Singing Loudly

This week brings a lot of interesting death penalty news.

In Vermont, jury selection has begun for the first death penalty case in 50 years. This case is interesting because in pre-trial motions there were arguments about the constitutionality of the federal death penalty. "Fell is accused of joining Robert Lee, also of Rutland, in carjacking and kidnapping Teresca King, 53, as she arrived for work at a Rutland supermarket, taking her to New York state and killing her. Fell and Lee were apprehended three days later in Arkansas driving King's car. Lee later hanged himself in prison."

Meanwhile, in San Diego, the sentencing phase of the trial has begun for the guy who abducted a child in 2002. "Prosecutors said Avila abducted the kicking and screaming girl from outside her Stanton home on July 15, 2002. She was sexually assaulted and suffocated. Her nude body was found the following day in mountains some 50 miles away." Over 4000 people attended her funeral and then Governor Davis ordered expanded alerts for abducted children as a result of this atrocity.

Back on the East Coast, Connecticut state senators have decided that there isn't enough support to abolish the death penalty to even argue it in their senate. This is falling at the heels of the first death penalty execution in 45 years in Connecticut. I've detailed this case at length in previous death penalty posts. It looks like May 13th will be the day Ross is executed. Lucky Friday the 13th.