July 11 LOUISIANA: Man's conviction, death sentence upheld A man found guilty of killing another man while pursuing an ex-girlfriend he had kidnapped had his 1st-degree murder conviction and death sentence upheld by the Louisiana Supreme Court. Donald Lee Leger Jr., convicted of killing Troy Salone on Dec. 11, 2001, had kidnapped his ex-girlfriend from her house. After the woman escaped from his van, he pursued her to a mobile home in St. Mary Parish where resident Troy Salone was shot to death and his wife was wounded as they investigated screaming outside. In a 6-1 decision, the Supreme Court rejected numerous points raised by Leger, including the admissibility of statements he gave to police, the effectiveness of his court-appointed attorney, the seizure of evidence from his van and the use of photo identifications made by witnesses. Although the high court found that part of 1 of 6 statements made to police had been improperly admitted into evidence, Justice Chet Traylor wrote for the majority that in the face of other evidence, that decision constituted "harmless error." The court also rejected Leger's challenge to the selection of several jurors. In a dissent, Chief Justice Pascal Calogero said that although questions surrounding the statements constituted "harmless error," the case should have been sent back to a trial court for a new jury to determine punishment without using the statements. No execution date has been set. Leger can ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review the conviction and pursue other appeals in federal court. (source: Associated Press) ALABAMA: Inmate on Alabama death row 23 years dies in prison medical unit An inmate on Alabama's death row for more than 23 years has died. Prison officials say 51-year-old Randy Turpin Bell died of apparent natural causes. Department of Corrections spokesman Brian Corbett says Bell died at about 9:50 p-m Sunday in the health care unit at Holman Prison near Atmore. Bell was on death row for the 1981 murder of Charles Mims in Chilton County. Corbett says Bell's death will be investigated by the prison system's Investigation and Intelligence division. Mims disappeared in Chilton County in 1981 and was presumed to be dead. Bell was convicted of killing Mims in 1983 even though a body was never found. (source: Associated Press) **************** Local murder suspect dies on death row A death row inmate at Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore has died, apparently of natural causes, Alabama Department of Corrections spokesman Brian Corbett said. Randy Turpin Bell, 51, died at about 9:50 p.m. Sunday in the health care unit at Holman after spending more than 23 years on death row, Corbett said. Bell was on death row for the 1981 murder of Charles Mims in Chilton County. As a matter of procedure, Bell's death will be investigated by the prison system's Investigation and Intelligence division, Corbett said. Mims disappeared in Chilton County in December 1981 and was presumed to be dead. Bell was convicted of killing Mims in 1983 even though a body was never found, said Clay Crenshaw, head of the capital litigation section of the Alabama attorney general's office. It was 1 of the 1st cases in Alabama where a person was convicted of murder even though a body was never found. Prison records show that Bell was also known by the alias Randy Turpin Cole. (source: Clanton Advertiser) GEORGIA: Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for two men charged with murdering six Mexican immigrants last year. Jamie Underwood and Stacey Bernard Sims are accused of using guns and baseball bats during a string of home invasions at trailer parks in Tifton. They were indicted for murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, armed robbery, burglary and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. They are accused of killing 6 men and injuring at least 6 others on September 30th of last year. 2 women, Jennifer Lafay Wilson and Emma Jean Powell, were indicted on the same charges as Underwood and Sims. They will not face the death penalty according the Tift county district attorney. He says their role was basically driving the men from place to place. (source: WALB News)
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----LA., ALA., GA.
Rick Halperin Tue, 11 Jul 2006 22:37:41 -0500 (Central Daylight Time)
