Caleb Adams Commentary
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Jury's use of Bible voids death sentence???
Robert Harlan, who raped and killed a waitress in 1994 and paralyzed the woman who tried to save her, will serve life in prison after his death sentence was overturned.The Colorado Supreme Court ruled Monday that a lower court correctly overturned a death sentence because jurors read Bible passages during deliberations. Robert Harlan of Denver, who was convicted of raping and killing a waitress and (almost killying) -- permanently paralyzing the woman who tried to save her in 1994, instead will serve life in prison, the court said in a 3-2 ruling.
Harlan, then a 29-year-old telephone operator, kidnapped and raped Rhonda Lee Maloney, who was on her way home from her job at a Central City casino. Jacquie Creazzo saw Maloney struggling and tried to save her, but she was shot by Harlan and paralyzed from the waist down. Harlan, the son of a Denver police detective, snatched Maloney again. Maloney's battered body was found a week later in Adams County with a bullet hole in her forehead. "The only thing I care about is (Harlan's) not getting out again," Creazzo said after the ruling Monday.
Convicted Murderer/Rapist's Death Sentance Overuled
The Colorado Supreme Court ruled yesterday that the Bible should not be allowed to influence a person's thought process - specifically, the Bible should not be considered by members of a jury.
The convicted murderer and rapist will not get the death penalty, but will get a life sentance instead.
Robert Harlan of Denver, who raped and killed a waitress and permanently paralyzed the woman who tried to save her in 1994, instead will serve life in prison, the court said in a 3-2 ruling.
Bob Grant, who tried the case as Adams County district attorney, said the evidence of Harlan's guilt was so overwhelming that the introduction of a Bible passage shouldn't have mattered.
"If there's a case in the state that deserves the death penalty, it's Robert Harlan," Grant said.
Focus on the Family's Tom Minnery, vice president for government and public policy, said there was nothing wrong in using biblical principles to decide on a death sentence.
"Today's ruling further confirms that the judicial branch of our government is nearly bereft of any moral foundation," Minnery said in a statement. "It is a sad day when the Bible is banned from a jury room."
Michael Farris, who filed a friend-of-the-court brief, said jurors were trying to assuage the worries of one Christian juror who thought that imposing the death penalty would violate his faith. "They were using a Bible to answer his questions," said Farris, who is president of Patrick Henry College, in Purcellville, Va. "Their goal (the jury) was to follow the law of Colorado."
Colorado Supreme Court Throws Out Bible
Tuesday, March 29, 2005 -
The Colorado Supreme Court ruled Monday that a lower court correctly overturned a death sentence because jurors read Bible passages during deliberations.
Thursday, March 17, 2005
Judge Gives Scott Peterson the Death Sentance
As reported here last December, Scott Peterson was sentanced to the death penalty for the murder of his wife and his unborn child. The jury recommended the death penalty because of the 1st degree and 2nd degree murder charges, and yesterday the judge confirmed the death penalty at the sentancing.
The news story came from AP sources in Redwood City, CA saying Scott Peterson was sentenced to death Wednesday March 16th, 2005 for murdering his pregnant wife, Laci, more than two years ago. Judge Alfred A. Delucchi called the slayings of Laci and her baby boy Conner (fetus) "cruel, uncaring, heartless and callous."
Judge Delucchi said in a statement - The court is satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant, Scott Lee Peterson, is guilty of first-degree murder and second degree.
Several un-resolved irony's are still quite visible in this case... Scott Peterson will be sent to death row at San Quentin State Prison outside San Francisco, the famous prison that overlooks the same bay where Laci Peterson's (Scott's wife) was discarded after Scott murdered her two years earlier right around Christmas time.
It's also quite ironic that the 2nd degree murder charge was upheld for the murder of the Peterson's unborn child, Conner Peterson.
Killing unborn children is still considered legal in most states in the USA - if it is done by a licensed professional doctor (MD).
