!!!!
The laws are there to protect us all. While I’m not contending that he does or doesn’t deserve to die. The fact is that the justice system is at work here and in a good way, making sure even the lowest of the low have the same rights as the mighty. Trust me those with money can get the lawyers and representation, the only hope for those without money is the appeals system. Ultimately they will probably not say it is double jeopardy since it is a new element and crime, and it doesn’t seem from the article that it was in the first trial. Unless he was charged and convicted of Rape and murder the first time, but by the way it was overturned by the VA Supreme Court, it doesn’t sound that way. As to the attacks on defense attorney’s you are right we should just get rid of that element of the system. I mean who needs defense attorney’s we all know the state is all concerned with John Q’s rights and innocence, they would never prosecute a innocent person or bring a case when the evidence is less then absolute.
Post a Comment(Requires free registration)
- Please avoid offensive, vulgar, or hateful language.
- Respect others.
- Use the "Flag Comment" link when necessary.
- See the Terms and Conditions for details.
Advertisement