Aug. 22
TEXAS----stay of impending execution
U.S. Supreme Court has stopped the execution of John Balentine
The U.S. Supreme Court has stopped the execution of a man convicted of fatally
shooting 3 teenage housemates in Amarillo more than 14 years ago.
Justices decided Wednesday to halt the punishment until it resolves an appeal
seeking review of John Balentine's case. The reprieve for the 43-year-old
inmate came less than an hour before the former auto mechanic's scheduled
execution in Huntsville.
Balentine has had 3 execution dates in as many years. Last year, the justices
stopped his scheduled lethal injection, also about an hour before it was to
have occurred.
Balentine's lawyer argues deficient legal help at his client's trial and
earlier appeals. The lawyer also said the case deserves review so jurors can
consider his poor, abusive childhood before deciding punishment.
State attorneys opposed the appeal.
(source: Associated Press)
********************
Top court halts Texas execution of convicted triple murderer
The U.S. Supreme Court put on hold on Wednesday the Texas execution of a man
convicted of fatally shooting 3 sleeping teenagers in Amarillo in 1998 and who
had been due to be put to death later in the day.
Justice Antonin Scalia reviewed John Balentine's emergency appeal and referred
the case to the full court for review. Balentine, 43, would have been the 8th
person executed in Texas this year and the 28th in the United States.
(source: Reuters)
FLORIDA:
Woman facing death penalty apologizes to family
The Ensley woman facing death for brutally murdering a teenager in 2010 made a
tearful plea to a judge for her life today, saying she is so sorry for what
happened.
Tina Brown, 42, was convicted in June of killing 19-year-old Audreanna
Zimmerman.
A few days later, the jury unanimously recommended that she be put to death for
her crime.
Brown, her daughter and a neighbor were arrested in March 2010 after beating
Zimmerman and repeatedly attacking her with a stun gun. They then are accused
of taking her to a wooded area, setting her on fire and leaving her for dead.
Zimmerman later died in the burn ward of a Mobile hospital.
Today, Brown, decked out in a green jumpsuit and wearing handcuffs, appeared in
court for a Spencer hearing, a proceeding designed as one of the last chances
for prosecutors and defense attorneys to make their case on why or why not she
should be put to death.
During the short hearing, Brown tearfully told Circuit Judge Gary Bergosh that
she was "so sorry she helped in this."
"I remember back, looking at the autopsy pictures," Brown said. "They haunt me
today."
At first, Brown, wearing a green jumpsuit with her hands cuffed in front of
her, appeared stood in front of Bergosh. Soon, though, she broke down and said
"I'm not going to be able to do it."
The courtroom was empty, save for attorneys and court personnel. Even though
Zimmerman's family was not in court, Brown apologized to them, expressing the
pain she has felt because the teen's funeral could not be held with an open
casket.
"Her daughter died a horrific death," Brown said. "She didn't deserve it at
all."
Brown will be sentenced on Sept. 28. The decision is ultimately left to
Bergosh, who also has the option of giving her life in prison without parole.
(source: Pensacola News Journal)
OHIO:
Ohio Seeks Death Penalty for Lesbian's Alleged Killer ---- Police say that Chad
Cobb killed Ashley Biggs after a custody battle.
Chad Cobb, the man who stand accused of killing a 25-year-old lesbian, Ashley
Biggs, June 21 in Ohio, was arraigned in Summit County court yesterday,
according to Newsnets5.com. Prosecutors anounced that they will be seaking the
death penalty for Cobb, who pleaded not guilty to kidnapping and aggravated
murder.
Biggs and Cobb had a 6-year-old daughter and police allege that a fierce
custody battle over her was the motive for the killing. NewsChannel5???s Sarah
Buduson also reported that Cobb had a problem with Biggs's sexual orientation
and her gilfriend.
Police say that on June 21, just after midnight, Cobb phoned in a fake order to
Domino's Pizza, where Biggs worked. When she went to a vacant building to
deliver the pizza there was a struggle, and she was killed by a blow to her
head. She was found in her vehicle later that morning, according to Buduson,
bound with zip ties.
Biggs's friends told reporters that Cobb - who pleaded guilty to assaulting
Biggs in 2005 - has stalked Biggs and her girlfriend and was furious about
their relationship.
(source: The Advocate)
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