Killing executions
Dec 20, 2013, 2:15 PM | Updated: 2:15 pm
In this time of peace on Earth toward men of goodwill and a little boy murdered 20 years ago, on the way to see Santa Claus, I’ve been thinking about Debra Milke and others on death row.
She is no longer there or incarcerated because a star witness, a detective, allegedly lied about her confession. I’ve wondered if that is a rare exception to the rule or are mistaken convictions made often enough to be a concern.
Now, the information is released that executions are decreasing in the United States because of concerns about costs, flawed prosecutions and the shortage of the drugs used to carry out lethal injections.
A number of professionals from the legal world are noticing that while 32 states still have the death penalty on the books, only nine conducted lethal injections this past year. Even Texas, where executions had become almost a way of life, has seen a consistent decline.
Possibly, life without benefit of parole is being seen as less risky justice. Of course, North Korea’s system is the least risky: shoot the defendant on his way out of the courtroom.
I’m Pat McMahon.
