In rare case, man who has not yet been tried wants state to execute him

[Champ]

BRETT BARROUQUERE

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - In what experts say is a rare occurrence, a man accused of murdering two children and attacking their mother has asked a judge to let him plead guilty and to sentence him to death.

"I only wish the judge to sentence me to death so no one can feel responsible for another's death, including mine," Marco Chapman wrote in a letter to Circuit Judge Tony Frohlich read in court in October. Chapman, 32, is due back in court Tuesday, when a doctor is expected to testify about his mental state and whether he understands what a guilty plea and death sentence would mean.

"His request is very well thought out," Linda Smith, who is prosecuting Chapman, said last week. "The big question is, will he change his mind and what do we do if he does?"

Neither lawyers nor death penalty activists and researchers could provide statistics on how often someone pleads guilty to a capital crime and seeks a death sentence. But lawyers and activists agree it is rare.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1835&ncid=1835&e=1&u=/cpress/20041206/ca_pr_on_od/seeking_death

[Droopy]

1. If I did what he's alledged to have done

I'd want to die, too.

[auntAgonist]

2. I suppose I too would want to die

BUT. Life imprisonment is better. No parole. No freedom.

[pintobean]

3. What a nice murderer. n/t

[Historic NY]

4. Would save some money....perhaps he hates prison food.