Feb. 10 GEORGIA: Killer will serve life without parole A Marietta man who wanted to be executed for the 1999 murder of a Jonesboro woman instead will serve life without parole. Sheila Dates, the mother of the woman Keith D. Henry, 47, admitted killing, agreed to the plea agreement Wednesday in Clayton County Superior Court. "Considering the fact that he got the death penalty the 1st time, this is a win-win situation for everybody," said Dates, 53, of Griffin. "He's gonna die in jail anyway; we just don't know when." In 1999, Henry murdered Regina Dates, 21, to eliminate her as a witness to the robbery of a check-cashing store. Henry's wife, Belinda Henry, tried to murder Sheila Dates. Cornered by police in a New Jersey motel five weeks after the robbery, Keith Henry surrendered, but his wife committed suicide in the bathroom. Henry confessed to the crime, asked for a nonjury trial and told the judge he wanted to die. In 2002, Judge Al Collier gave the death penalty to the former Marine and fashion model. The Georgia Supreme Court overturned the sentence because it was handed down by a judge, not a jury. Sheila Dates agreed to life without parole to avoid the pain of another trial. "I've healed a lot since the last trial," Sheila Dates said. "I am moving on with my life the best way I can. I am still in therapy, still in a support group and still an advocate for crime victims. Life is going on." (source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution) MISSISSIPPI: Condemned man challenges charge---Attorney for inmate argues essential component of capital murder count missing The attorney for death-row inmate Derrick Walker told the Mississippi Supreme Court that his client is guilty of a 2001 killing but that the incident did not rise to the level of a capital crime. Walker was sentenced to death in Lee County in 2003 for the stabbing death of former Tupelo personnel director Charles Richardson. Walker was convicted of capital murder and arson. Police said Richardson's body was found by firefighters answering a report of smoke coming from his house on July 17, 2001. Authorities said Richardson had been repeatedly stabbed and slashed. Tupelo attorney William Housley Jr., arguing Walker's appeal Wednesday before the Supreme Court, said Walker killed Richardson and stole the man's car to flee to Chicago. Housley argued the theft of the car was not robbery, a felony that can be used to support a conviction of capital murder. In Mississippi, capital murder is defined as murder committed along with the commission of another crime. "The underlying felony of robbery was not established," Housley told the justices. "There is a statement that he intended to kill Richardson, took the car, loaded up his clothes and attempted to go to Chicago. He did not intend to rob this gentleman. He intended to kill Mr. Richardson, and he did." According to the court record, Walker was arrested in Forrest City, Ark., after making a wrong turn out of Memphis. Assistant Attorney General Melanie Dotson said Walker was pulled over for speeding in a construction zone. Dotson said Walker admitted the car was not his and was found to be driving with a suspended license, for which he could be arrested in Arkansas. Dotson said Arkansas officers became suspicious when Walker changed his story, saying he had bought the car from somebody. "This was a rapid chain of events," Dotson said. "He went from speeding to suspended license to driving a stolen car to murder." Dotson said Walker confessed to the murder and gave a statement to law officers, which Housley wanted suppressed. She said the trial judge conducted a thorough hearing and ruled the confession was voluntary. Dotson said the robbery did not have to occur before a death to be used to support a capital murder charge. "To be in possession of the victim's property is sufficient for the robbery claim to go to the jury," Dotson said. "His confession is sufficient of his intent." Housley said he asked the trial judge to instruct the jury on Walker's claim that he was under duress because he feared some family members might be harmed. Housley said Walker alluded to that fear in his confession, but the trial judge disallowed the instruction. Dotson said Walker's claim of duress was not supported by the evidence. She said prosecutors showed that Walker had planned the killing and that "there was no apprehension of danger." (source: Assoicated Press)
