[LSDDSL]

He seems as good a candidate for the needle as anyone else on death row in various US states.

[georgshult]

Thompson, 34, was an accomplice to trigger man Sammy Butler when 29-year-old store clerk Mansoor Bhai Rahim Mohammed was gunned down 13 years ago. Butler received life in prison. A jury gave Thompson death. So let me get this straight... the guy who actually pulled the trigger got life, but the accomplice got death. WTF

While I won't argue whether he deserves the DP, why the hell didn't the trigger man get the same?

[CFstantony]

So let me get this straight... the guy who actually pulled the trigger got life, but the accomplice got death. WTF

While I won't argue whether he deserves the DP, why the hell didn't the trigger man get the same?

The article says seperate trials.

It also notes that he did his best to kill another person in that incident.

[Biradallo]

I'm actually not sure. If he does, I would think that the parole board would, too.

[Phlkxkbh]

I'm actually not sure. If he does, I would think that the parole board would, too.

He'd be pretty close to meeting my personal standard for when the DP is warranted.

Guilty without a doubt. Multiple violent crimes resulting in deaths. Shows all the remorse of a diseased turnip.

As he says... just bam. Could hardly deserve it more.

[fedelwet]

Hogwash.

He declined to grant clemency to a human stain.

[royarnekara]

One would think a governor woold make a decision based on advice from those paid to do a job.

[MIBgirlsXXL]

This was basically legalized vigilantism. Perry was not elected judge. He should be made to push the button (or whatever) himself on these executions, and on camera.

Because he killed this man personally -- even though he didn't pull the trigger.

This doesn't make sense. He was elected judge, under your incredibly broad use of the term.

[MauroDarudo]

This doesn't make sense. He was elected judge, under your incredibly broad use of the term.

Not to mention that someone who was either elected or appointed judge under even the narrowest use of the term had already sentenced the guy to death. All Perry did was pass up the chance to reverse that judge.

[12Jasoumemoobia]

Yes and yes, unless you care to explain your brilliant revelations.

You're the one who made the assertions, and thus bears the burden, but since I don't want your impending cardiac death on my hands, I'll oblige this once.

First, there's no reason to believe Butler's sentence should act as a cap on Thompson's. Each was tried by a jury under the same rules, and there's no indication of anything being amiss in either trial. Different juries are allowed to reach different conclusions, especially when they're ignorant of what the other is doing, as the system strives to achieve.

Second, you're ignoring the roles of plenty of people when you say it happened on Perry's whim. The prosecutor, judge and jury all played their parts in making this execution happen at trial. From Perry's statement, Thompson made use of the appeals process, and at every stage, the appellate courts let the sentence stand. In short, that it came down to Perry's decision doesn't mean it wasn't the result of a lot of consideration and action on the part of many different people. Perry could stop the execution on a whim, but it takes all of those people coming to the same result to make the execution go forward.

[PareKeect]

I've no doubt that he was a repugnant excuse for a human being, and it's pretty clear that he did plenty of evil in his pathetic excuse for a life. But in terms of the actual court case, it appears this guy's biggest issue was not having a better lawyer. The fact remains: he got a death sentence for a killing he did not personally commit.

[Elitiachirl]

Bullshit. You keep saying things that are your personal opinion, but aren't true.

Yes, Texas supports the death penalty, but that doesn't mean Perry is right in viewing himself as god-like.
This has nothing to do with support of the death penalty in general terms.
It's a particular case. See if you can wrap your mind around the fact.

[BiseCreesia]

Personally committing the murder isn't the bar for the death penalty in this case, though. If your position is that the death penalty wasn't morally appropriate, that's fine, but your qualm is with the laws of Texas and the U.S., at least as much as with Perry.

True dat.

[meteeratymn]

He was talking to me. And his assessment of my POV was correct.

[Adimonnna]

This, is bullshit. Keep up.
It has nothing to do with the laws of Texas. I'm fine with the laws. Perry, I have a problem with.
You cite the OP. The OP was clear in that this is about Perry being a dickhead.

No it isn't. It's pure fact, and the very article you posted lays it out as such. And the OP was clear only that you think this is about Perry being a dickhead. It really isn't. And it has everything to do with the laws of Texas.

[wvbwxol]

How so? He did nothing but uphold a perfectly legal and well-considered implementation of Texas law on capital punishment. As an aside, I find kind of surprising the notion that most Texans come down on the side of letting this particular murderer live. Austin, I can see, but we know it's bizarro Texas.

[huntbytnkbel]

Are we through the looking-glass here?

-Arrian

[dushappeaps]

All of you can certainly have your opinions on the death penalty.
Perry is a dickhead because the parole board of still Texas, who aren't known as pushovers, advised by a large margin to commute the sentence. The shooter is in for life.
I'm not saying this guy was a saint. I'm saying two things. The actual shooter in this crime got life and the board made their recommendation.
Perry, in his infinite wisdom, declined as he was headed out the door for a $400 hair trim.

Like I said earlier, your beef is with the laws of Texas, since that's what gives the governor that authority and keeps it from the parole board. The shooter's sentence doesn't matter.

Boris, which execution was that?

[slowlexrese]

I remember that now, the arson case. Seems fair enough to pin the dickhead on him there.

[Polopolop]

gives the governor that authority and keeps it from the parole board.

Actually the parole board has more power that the governor. It takes the affirmative action of both to modify the judicial sentence, but the Governor can not initiate anything or prescribe the terms of clemancy. His power in to affirm or veto the parole board. Only the parole board can initiate any clemancy or set what it till be. The clemency power the governor has beyond rubber stamping or vetoing the recomendation of the parole board is that he can grant a one time 30 day delay of sentence in a death penalty case. In many other states the governor has his own independant clemancy power.