death penalty news
April 8, 2005
CONNECTICUT:
Ross says rekindled romance not enough to keep him alive
Not even a rekindled romance may be enough to keep Michael Ross from going
through with his wish to become New England's first execution in 45 years.
The serial killer acknowledged Friday at his competency hearing that his
renewed relationship with his former fiancee has complicated things, but he
remains resolute in his decision to end his appeals and accept the death
penalty.
Ross is scheduled to die May 11 for killing four young women in Connecticut
in 1983 and 1984. He has admitted killing eight women in Connecticut and
New York and raping most of them.
Ross became involved years ago while in prison with Susan Powers, an
Oklahoma woman. They broke up two years ago, but she began contacting him
again over the past few months.
"I'm, so glad that you have come back into my life, but it is truly a
double-edged sword" Ross wrote in a letter in February, shortly after his
execution was postponed. "I don't want to leave you I just got you back,
but I have no choice and it is tearing me up inside,"
Ross, testifying before a judge who will decide if he is mentally competent
to end his appeals, said while the decision remains difficult, he has not
changed his stance.
"She has complicated things immensely," Ross said.
Ross' father testified earlier Friday that his son is selfish and said his
reasons for volunteering for execution have nothing to do with sparing the
families of his victims more anguish.
"I don't think he has any real compassion," Dan Ross said Friday during his
son's competency hearing in New London Superior Court. "I don't think he
has the ability to empathize with people."
Ross, a 45-year-old Cornell University graduate, was arrested 21 years ago,
ending a three-year spree of attacks in Connecticut, New York, North
Carolina, Illinois and Ohio. He has said he decided last year to drop his
appeals to spare his victims' families additional agony.
Thomas Groark, an attorney charged with proving that Ross is incompetent to
make that decision, suggested Friday that Ross' wish to die is rooted in
his psychological problems. Two years ago, after a third suicide attempt,
Ross wrote that life in prison was becoming increasingly unbearable.
State public defenders have argued that Ross likely suffers from so-called
"death row syndrome" _ a theory that solitary isolation can cause severe
mental health problems and suicidal tendencies _ and Ross is trying to
commit state-assisted suicide.
To show that Ross' desire to die is not altruistic, Groark questioned him
on the stand on Friday.
Groark pointed out that Ross wrote letters detailing his life on death row
to several media outlets over the years, which put the serial killer back
in the headlines. Groark suggested this publicity may have forced the
families to revisit the pain of losing their daughters.
"Did you consider the impact that might have on the victims' families?"
Groark said.
"No. I did not," Ross replied.
State psychiatrist Dr. Michael Norko testified Thursday, the first day of
the hearing, that there are no signs Ross suffers from death row syndrome.
"He has been able to withstand the stress of confinement to a large
extent," Norko said. "Overall he has been able to utilize his strengths to
adapt to his circumstances to the extent that it's possible."
New London Superior Court Judge Patrick Clifford had previously ruled that
Ross is competent to end his appeals. Ross came within hours of being put
to death on Jan. 28, but the execution was delayed when his attorney T.R.
Paulding announced a potential conflict of interest.
It was later disclosed that Chief U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny
had threatened to go after Paulding's law license if he found that the
attorney, in pressing for a prompt execution, had neglected or ignored
evidence that his client was incompetent.
The hearing is expected to continue into next week.
(source: Newsday)
WYOMING:
Prosecutor seeks death penalty for Riverton man charged with killing infant
Prosecutors filed court papers seeking the death penalty against a Riverton
man charged with killing his 22-month-old daughter.
The documents filed Tuesday by Fremont County Attorney Ed Newell said
Andrew J. Yellowbear should face the death penalty because:
--the alleged murder was "especially atrocious or cruel, being
unnecessarily torturous to the victim;"
--the victim was under age 17;
--the victim was "especially vulnerable due to physical disability;"
--and Yellowbear was "likely to commit continued acts of physical violence."
Yellowbear pleaded innocent last week to a charge of first-degree murder in
the death of 22-month-old Marcella Hope Yellowbear. She was found dead July
2 in a bedroom closet with a broken arm, a fractured skull and bruises and
burns over much of her body.
Macalia's mother, Macalia Marcine Blackburn, initially was charged along
with Yellowbear, but has agreed to testify against Yellowbear and plead
guilty to a lesser charge of being an accessory to second-degree murder.
Blackburn and Yellowbear have blamed each other for abusing the child; both
remain in jail.
(source: AP / Billings Gazette)
