[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----OHIO, TENN., KY., ARK., NEV., CALIF., USA
March 2 OHIO: Jury pool narrowed to 51 for death-penalty trial The pool of potential jurors for the Brian L. Golsby trial stands at 51 after prosecution and defense attorneys spent 3 1/2 days eliminating those who were considered too influenced by pretrial publicity or too inflexible in their views on the death penalty. The group will return to Franklin County Common Pleas Court Monday morning as the attorneys work to seat 12 jurors and as many as 6 alternates to hear the case. Golsby is accused of the February 2017 kidnapping, rape and murder of Ohio State University student Reagan Tokes. Golsby, 30, is accused of kidnapping Tokes, 21, at gunpoint as she walked to her car after her shift at a Short North restaurant. Her body was found the following afternoon near the entrance to Scioto Grove Metro Park in Grove City. She had been raped and shot twice in the head, investigators said, after being forced to withdraw $60 from an ATM. Judge Mark Serrott said he expects the final phase of jury selection to wrap up by Monday afternoon, when opening statements would be presented. The court began with 167 potential jurors last Monday, Feb. 26, and a goal of finding at least 50 who were qualified to hear the case. Of the 84 people interviewed, 10 were eliminated because of their views on the death penalty. 8 were too strongly anti-death penalty and 2 were too strongly pro-death penalty. To qualify to hear a death-penalty case, jurors must be able to follow state law in determining whether death is the appropriate sentence if a defendant is convicted of a capital crime. Another 8 people were eliminated because their knowledge of the case, particularly through pretrial publicity, would make it difficult for them to be objective. 15 were excused for other reasons, such as scheduling conflicts or a language barrier. (source: Columbus Dispatch) TENNESSEE: Dickson-connected death row inmate's fate remains unclear The 35-year winding saga of Edmund Zagorski's time on Tennessee's death row for the convicted murder of 2 Dickson County men appeared to be nearing its end. A recent lawsuit, however, may have again delayed the execution. First, the state Supreme Court opinion a year ago had seemingly cleared the way for lethal injections the state attorney general said were backlogged after legal challenges for using the drugs. The court's summarized message for death row inmates: A completely pain-free and quick death is not guaranteed. "The intended result of an execution is to render the inmate dead," wrote Chief Justice Jeffrey Bivins in the opinion. Next, on Feb. 15, Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery wrote in a court document that the state should move forward with 8 sentences before June 1, when the availability of lethal injection drugs would become "uncertain." One of those death sentences is for Zagorski. "Years of delay between sentencing and execution undermines confidence in our criminal justice system," wrote Slatery, adding that the state, through the Department of Correction, is "required by law to carry out executions by lethal injection." However delaying past June 1 would make the executions "uncertain due to the ongoing difficulty in obtaining the necessary lethal injection chemicals," he wrote. 5 days later, a lawsuit filed by lawyers representing 33 death row inmates argues that Tennessee cannot execute death row inmates using the controversial 3-drug mix because doing so would violate constitutional bans on cruel and unusual punishment. The lawsuit filing could delay executions, including Zagorski's execution. Murders, legal system Zagorski was convicted of shooting John Dotson of Hickman County and Jimmy Porter of Dickson and then slitting their throats, after robbing them in April of 1983. The victims, who at the time owned the former Eastside Tavern in Dickson, had planned to buy marijuana from Zagorski. Their bodies were found in Robertson County, which where Zagorski was tried. Lethal injection is the primary means of carrying out the death penalty in Tennessee, although the electric chair is also legal. The state had used pentobarbital, a barbituate, but manufacturers have largely stopped selling the drug to anyone using it for executions. In January, the Tennessee Department of Correction adopted a new protocol for lethal injections, relying on a 3-drug mixture intended to put an offender to sleep before stopping the lungs and heart. Tennessee corrections officials knew this could be a problem, according to documents obtained by the USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee that are also cited in the lawsuit. In September, a supplier noted potential problems with midazolam in an email to Tennessee prison officials.M "Here is my concern with midazolam...it does not elicit strong analgesic effects. The subjects may be able to feel pain from the administration of the second and third drugs.
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide
March 2 BELGIUM: UN: Belgium mobilized again against death penalty Belgium will host next year (February 2019) the 7th world congress against the death penalty, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the UN adoption of a protocol aiming the abolition of the death penalty, announced Wednesday the Belgian minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders at the tribune of the UN Council for human rights. Though this fight is general, Wednesday in Geneva, Belgium co-presided with the NGO "Together against death penalty" an event on the theme Africa, "the next abolitionist continent?" At the same time, the country is one of those which are urging Iran to commute the death sentence pronounced against VUB's guest Professor Ahmadreza Djalali, whom Teheran accuses of having collaborated with Israel in the assassination of 2 persons in charge of the Iranian nuclear program a few years ago. Mr. Reynders did not pronounce Mr. Djalali's name at the UN tribune. "It would have been counterproductive in that place, in relation to our bilateral efforts," he explained at the end of his speech. Being a candidate for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council in 2019 and 2020, Belgium also said it was prepared to reinforce its financing of this jurisdiction, and of the High Commission (HCDH). In his address, Mr. Reynders gave indeed strong support to the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Prince Zeid Ra'ad Zeid Al-Hussein, in his denunciation of States' shortages. "This concerns, for example, the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the violent acts against peaceful worshipers and demonstrators, and the obstacles to fundamental freedom strongly challenge us," the head of Belgian diplomacy explained. The minister mentioned the DRC among other countries (Syria, Yemen, Burundi, Myanmar), where fundamental principles such as the protection of civilians in military conflicts, the sanctity of hospitals and schools, and access to humanitarian assistance are being "scoffed at on a large scale." (source: Oscar SchneiderThe Brussels Times) UNITED KINGDOM: Barrister who claimed she saved clients from death penalty disbarred A barrister who falsely claimed she had saved clients from the gallows and lied about her qualifications in order to obtain pupillage has been disbarred. According to a decision by the Bar Tribunals and Adjudication Service (BTAS) unregistered barrister Anisah Ahmed failed to act with honesty or integrity. Ahmed, who was called by Middle Temple in 2012, made the false claims while trying to secure pupillage at London's Staple Inn Chambers in 2013. Among her lies were that she had successfully argued in favour of claimants in unfair dismissal cases and had succeeded in having the death penalty put aside while representing prisoners in Malawi. No executions have been carried out in the southeast African state since 1992. She also forged 2 solicitors' signatures, which claimed to provide references for work carried out at 2 law firms. The tribunal does not dispute that she worked at the unnamed firms but notes that at one of the firms her tasks were 'mainly administrative'. Ahmed also said she had obtained a distinction in Legal Practice from Cardiff University, had written a dissertation on rights to die and been awarded a diploma in forensic medicine - none of which was true. According to the tribunal's findings Ahmed's applications for pupillage, made in 2013, included false references from a principal solicitor and assistant solicitor that was 'not authentic and forged'. The charges were brought by barristers' regulator the Bar Standards Board (BSB). Sara Jagger, director of professional conduct at the BSB, said: 'This finding serves as a reminder to barristers that dishonesty is not compatible with membership of the bar. The tribunal's decision to disbar Ahmed reflects the seriousness of her actions.' The tribunal's decision is open to appeal. (source: lawgazette.co.uk) NIGERIA: Hate Speech Death Penalty Bill: Huriwa Carpets National Assembly; * Condemns Dss's Arrest Of Abuja Journalist Tony Ezimakor: A prominent civil Rights organization- HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has accused the National Assembly of working hand -in -gloves with enemies of constitutional democracy bent on destroying civil rule and establishing a one-party dictatorship. The Rights group therefore has warned the National Assembly to stop using subterranean tactics of sponsoring tyrannical pieces of legislations that could strengthen the oppressive styles and the dictatorial tendencies that are manifesting themselves powerfully under the Presidency of Muhammadu Buhari who is still seeing himself as a military General who rules with iron fists. HURIWA lamented that enemies of constitutional democracy are now deeply entrenched in the National Assembly. Also, the Rights group has demanded the
[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----TEXAS, N.H., PENN., GA., FLA., ALA.
March 2 TEXASimpending execution State responds to convicted murderer's request for stay of execution The state has responded to convicted murderer Rosendo Rodriguez III's motion for a stay of execution, although the court has not officially ruled on the motion. Rodriguez is scheduled to be executed on March 27, 2018. Last week, Rodriguez's attorneys asked for additional time to investigate accusations regarding Lubbock County Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Sridhar Natarajan. Rodriguez's attorneys cited a civil lawsuit filed in 2015 by Dr. Luisa Florez under the Texas Whistleblower Act. In the lawsuit, she claimed Dr. Natarajan was not conducting his autopsies, instead delegating the "cutting, removal of tissue and organs, and collection of forensic evidence to technicians who were not licensed or trained doctors or forensic pathologists." Dr. Natarajan and Lubbock County settled the lawsuit on November 7, 2017, paying Dr. Florez the sum of $230,000. The motion claims that Lubbock County District Attorney Matt Powell was aware of this lawsuit and failed to disclose it to Rodriguez, which his attorneys argue is a Brady violation. In the state's response, Powell argues there has been no Brady violation because it does not apply to the post-conviction context and the evidence is not material. "Any allegations within the lawsuit are not relevant to determining how Dr. Natarajan ran the Medical Examiner's Office on September 13-14, 20005. In fact, Dr. Florez could not provide any relevant information about how the office was run in September of 2005 since the office Dr. Florez worked for in 2013 to 2015 was under a different organizational structure than the one Dr. Natarajan operated in September of 2015." Powell said, "...multiple portions of the record make it clear that Dr. Natarajan personally performed the autopsy in this case." The court has not ruled on the motion. Kretzer said he is going to request a hearing in state court, and will soon file a motion to stay in the court of criminal appeals. (source: KCBD news) Bishops hail Texas governor for granting clemency to death row inmate Thomas Whitaker The bishops released a statement to cite the governor's decision as "an example of restorative justice." The Catholic community in Texas offered prayers of thanks and reflected on the mercy shown towards a prisoner, but the bishops also said prayers for the victims. Whitaker had been sentenced in 2003 for plotting to kill his family for the inheritance money with his accomplice, Chris Brashear. Mom Patricia and brother Kevin, who was 19, died on the spot, while dad Kent survived the attack but went through the harrowing experience of learning that his older son was the one of the culprits. Brashear was also in prison for being the triggerman. He, however, did not receive the death penalty but was sentenced to 30 years to life imprisonment. The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles recommended Whitaker's stay of execution at least a week before he was to die via lethal injection, but Abbot's final say on his status became official a half-hour before his execution. Whitaker's dad and stepmom had been at the death chamber for his final moments when lawyer Keith Hampton told them of the governor's decision. Abbot was apparently moved by the father's appeal. "Mr. Whitaker's father, who survived the attempt on his life, passionately opposes the execution of his son." Abbot's statement read. "Mr. Whitaker's father insists that he would be victimized again if the state put to death his last remaining immediate family member." Reports also revealed that Whitaker's father, a very religious man, mentioned a lot of quotes from the Bible to plead for his son's case. The elder Whitaker believed his son's execution would be meaningless if it proceeded. 30 people on death row have, so far, been executed under Abbot's term. Whitaker's stay of execution is only the 3rd clemency granted by a Texas governor in the last 4 decades. (source: Christian Daily) NEW HAMPSHIRE: Death penalty repeal deserves full and fair debate For the 1st time in decades. it appears a bill to repeal the death penalty has enough votes to pass the New Hampshire House and Senate. The Legislature last passed a death penalty repeal in 2000, when it was vetoed by Gov. Jeanne Shaheen. New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu said he'll veto this death penalty repeal bill if it reaches his desk because, in his view, "There is no doubt that the most heinous crimes warrant the death penalty." Despite the governor's veto threat, we urge legislators to debate death penalty repeal and then to vote their consciences. If we, as citizens, are going to authorize the state to kill in our names, we should regularly affirm that belief and declare why we think this action is right and just and moral. The death penalty is a highly emotional topic,
