April 1 NEVADA----new execution date//volunteer Death row inmate drops appeals; judge schedules execution for week of May 15 A Washoe District judge on Friday set the week of May 15 for the execution of death row inmate Daryl Mack, convicted of sexually assaulting and strangling a Reno woman at a boarding home in 1988. Although Mack denies killing Betty Jane May, he has dropped his appeals and told the judge he wanted to proceed with his death. Mack attempted to go forward with his execution last fall, and an execution date was set for Nov. 28, but his mother, Viola Mack, filed a petition to stop his execution, saying he deserved a "full and fair" competency hearing. The Nevada Supreme Court ordered a stay of his execution while it considered her appeal, but in November, the court dismissed the petition, saying that Mack understood his situation and the consequences of his decision. Mack was serving a life sentence for the 1994 murder of Kim Parks in a Reno motel when investigators linked him through DNA evidence to May's death. He pleaded not guilty and asked to be tried by a judge, instead of a jury. Judge James Hardesty found him guilty, and a 3-judge panel sentenced him to death in May 2002. While Washoe District Judge Robert Perry assigned the week for the execution, officials with the Nevada Department of Corrections will decide the day, based on personnel and scheduling at the Nevada State Prison in Carson City, home to the state's death chamber. (source: Reno Gazette-Journal) MISSOURI: Former death row inmate free after no-contest plea A former Missouri death row inmate whose conviction was overturned pleaded no contest to the murder on Friday in exchange for a sentence of time served. A Jackson County judge ordered Leamon White, 55, released after the plea to 2nd-degree murder, 2 counts of 1st-degree assault and three counts of armed criminal action. White always has contended he was innocent of the Jan. 6, 1987, attack in which 3 men went into a house at 4201 Prospect Ave., demanded money or drugs and cut the throats of 3 persons. One died. He was convicted and sentenced to death in 1989. 2 years ago, a federal judge overturned his conviction because of ineffective counsel. Last year, an appeals court upheld that ruling. On Friday, White entered a plea without admitting guilt but agreeing that prosecutors had evidence that could convict him at retrial. After the hearing, assistant prosecutor Mark Jones said a retrial would have been difficult for the state partly because of conflicting testimony by witnesses over the years. Defense attorney Ronald Partee said only, "We're just glad it's over." 2 co-defendants were convicted on the same charges but were not sentenced to death. Roger Buckner is serving life without parole. Cleveland Ford was sentenced to 15 years and was paroled 7 years ago. Don Wright died in the attack. Carol Kinney and Ernest Black survived having their throats cut. All the victims were tied up, as were Kinneys 2 sons, ages 8 and 7, who later freed themselves. White was expected to be released from jail Friday evening. (source: Kansas City Star) FLORIDA----new death sentences Smith gets the death penalty in Carlie killing Joseph Smith, convicted of abducting, raping and killing 11-year-old Carlie Brucia, received the death penalty today in a Sarasota court. A car wash surveillance camera captured the abduction of Carlie on Feb. 1, 2004, sparking an intensive search and garnering national attention. Her body was found 5 days later and police charged then 37-year-old Smith, who many recognized from the abduction video. (source: The News-Press) **************** Death sentence for Florida inmate who killed female prison guard In Punta Gorda, a convicted murderer was sentenced to death for the slayings of a female prison guard and another inmate during a failed escape attempt. Circuit Judge William Blackwell said Dwight T. Eaglin never expressed remorse before issuing his death sentence Friday. Eaglin was convicted in February of the murders of corrections officer Darla Kay Lathrem and inmate Charles Fuston. A jury later recommended death. Eaglin smiled as he entered the courtroom, and was smiling as he left. "The attitude borderlined on arrogance," Blackwell said. Eaglin was 1 of 3 prisoners who attacked Lathrem, beat her to death and stuffed her body into a locked mop closet during a botched escape from the Charlotte Correctional Institution in June 2003. Fuston died several days later from injuries sustained in the attack. Lathrem was on duty alone, armed only with pepper spray and a radio. She was the 1st female prison officer ever killed in Florida. Eaglin was already serving a life sentence for stabbing a man to death in 1998 outside a Pinellas County bar. During a pre-sentence investigation, Eaglin's foster father discussed Eaglin's abusive and childhood. Eaglin was later removed from his father's home and was sent to live with a foster family in Illinois. His father is now in prison in Illinois. The defense said during trial that the prison system failed to keep Eaglin under control and should share blame for the murders. A Florida Department of Corrections investigation showed numerous instances of prison officials failing to adhere to basic safety procedures and policies. The 2004 report resulted in the demotion of several CCI officials. Prosecutors also are seeking the death penalty for inmates Michael Jones and Stephen Smith, who also face first-degree murder charges. Jones' trial is scheduled to begin April 17, and Smith is scheduled to stand trial June 12. (source: Associated Press)
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----NEV., MO., FLA.
Rick Halperin Sat, 1 Apr 2006 11:22:03 -0600 (Central Standard Time)
