DeeDee Tostanoski | Killing in our name
On Thursday, Feb. 19, Virginia killed Edward Nathaniel Bell in our name. He received the death penalty because he was found guilty for the 1999 murder of Officer Ricky Timbrook in Winchester. Officer Timbrook’s murder is a heinous crime, and his murderer deserves severe punishment. However, killing a person who has killed another person to make the point that killing a person is wrong is absolute nonsense. Our humanity is diminished when the Commonwealth kills in our name. Make no mistake: State-approved killing is still killing, despite the fact that we name it execution to sweeten it up.
I certainly don’t know whether Eddie Bell killed Officer Timbrook. He claims he did not, including his last words as he was forcibly carried to the execution chamber. I do know that Eddie Bell was most likely retarded (the Supreme Court has ruled that mentally retarded people cannot be executed), but was prevented from presenting that evidence at his trial. His legal counsel in the sentencing phase was so poor that the appeal court commented on the absolute failure of counsel to provide any mitigating information. The case against Eddie Bell was completely circumstantial, and the only witness against him has admitted to lying in his testimony. These irregularities make it possible that Virginia has killed an innocent man in my name.
Over 130 death-row inmates have been exonerated by the Innocence Project, which has proved that they did not commit the crimes for which they were found guilty. Unless and until we have a foolproof legal system, incapable of error, I do not want any state-approved killing carried out in my name. How about you? Please let the governor and your state legislators know how you feel.
- Letter from DeeDee Tostanoski, Alexandria
Related posts:
- Starbury Hill Stop the Presses column by Chris Graham I went out and bought a pair of Starburys last week. Yes, I know, this is breaking news,...
I am in favor of the death penalty. However, if during the course of something coming up as evidence proving that the accused did not commit the crime, I say let the accused go.
Unfortunately, I doubt we will ever have a foolproof legal system.
Thanks though for bringing your feelings for others to comment on.
It’s a dicey issue, isn’t it? Some of the inmates that have been executed may not have committed the disgusting crime, but it is safe to say that many of them did. So, then what? No, really, I’m asking….
I’m right there with both of you guys. Sorta. I come from the perspective initially where I think I’m against the death penalty generally. But then I have a hard time reconciling how to handle particularly egregious crimes. Terrorism, for example. Mass murder, shooting people indiscriminately, sex crimes involving children that end in brutal murder. Should society take on the burden of caring for these people for the rest of their lives in prison settings because a few of us decide that it is morally better to do that than put them to death for their ultimate violations of law and mores?
I don’t know that there is a right or wrong answer. Except to suggest that there is a right or wrong answer.
I’m also thinking about the deal we are all expected to keep as people living in a society of laws. … What about those who choose to break the law in such a way that actually harms another? Aren’t they forfeiting their right to be protected by the same laws they break? Wouldn’t that leave the door open to the possibility of execution as punishment for violent crime as being, well, rationalized? But then again, what about those deemed unfit to make rational, adult decisions? Are they living outside the law when they hurt another, even if they simply lack the ability to make healthy decisions? What about children who cause physical, irreparable harm to another? … What a mess of worms.
the scumbag was not killed because he killed to show that killing is wrong you douchebag. he was killed to prevent HIM from ever killing again. guess what, it worked!!
oh, by the way. your governor is also a douchebag!!
I don’t know ya, Bill, but that kind of name-calling isn’t kosher here. Got it?