hazel
Inactive
Ti Amero Per Sempre
Posts: 1,550
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Post by hazel on Jun 7, 2005 17:45:09 GMT -6
Houston killer who wanted to die executed Associated Press HUNTSVILLE — Condemned killer Alexander Martinez was executed today for the robbery and fatal stabbing of a prostitute at a Houston house almost four years ago.
In a brief statement while strapped to the death chamber gurney, he thanked his family and friends and expressed his love for them.
"And thanks for the friends at the Polunsky Unit that helped me get through this that didn't agree with my decision and still gave me their friendship," he said.
Martinez, who would have turned 29 next week, ordered no appeals filed that could stop his punishment.
As the drugs began flowing, he gasped, coughed and let out a long wheeze. Eight minutes later at 6:18 p.m., he was pronounced dead.
In a handwritten statement he prepared about two hours before his death, Martinez acknowledged that "I have caused so much pain to so many people. I especially want to apologize to my victim's family for the life I took.
"I am only taking full responsibility for what I have done. I am truly sorry and, though some may not believe this, God only knows the truth and for that I know that's all that matters. I am ashamed for what I've done!"
His English-born wife by proxy and a sister-in-law were the only witnesses.
His execution was the ninth this year in Texas, the nation's leading capital punishment state.
"I don't like what I did," Martinez said in a recent death row interview. "I'm ashamed for what I did. I can say I'm sorry, but my actions mean so much more."
Martinez was supposed to be put to death in March. That date was put off, however, when his lawyer filed an appeal in the state courts against Martinez's wishes.
"You should have heard him," attorney Pat McCann said. "He was furious."
When the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals dismissed the appeal, it cleared the way for setting the punishment today.
At least two psychiatrists examined Martinez last year and determined he was mentally competent to make the decision.
"I think he actually looks at this execution as peace if one can understand that," McCann said. "The system up there is so grim, some of them actually long for some kind of release."
The eighth-grade dropout who said he never had a real job was out of prison in August 2001 only three weeks on an attempted murder conviction when he telephoned an escort service that doubled as a prostitution operation.
With a promise she would be paid $300, Helen Oliveros, 45, showed up at the Houston house where Martinez was staying.
"I didn't have $300," he said. "She got real mad and we got into a fight. I stabbed her."
Evidence showed he slit the woman's throat with a knife, had sex with her and took about $150 from her. Then he folded her body into a trash bag and stuffed it in a closet. After a few days, he dumped the body in a nearby vacant field on Houston's east side.
He later attacked his stepmother, seriously injuring her by slashing her throat. When he told other relatives of that assault, they became afraid and called police. Prosecutors said he then confessed to the Oliveros slaying.
Martinez had been in and out of jail and prison since he was 15, when he was first arrested for stealing cars. In August 1994 he was convicted of attempted murder in Houston for stabbing a worker at a pizza place and was sentenced to seven years. A year later he was paroled, then returned to prison the following year for violating parole.
On July 20, 2001, Martinez was freed under mandatory supervision. Oliveros was killed 23 days later.
Her name, along with the name of Martinez's stepmother, are on tombstones among extensive tattoos on his arms.
"He did it before the trial," said Marie Munier, a Harris County assistant district attorney who was among the prosecutors handling Martinez's case. "One gave us the name of the complainant and said $300 and R.I.P.
"He was really creepy."
At least six other Texas inmates have execution dates. Scheduled next for injection is Charles Dean Hood, set to die June 30 for the fatal shootings of a man and woman in the Dallas suburb of Plano in 1989.
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Post by Rev. Agave on Jun 7, 2005 17:52:12 GMT -6
Release the doves!!!!
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Post by electricchairusa on Jun 7, 2005 17:59:10 GMT -6
Hmmmmm Well another debt to society paid then
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Post by bryan on Jun 7, 2005 18:01:36 GMT -6
i give him credit, he took his punishment like a man
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Post by electricchairusa on Jun 7, 2005 18:03:15 GMT -6
I wonder though if he would have volunteerd so readily if Texas was still using Electrocution ?
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Post by beej76 on Jun 7, 2005 18:10:54 GMT -6
Yes, because society is suddendly "whole" again, right?
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Post by electricchairusa on Jun 7, 2005 18:12:10 GMT -6
it doesnt feel whole to you beej?
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hazel
Inactive
Ti Amero Per Sempre
Posts: 1,550
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Post by hazel on Jun 7, 2005 18:24:16 GMT -6
The table was set Right after the final meal. Needles for dessert
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Peeved
Inactive
Life is a behavioral theatre and it's free for your own amusement, so Enjoy It!
Posts: 343
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Post by Peeved on Jun 7, 2005 20:19:08 GMT -6
I wonder though if he would have volunteerd so readily if Texas was still using Electrocution ? Why does it matter? He paid his debt. He's square with the house now...
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Katyusha
Regular
After some deep thought and consideration-Anti
Posts: 474
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Post by Katyusha on Jun 7, 2005 21:02:57 GMT -6
Unfortunately,he is a mere exception...if only the rest on DR would act likewise the state could save some million dollars,I guess....
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Post by RED on Jun 7, 2005 21:07:38 GMT -6
Another victim of his own actions.
Love, RED
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Post by eu.ro on Jun 8, 2005 1:28:39 GMT -6
C'mon guys, he paid for what he did. We won't remember him as the greatest man alive, but we all should respect that he took his sentence with bravery. Furthermore he apologised and wrote a final statement, which seems to be really honest to me.
Alexander Martinez is dead. Leave him alone!
Euro.
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Post by Rebel Yell on Jun 8, 2005 1:53:38 GMT -6
WOW, I agree with Euro on this. The dude did it, admitted he did it, made the apology, and accepted his punishment. He should be a role model for others on death row.
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hazel
Inactive
Ti Amero Per Sempre
Posts: 1,550
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Post by hazel on Jun 8, 2005 2:44:58 GMT -6
Why does it matter? He paid his debt. He's square with the house now... Someone has been watching The Green Mile. ;D ;D ;D
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Post by eu.ro on Jun 8, 2005 3:58:02 GMT -6
Someone has been watching The Green Mile. ;D ;D ;D That's exactly what I thought. Tom Hanks says it in the basement to this *deleted* (?name?), next to the burned corpse .....
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Post by electricchairusa on Jun 8, 2005 5:23:06 GMT -6
lol...never thought Id say this but I agree w/ Euro he did pay the debt to society that he owed best to just let him rest in peace...imo
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Post by Jane on Jun 8, 2005 5:25:04 GMT -6
lol...never thought Id say this but I agree w/ Euro he did pay the debt to society that he owed best to just let him rest in peace...imo Quick lower the white flags and blow the trumpet ;D ;D ;D
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Post by dio on Jun 8, 2005 8:49:48 GMT -6
lol...never thought Id say this but I agree w/ Euro he did pay the debt to society that he owed best to just let him rest in peace...imo Oh lord Electro you have really done it now.The last time I agreed with Euro,poor Snow got her temper up and needed religous counseling ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Post by josephdphillips on Jun 8, 2005 17:02:12 GMT -6
Hmmmmm. Well another debt to society paid then Actually, no, Martinez did not repay its debt to society. Its victim is still dead, and her loved ones still grieve. The blessed execution of a murderer is, at best, only a compromise. No doves, no balloons, no eulogy, no resting in peace. Martinez is, was and always will be a murderer.
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Post by beej76 on Jun 8, 2005 17:13:12 GMT -6
Actually, no, Martinez did not repay its debt to society. Its victim is still dead, and her loved ones still grieve. The blessed execution of a murderer is, at best, only a compromise. No doves, no balloons, no eulogy, no resting in peace. Martinez is, was and always will be a murderer. Very strong anti-DP argument Joe - if a murderer can't repay his societal debt, even through his own death - you've really got to find value somewhere else to justify killing him. Maybe we'll have you as an anti someday! You think arguing with me and Felix is fun? You'd have a blast with some of the pros. Read some of their arguments and tell me that you couldn't rip some of them to shreads...
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Post by josephdphillips on Jun 8, 2005 17:29:21 GMT -6
Very strong anti-DP argument Joe - if a murderer can't repay his societal debt, even through his own death - you've really got to find value somewhere else to justify killing him. No, I don't. The death penalty's purpose is valid on its face. It's sole purpose is waste management. From that perspective, its value is unimpeachable. The fact is that no punishment is harsh enough, retributive enough, in reply to murder. The death penalty is simply the harshest available, and will have to do. When you convince me the taking of an innocent human life doesn't merit the culture's harshest response, I'll become "flexible."
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Post by josephdphillips on Jun 8, 2005 17:38:01 GMT -6
You'd have a blast with some of the pros. Read some of their arguments and tell me that you couldn't rip some of them to shreads... I do take issue with several of the pros here, but I cut them a little slack. It's kind of hard for some of the pros here to rebut every conceivable point of view with a picture of his/her slain relative or friend affixed to the monitor. It's not easy to argue capital punishment on a purely cerebral level when abolitionist idiots and murderer-lovers are making fun of your grief. I find myself vested with murder victims and their families. What you're vested in, if anything, I can't see. You're opposed to capital punishment because the numbers don't add up in your spreadsheet.
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Post by beej76 on Jun 8, 2005 17:49:17 GMT -6
No, I don't. The death penalty's purpose is valid on its face. It's sole purpose is waste management. From that perspective, its value is unimpeachable. The fact is that no punishment is harsh enough, retributive enough, in reply to murder. The death penalty is simply the harshest available, and will have to do. When you convince me the taking of an innocent human life doesn't merit the culture's harshest response, I'll become "flexible." If the sole value is waste management, well, then I've futher convinced you should be an anti - what is cheaper? You wouldn't ship your trash to the moon if there was a dump down the street - not unless the moon really got you something that the dump can't.
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Post by beej76 on Jun 8, 2005 17:51:00 GMT -6
I do take issue with several of the pros here, but I cut them a little slack. It's kind of hard for some of the pros here to rebut every conceivable point of view with a picture of his/her slain relative or friend affixed to the monitor. It's not easy to argue capital punishment on a purely cerebral level when abolitionist idiots and murderer-lovers are making fun of your grief. I find myself vested with murder victims and their families. What you're vested in, if anything, I can't see. You're opposed to capital punishment because the numbers don't add up in your spreadsheet. Cop out, BS argument. Joe, you're slipping. Seriously. Is this really you, or did somebody hack into your account? There's two boards - this one is to debate the DP - we've had this discussion I don't know how many times. The moderators have backed it up. If an MVS can't take debate on the issue, they shouldn't be here. There's another board for that.
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Post by josephdphillips on Jun 8, 2005 20:24:16 GMT -6
Cop out, BS argument. Joe, you're slipping. Seriously. Is this really you, or did somebody hack into your account? There's two boards - this one is to debate the DP - we've had this discussion I don't know how many times. The moderators have backed it up. If an MVS can't take debate on the issue, they shouldn't be here. There's another board for that. I don't know what your objection is. I have tried other boards. I like this one. I don't go after my fellow pros with the same venom I reserve for liberal pinhead antis. Capital punishment is an important issue, and comprises a subset of issues over which death penalty supporters may argue.
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Post by josephdphillips on Jun 8, 2005 20:33:11 GMT -6
If the sole value is waste management, well, then I've futher convinced you should be an anti - what is cheaper? You wouldn't ship your trash to the moon if there was a dump down the street - not unless the moon really got you something that the dump can't. If the murderer, deemed as waste, can't be safely stored in or out of prison, the only option left is to put it down, since, unfortunately, direct burial or cremation isn't permitted until it's dead. In addition, the execution of the murderer is simply fulfilling an obligation made to the killer prior to its act of murder. Instead of easily avoiding this penalty, the murderer acts in spite of it and brings its punishment to itself.
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Post by sclcookie on Jun 11, 2005 6:34:59 GMT -6
It sounds like no closure. If you're not satisfied with the execution.....well, I just don't know what to say. P.S. I'll be posting his last statement as soon as I get it typed up. I'm sure many would love to read it. hugggz, Suzanne Hmmmmm. Well another debt to society paid then Actually, no, Martinez did not repay its debt to society. Its victim is still dead, and her loved ones still grieve. The blessed execution of a murderer is, at best, only a compromise. No doves, no balloons, no eulogy, no resting in peace. Martinez is, was and always will be a murderer.
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Post by DeadElvis on Jun 15, 2005 8:00:02 GMT -6
Hmmmmm. Well another debt to society paid then Actually, no, Martinez did not repay its debt to society. Its victim is still dead, and her loved ones still grieve. The blessed execution of a murderer is, at best, only a compromise. No doves, no balloons, no eulogy, no resting in peace. Martinez is, was and always will be a murderer. I agree completly. The debt paid argument might be made here since the murderer only killed one person but you would have to equate a murderer's life with that of an innocent victim. Is that fair? What about multiple murderers? Do you really think that Gacy paid his debt to society? Bundy?
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Post by josephdphillips on Jun 15, 2005 9:15:10 GMT -6
I agree completly. The debt paid argument might be made here since the murderer only killed one person but you would have to equate a murderer's life with that of an innocent victim. Is that fair? What about multiple murderers? Do you really think that Gacy paid his debt to society? Bundy? Exactly. A comparison of a murderer's life to the life of his innocent victim isn't fair at all. Nothing you can do to a murderer, no matter how "barbaric," is enough to undo the damage it caused.
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Post by Felix2 on Jun 15, 2005 9:21:48 GMT -6
Unfortunately,he is a mere exception...if only the rest on DR would act likewise the state could save some million dollars,I guess.... At least you are honest about priorities, = the almighty dollar!
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