Georgia x-date update
[rolling update]
8:52: Final update: William Earl Lynd has been executed for the murder of Ginger Moore. Mr. Lynd’s execution ends the longest period between executions since 1982. This is the 1100th execution in the modern era and the first following the Supreme Court’s ruling in Baze v. Rees.
The execution began at 7:34 PM and Mr. Lynd was pronounced dead at 7:51 PM. No reason was given by Ga DoC for the delay in execution or for the 17 minutes between commencement and time of death. “The condemned declined to make a statement or offer a prayer” [ IHT, ]
Courtesy of SCOTUSBLOG, the stay application (07A880), found here, The petition (07-10760) can be downloaded here. The state’s opposition to delaying the execution and its request for denial of the petition is here. A reply by Lynd’s counsel is here. Th e text of the denial of cert & staycan be found here.
Prior updates after the jump.:
8:19 PM Eastern: A reader notes that this is the longest period between executions since 1982.
8:05 PM Eastern William Earl Lynd has been executed for the murder of Ginger Moore. This is the 1100th execution in the modern era and the first following the Supreme Court’s ruling in Baze v. Rees. The last execution was held when my son was 4 days old, he is now closing in on his eighth monthiversary. This is longest amount of time between executions since at least the early nineties. No reason yet for the delay in the official pronouncement. There are many reasons other than the State of Georgia botching the first execution post-Baze that could explain the delay in reporting a time of death, however, such a delay often indicates problems with the execution process. I’ll update more later.
7:25 PM Eastern: The Supreme Court has refused to block the execution of William Earl Lynd, a prisoner in Georgia. His death is believed to be underway. The SCOTUS’s order is here. Steve Hall @ StandDown is likewise appears to be liveblogging.
Tuesday, 6. May 2008 20:15
And justice was done. Thankfully, a 20 year ordeal is over for the families of the two women murdered by this killer.
Tuesday, 6. May 2008 21:52
Finally, after 7 mo’s halt. Now maybe we can get back to putting about 6-8 killers to death each month.
Wednesday, 7. May 2008 12:11
@SPO: Justice? What Justice?
Wednesday, 7. May 2008 12:34
[...] Die Hinrichtung war für 19 Uhr Ortszeit angesetzt, verzögerte sich aber durch den last-minute appeal der Anwälte von Lynd. Um 19.25 Uhr verkündete der U.S. Supreme Court dass die Hinrichtung nicht gestoppt wird und die Hinrichtung begann dann um 19.34 Uhr Ortszeit. Lynd lehnte es ab ein letztes Statement abzugeben und wurde um 19.51 Uhr Ortszeit (heute morgen 01.51 Uhr unserer Zeit) für tot erklärt. Weitere Informationen inklusive Links zu den Schriftsätzen des last-minute appeals bzw. der Anordnung des U.S. Supreme Court finden sich bei Karl Keys. [...]
Wednesday, 7. May 2008 12:59
Joachim, more justice than when your nation let Mohamed Hamadi go after 19 years for the the murder of Robert Dean Stethem.
Wednesday, 7. May 2008 15:09
Hi SPO,
what do you think about organizations like MVFR? Do the members of these organizations don’t want justice because they don’t want the capital punishment?
Joachim
Wednesday, 7. May 2008 15:27
They have a right to voice their opinions–I find them a bit misguided, but they’re entitled to their views. I suspect, though, that many family members who opposes capital punishment breathe a sigh of relief when an execution happens.
Of course, I note that you did not respond to my point.
Wednesday, 7. May 2008 16:21
Hi SPO,
I’m not familiar with the case of Mohamad Hamadi, but I’m convinced that LWOP is the better choice to achieve justice.
Here in Germany a life sentence means 25 years, in certain cases with the possibility of preventive detention after the 25 years. I’m convinced that in more cases the offenders should serve the whole 25 years, and maybe should also serve the preventive detention.
B u t I also think that taking the life of the offender doesn’t achieve justice and doesn’t bring closure. In your land some states want to introduce capital punishment for the rape of a child – due to my own biography I can assure that the execution of the offender wouldn’t ease the pain in the soul…
Joachim