NYT: U.S. Case Draws Vermont Into Debate on the Death Penalty

[DeepModem Mom]

U.S. Case Draws Vermont Into Debate on the Death Penalty
By KATIE ZEZIMA
Published: May 29, 2005


BURLINGTON, Vt., May 24 - For years, Vermonters have watched the death penalty debate unfold far from this reputedly left-leaning state, which has not executed anyone in nearly a half-century and abolished the death penalty in 1987.

But the issue hit home earlier this month, when jury selection began here in the federal capital murder trial of Donald Fell after years of legal wrangling about the death penalty's application in the case....

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According to the indictment, Mr. Fell and an accomplice, Robert Lee (who later committed suicide), drove (Terry) King's car 200 miles (from Rutland, Vermont) to Dutchess County in New York, where they beat her to death in the woods as she prayed.

The indictment said that Mr. Fell and Mr. Lee kidnapped Ms. King after killing Mr. Fell's mother, Debra, and a man named Charles Conway in Debra Fell's apartment in Rutland....

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Because the case involved the crossing of state lines, the federal authorities claimed jurisdiction. In October 2001, the United States attorney's office here reached an agreement to spare Mr. Fell the death penalty, but the United States attorney general at the time, John Ashcroft, rejected the deal months later....


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/29/national/29death.html

[DrDebug]

1. Rule by fear

If you cannot rule by reason, rule by fear. I guess it has become the practice nowadays.

[TahitiNut]

2. The "consent of the governed" is more easily obtained by coercion ...

... and when "informed consent" is abolished. In other words, keep 'em ignorant and scared.