July 27
TEXAS:
Executions under Greg Abbott, Jan. 21, 2015-present----9
Executions in Texas: Dec. 7, 1982----present-----527
Abbott#--------scheduled execution date-----name------------Tx. #
10---------August 12----------------Daniel Lopez----------528
11---------August 13----------------Tracy Beatty----------529
12---------August 26----------------Bernardo Tercero------530
13---------September 2--------------Joe Garza-------------531
14---------September 29-------------Perry Williams--------532
15---------October 6----------------Juan Garcia-----------533
16---------October 14---------------Licho Escamilla-------534
17---------October 28---------------Christopher Wilkins---535
18---------November 10--------------Gilmar Guevara--------536
(sources: TDCJ & Rick Halperin)
NORTH CAROLINA:
The amazing excuse for keeping death penalty drugs secret
The North Carolina Senate is scheduled to take up legislation this evening that
would, among other worrisome things, strike a large and troubling blow for the
cause of government secrecy. The subject is the death penalty and the
legislation in question would specifically amend the state public records law
to make clear that citizens will be prohibited from finding out information
about the drugs that will be used kill people in their name - including who
makes them. This is from an Associated Press story from last Thursday:
"The state Senate could vote as soon as next week on legislation clarifying
executions are exempt from state requirements for the public rule-making
process. That would allow officials to find new drugs for lethal injection more
quickly and with less public review. The bill also eases restrictions on the
types of drugs used and prohibits disclosing where they are manufactured."
As bad is all of this is, however, listen to the explanation for this provision
advanced by the bill's main sponsor:
"When asked by a Democratic member of the Senate Judiciary Committee whether
his bill decreased transparency, Rep. Leo Daughtry, R-Johnston, said he agreed
it did. But he argued that a certain level of secrecy was required to protect
drug manufacturers.
"If you tell them where the drug comes from, there will be 300 people outside
the building,' Daughtry said.
In other words, lawmakers want to keep the drugs secret so that, well, so that
no one will find out what they are or where they come from and then, perish the
thought, use the information to communicate with the pharmaceutical companies
that make them.
What an outrageous concept! Citizens using public information to find out the
identities of the companies to whom their government is giving public funds to
buy drugs to kill people in the public's name and then, perhaps, exercising
their First Amendment rights to target protests against those companies.
This from lawmakers who came to power championing "transparency" and an "open"
and "small" government.
Perhaps the stunning hypocrisy of all this (not to mention the very troubling
precedent that would be established) explains why the North Carolina Press
Association (of which - full disclosure - NC Policy Watch is a member) opposes
the legislation.
Let's hope that, regardless of their views on the death penalty, lawmakers wake
up to the real world dangers of this new provision and the symbolic, Big
Brother-like message it sends.
(source: ncpolicywatch.org)
LOUISIANA:
Federal judge throws out death sentence of man convicted in murders of
Calender's Restaurant employees
Condemned killer Todd Wessinger deserves a new sentencing hearing in the 1995
slaying of 2 Baton Rouge restaurant employees because his attorneys were
deficient at the 1997 penalty phase of his capital murder trial, a federal
judge ruled Monday when he threw out Wessinger's death sentence.
U.S. District Judge James Brady's 15-page decision did not disturb Wessingger's
1st-degree murder convictions for the Nov. 19, 1995, shooting deaths of
Stephanie Guzzardo, 27, and David Breakwell, 46, at the now-closed Calendar's
Restaurant on Perkins Road. Guzzardo managed the store.
But if Brady's ruling stands on appeal, Wessinger, 47, of Baton Rouge, would be
entitled to a new penalty phase hearing in the 19th Judicial District
Courthouse.
Wessinger's attorneys had argued to Brady that 1 of his trial lawyers, the
now-deceased Billy Hecker, was appointed to represent Wessinger just 6 months
before the start of the trial and was ill-prepared.
Wessinger's attorneys also contend the jury never heard about what they have
described as Wessinger's significant neurological problems as well as
compelling family issues such as poverty, abuse, violence and alcoholism.
"This Court finds there is a reasonable probability that the evidence of
Petitioner's brain damage and other impairments, as well as his personal and
family history would have swayed at least one juror to choose a life sentence,"
Brady wrote.
Wessinger, a former Calendar's dishwasher at the time of the killings, shot a
3rd employee in the back, who survived. His gun jammed when he tried to shoot a
4th worker in the head.
(source: The Advocate)
KANSAS:
Hearing held for 4 charged in gun store owner death
1 of 4 suspects has waived his right to a preliminary hearing in the death of a
Shawnee gun store owner killed during a botched robbery.
Jon Bieker, 44, died after the Jan. 9 shooting at his store called She's a
Pistol, 5725 Nieman Rd. Police said gunfire erupted after 4 men tried to rob
Bieker and his wife, Becky Bieker.
Jon Bieker managed to shoot 3 of the suspects. 1 of the injured suspects fled
along with the getaway driver. Police said they arrested those 2 as they tried
to gain entry at a nearby home.
Jon Bieker later died at an area hospital after gunfire erupted when the
suspects tried to rob him and his wife, who was not shot but suffered minor
injuries after she was punched in the face.
Johnson County prosecutors have charged Hakeem Willie Malik, 18, Londro Emanuel
Patterson, 19, Deanthony Armond Wiley, 19, and Nicquan Ke-Aaron Midgyett, 19,
with felony 1st-degree murder, attempted aggravated robbery and other charges.
During a preliminary hearing Monday, the 1st defendant, Wiley, waived his right
to a preliminary hearing and said he'll plead guilty at a later hearing. The
preliminary hearing is scheduled to determine if probable cause exists to take
the defendants to trial.
Becky Bieker vows to attend every court hearing and do everything she can to
ensure they serve the maximum amount possible. Prosecutors have not said
whether they will seek the death penalty.
"I will not be quiet," she said. "I want them to serve the absolute maximum. If
anything less, then I am going to be a thorn in the DA's side."
(source: kctv5.com)
COLORADO:
Fero's Bar murder trial begins 2nd week in Denver court----Dexter Lewis is
accused of stabbing to death 5 people at a Denver bar. He could face the death
penalty if convicted.
The trial of Dexter Lewis, accused of stabbing 5 people to death in a Denver
bar in 2012, entered its 2nd week on Monday.
Court is scheduled to begin at noon Monday. The major question for the
prosecution is whether or not one of its star witnesses, Joseph Hill, will take
the stand.
Lewis, Hill and 2 others are accused of entering Fero's Bar & Grill on Oct. 17,
2012, intending to rob it. When they left, 5 people had been stabbed to death
inside. Joseph Hill and his younger brother, Lynell Hill, both pleaded guilty
and received lengthy prison terms. Lewis - who prosecutors say killed all 5
victims - has pleaded not guilty. He could face the death penalty if convicted.
The 4th man, Demarea Harris, was serving as a federal informant at the time and
was never arrested or charged. Lynell Hill already testified for the
prosecution, and Harris is expected to testify.
Joseph Hill was to testify on Thursday, but refused. His plea agreement - which
resulted in a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole -
could be rescinded if he does not testify. That means he, too, could face the
possibility of the death penalty.
Week 1 of the trial saw extensive testimony from emergency responders and
Lewis' wife, along with Lynell Hill.
Families of the victims may be called on to testify at some point in the trial.
The 5 victims were: Young Fero, 63; Daria Pohl, 21; Kellene Fallon, 44; Ross
Richter, 29; and Tereasa Beesley, 45.
(source: The Denver Post)
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