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Post by Californian on Jun 11, 2010 19:06:40 GMT -6
Ahh, shaddap and die like a man, you sissy. Utah man makes last appeal to avoid firing squad DRAPER, Utah (AP) -- After two days of testimony about a condemned Utah man's journey from a life of violence to reformation, his lawyer said Friday that fairness should compel a state parole board to stop his execution by firing squad. "He came from a family that exuded criminality and violence, and that is what he was," Ronnie Lee Gardner's lawyer, Andrew Parnes, told the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole. "He's changed, he's overcome that." (what choice did the idiot have, he's in prison on death row!?)Gardner wants the board to reduce his death sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole. A majority of the five-person board must vote for clemency to cancel Gardner's execution scheduled for June 18. The board plans to announce its decision Monday. Arguing against commutation, Assistant Utah Attorney General Thomas Brunker said two murders, and a string of other violent crimes including several escapes, support the proposed punishment. Brunker noted that Gardner's conviction and sentenced have been subject to 25 years of judicial review and that his death sentenced had been repeatedly upheld. "Mr. Gardner's sentence is fair, was fair and should be carried out," Brunker said. But Parnes said fairness also requires the board to do what jurors could not during Gardner's 1985 murder trial: consider mitigating evidence from Gardner's troubled life that includes early drug addiction, physical and sexual abuse and possible brain damage. He contends that had jurors known Gardner's family history, they might have been swayed toward a lesser sentence, even though the law didn't allow for a life sentence without the possibility of parole at the time. The law was changed in 1992, and the information about Gardner's troubled life was uncovered seven years later during a federal appeal. Four of the jurors who sentenced Gardner submitted statements to the board stating that their minds might have been changed if they had known more about his life, or if there had been other options to punish him. "I agreed to vote for death because I just wanted to go home," juror Pauline Davies wrote, adding that she was the last juror to agree to the sentence. "I would prefer that Gardner be given commutation and life without parole." During some two hours of questioning Thursday, Gardner said that for most of his life he was an impulsive, unapologetic person who looked for trouble. That began to change in 1999 as he met with psychologists and understood the damages wrought by his dysfunctional family life, Gardner testified Thursday. He also said he supports the death penalty as a punishment. "But they need to be fair," Gardner said. "In my case I never had that chance." Gardner, 49, was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death for the fatal shooting of attorney Michael Burdell in a botched courthouse escape attempt. Gardner shot Burdell in 1985 while trying to escape from custody at a Salt Lake City courthouse, where he faced a hearing on charges that he murdered bartender Melvyn Otterstrom the previous year. He pleaded guilty in the Otterstrom case. Burdell's father, Joseph Burdell Jr., asked the board in a videotaped statement to reduce Gardner's sentence because his son did not believe in the death penalty. As an adult, Gardner has spent nearly 30 years in prison on various criminal convictions, and Brunker said Gardner's claims of reformation seem like an 11th-hour plea from someone trying to save his own life. While incarcerated, Gardner has helped instigate at least one riot and successfully escaped at least twice. Only in the last 10 years has he ceased to be a serious disciplinary problem, according to prison records. "Even if he has made some changes, the board has to weigh this late change against a lengthy history of criminality and his refusal to obey the rules in prison and in the community," Brunker said. Earlier this week, Parnes also asked the Utah Supreme Court to vacate Gardner's sentence and order a new sentencing hearing, or simply commute the sentence. It was unclear when the high court will rule. If neither the court nor the board rules in Gardner's favor, Parnes said they will "reassess" and "might proceed to the U.S. Supreme Court." At the end of Friday's hearing, Tami Stewart said she'll live with either outcome. He father, bailiff George "Nick" Kirk, suffered chronic health problems after Gardner shot him at the court in 1985. "I do feel sorry for him," Stewart said. "But I'm just afraid if they do put him over to the life sentence, somebody else will get hurt." Utah law allowed Gardner to choose execution by firing squad rather than lethal injection because he was sentenced before 2004, when lethal injection became the state's default execution method.
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Post by mbnorrie on Jun 11, 2010 19:10:45 GMT -6
Ahh, shaddap and die like a man, you sissy. "I agreed to vote for death because I just wanted to go home," juror Pauline Davies wrote, adding that she was the last juror to agree to the sentence. "I would prefer that Gardner be given commutation and life without parole." is a tad concerning
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Post by Californian on Jun 11, 2010 19:15:23 GMT -6
"I agreed to vote for death because I just wanted to go home," juror Pauline Davies wrote, adding that she was the last juror to agree to the sentence. "I would prefer that Gardner be given commutation and life without parole." is a tad concerning Not to me. Whack him. Now.
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Post by reapwysow on Jun 11, 2010 19:24:12 GMT -6
Ahh, shaddap and die like a man, you sissy. "I agreed to vote for death because I just wanted to go home," juror Pauline Davies wrote, adding that she was the last juror to agree to the sentence. "I would prefer that Gardner be given commutation and life without parole." is a tad concerning She is a disgusting human being. It doesn't change the fact that this guy needs to pay his due. Look at his record.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2010 23:10:24 GMT -6
This guy needs to be whacked,if you give him a inch,hes going to take a mile,whack him now.
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Post by rick4404 on Jun 12, 2010 10:46:53 GMT -6
Members of the law enforcement community, especially in a small state like Utah is, are a very tight-knit group. No matter from what agency they serve - Highway Patrol, sheriff's department, city police department or whichever.
The big debate back in 1976-1977 when prison officials hurriedly prepared for Gary Gilmore's execution were the logistics. How many marksmen? Would they be drawn from the ranks of law enforcement officers or would they be volunteers from the general public? The decision that was made which stands as policy today is that the five marksmen will be volunteer law enforcement officers from within the state of Utah. The names of the volunteer executioners are kept confidential. It was also decided for obvious security reasons that corrections officers shouldn't be given the task, because those individuals could become targets inside the walls of the prison if the other inmates were to learn that they were one of the shooters in an execution.
Getting back to Ronnie Lee Gardner. I would be extremely surprised if the Board of Pardons and Paroles were to grant his request for commutation of sentence. In Utah, the governor's hands are tied in that he sits as a member of the board, and accordingly has no last minute clemency authority that he can unilaterally grant.
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Post by rick4404 on Jun 14, 2010 8:45:09 GMT -6
Utah's Board of Pardons and Paroles is scheduled to release their decision concerning Ronnie Lee Gardner's application for clemency today. It's highly unlikely the decision will be favorable for Gardner. Since the governor of Utah, Gary R. Herbert, sits as a member of the Board of Pardons and Paroles; his hands are tied as far as granting executive clemency on his own volition. Accordingly, clemency decisions are made in cooperation with the other board members.
Gardner's attorneys still have an appeal pending before the Utah Supreme Court, but that court has not issued a stay of execution as of yet, so barring any unforeseen last minute developments, Gardner will in all likelihood die in front of a firing squad just after midnight on June 18, 2010. He will be only the third inmate in the U.S. (all in Utah) to have been executed by firing squad in the post-Furman era.
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Post by rick4404 on Jun 14, 2010 10:08:37 GMT -6
Ronnie Lee Gardner's bid to delay his appointment with the firing squad in Utah on Friday has failed. The Utah Board of Pardons and Paroles denied his application for clemency in a ruling handed down this morning in Salt Lake City.
This means barring any last minute action in the courts, Gardner will die in front of a five man firing squad at Utah State Prison outside of Draper, Utah just past midnight Friday morning, June 18th. He will become the third person in the United States (all three in Utah) to die by firing squad in the post-Furman era.
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Post by spinaltap on Jun 14, 2010 14:01:38 GMT -6
Lets get it on
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Post by yasgursfarm on Jun 14, 2010 15:33:23 GMT -6
I find it interesting that the reason Ronnie wants to have his sentence commuted is because he says that he and his brother are trying to purchase something like 160 acres of land to be used for Youth At Risk. He wants them to learn from his mistakes. (Very paraphrased from an article in the Fort Worth Star Telegram a week or so ago).
I am VERY curious as to how Ronnie is planning to qualify for a loan for 160 acres of land with a permanent mailing address of a LWOP cell block and a Job Description of 'Convict: Currently Incarcerated'.
I am also VERY curious as to how Ronnie is planning on teaching these classes at this 160 acre facility considering he's in prison.
Maybe I'm missing something...
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Post by spinaltap on Jun 14, 2010 16:16:41 GMT -6
Maybe I'm missing something...
he will be dead soon
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2010 1:22:58 GMT -6
I find it interesting that the reason Ronnie wants to have his sentence commuted is because he says that he and his brother are trying to purchase something like 160 acres of land to be used for Youth At Risk. He wants them to learn from his mistakes. (Very paraphrased from an article in the Fort Worth Star Telegram a week or so ago). I am VERY curious as to how Ronnie is planning to qualify for a loan for 160 acres of land with a permanent mailing address of a LWOP cell block and a Job Description of 'Convict: Currently Incarcerated'. I am also VERY curious as to how Ronnie is planning on teaching these classes at this 160 acre facility considering he's in prison. Maybe I'm missing something... Yeah!! a 160 acre cemetery thats about it..
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Post by rick4404 on Jun 15, 2010 6:27:09 GMT -6
From The Salt Lake Tribune:
Here is the time line that was followed in the hours preceding John Albert Taylor's firing squad execution in Utah back in 1996. It is anticipated that this is the schedule that corrections staff will follow for Ronnie Lee Gardner's execution, which is still scheduled to take place just after midnight Friday morning June 18th (Mountain Time) at the Utah State Prison near Draper, Utah.
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Post by rick4404 on Jun 15, 2010 7:50:25 GMT -6
It looks like Ronnie Lee Gardner's execution has become a near certainty to take place just past midnight (Mountain time) Friday morning, June 18th. The Utah Supreme Court has also refused to delay the execution. Earlier, the Utah Board of Pardons and Paroles refused to grant Gardner's bid for clemency. Here's the latest from The Salt Lake Tribune:
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Post by dude on Jun 15, 2010 12:19:42 GMT -6
From a video I saw on Utah's Channel 2, those were indeed the last legal movements. The execution will happen.
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Post by SubSurfCPO(ret) on Jun 15, 2010 12:25:03 GMT -6
Utah Supreme Court denies death-row inmate's appealwww.fox13now.com/news/local/kstu-utah-supreme-court-denies-gardner-appeal-firing-squad,0,6087017.story DRAPER, Utah - The Utah Supreme Court has denied an appeal from a death-row inmate to commute his sentence to life in prison without possibility of parole. In the 57-page ruling issued late Monday, the court said Ronnie Lee Gardner waited too late to file his appeals. The decision leaves the 49-year-old convicted killer with few options to halt his execution planned for Friday at midnight by a five-man firing squad. On Monday morning, the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole voted unanimously against commuting Gardner's sentence to life in prison without parole. The board cited his criminal history and his own admission of guilt among the reasons for their decision. The state supreme court also denied his request for a new sentencing hearing on Monday, saying the defendant waited too late to file his appeals. Gardner was convicted in 1985 for killing Utah attorney Michael Burdell during a botched escape attempt at the old Salt Lake City courthouse. At the time, he was on trial for the murder of Melvyn Otterstrom during a robbery. He also shot and wounded deputy Nick Kirk, who died years later from his wounds. Prison officials say they are moving ahead with plans for Friday's execution. "We won't go into the details with that just because of the security concerns involved to make sure that we get it carried out correctly," said Tom Patterson, executive director of the Utah Department of Corrections. Craig Watson, the cousin of Melvyn Otterstrom, believes the death penalty for Gardner will serve justice. "These people don't belong in society with decent folks," Watson said. Gardner chose to die by firing squad for Friday's execution. Images released by the Department of Corrections show the death chamber where the sentence will be carried out. The sandbags are placed by the chair to catch any shrapnel. Holes in the wall are where executioners will position their rifles. There will be a total of five executioners and four live rounds. Gardner will have a hood over his head and a target pinned to his chest, before the firing squad kills him. Gardner's attorneys have not ruled out the possibility of more appeals, including one to the U.S. Supreme Court.
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Post by SubSurfCPO(ret) on Jun 15, 2010 12:27:44 GMT -6
The poll at the website for the story above shows the following:
Poll - Death Penalty for Ronnie Lee Gardner
Utah is set to execute a convicted killer, Ronnie Lee Gardner, by firing squad June 18 after a judge agreed Friday to the inmate's request for the method. Do you think the death penalty was the right decision in this case?
* Yes (430 responses)
83.7% * No (84 responses)
16.3%
514 total responses
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Post by unkelremus on Jun 15, 2010 17:18:59 GMT -6
SALT LAKE (ABC 4 News) - It was just over 25 years ago that inmate Ronnie Lee Gardner went on a shooting rampage in a botched escape attempt.
He killed one attorney, badly injured a court bailiff and suffered a gun wound himself.
The building where the shootings took place no longer stands.
The people Gardner shot have long since passed.
All that remains is the horror of that day and a date with a firing squad.
Painfully, let's return to the scene of the crime.
It was April 2nd, 1985, just before 9am.
Prisoner Ronnie Lee Gardner was transported to Salt Lake's old courthouse.
He was there on charges stemming from a robbery and shooting death the year before.
But as he entered the building, Gardner suddenly grabbed a gun left in the courthouse by an accomplice.
An ABC 4 reporter described what happened next:
"By the time the shoot-out at Met Hall was over, one attorney was dead, one guard was wounded and Ronnie Lee Gardner had a bullet hole in his lung."
Gardner was given the death sentence in November of 1985.
But that was just the beginning of a 25 year legal fight, an effort that includes multiple Appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court.
But one who did not live to see Gardner's execution is Nick Kirk.
Kirk was the court bailiff who Gardner shot a quarter century ago.
Badly wounded, Kirk would not return to work for half a year.
He passed away just before Christmas in 1995.
His last few years were marked by a pain that never went away, emotional pain and pain from a bullet lodged in his stomach.
Before he died, Kirk told ABC 4 about that day in April of 1985.
"When I started to turn around, that's when I seen the gun that Ronnie had. Before I could do anything, he shot me, pushed me against the wall and I went down on my knees."
Gardner, now nearly 50 years old, has spent half his life behind bars.
He also pleaded guilty to second degree murder for that 1984 crime.
In addition, he was charged with attacking another inmate with a handmade shank.
A real piece of human garbage........Ready----Aim----HaHa Fooled you----Fire.....
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Post by rick4404 on Jun 15, 2010 20:22:17 GMT -6
This just in ... it looks like Gardner's attorneys are throwing everything including the kitchen sink in the courts to try to stave off Gardner's appointment with the firing squad. Here's the latest from The Deseret News in Salt Lake City:
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Post by SubSurfCPO(ret) on Jun 16, 2010 12:28:28 GMT -6
Death penalty opponents plan protests before Gardner's executionwww.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=11192031SALT LAKE CITY -- Death penalty opponents are planning to protest in the hours before a man faces the firing squad. Related: Religious and secular groups that form Utahns for Alternatives to the Death Penalty say they'll join together Thursday night to express opposition to the execution of convicted murderer Ronnie Lee Gardner. "I think we don't prefer to be associated with Iran, China, and Saudi Arabia and the other countries who use the death penalty as we have used it," says Nancy Appleby, chairwoman of the Utah Episcopal Diocese Peace and Justice Commission. She also says she's opposed to the death penalty for religious reasons. "What we are called upon to do as Christians, I don't think that includes having the state kill people in our name." Appleby calls the death penalty "barbaric." She'll be joined by others who share her view at a prayer service to be held Thursday night from 5:30 to 6:30 at St. Mark's Cathedral in Salt Lake. She says prayers will be offered on behalf of everyone affected by the execution, including the victims' family members and the law enforcement staff taking part in the process. Following the service a protest will be held on the south steps of the state capitol beginning at 9 p.m. Appleby says Gardner did horrible things, but she would prefer he be sentenced to life without parole rather than another life being lost.
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Post by SubSurfCPO(ret) on Jun 16, 2010 12:29:50 GMT -6
Religious and secular groups that form Utahns for Alternatives to the Death Penalty say they'll join together Thursday night to express opposition to the execution of convicted murderer Ronnie Lee Gardner. Is this an example of Christians and Atheists getting along for a common cause?
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Post by SubSurfCPO(ret) on Jun 16, 2010 12:40:13 GMT -6
This guy is a real piece of work. He is throwing everyone under the bus in an attempt to save his hide.Ronnie Lee Gardner identifies 2nd accomplice in courthouse escape attemptwww.deseretnews.com/article/700040635/Gardner-identifies-2nd-accomplice-in-courthouse-escape-attempt.htmlUTAH STATE PRISON — He never called her by name, but as Ronnie Lee Gardner pleaded last week for his life to be spared, he finally gave up an accomplice in his deadly courthouse escape attempt a quarter century ago. Before the Board of Pardons and Parole, Gardner identified the woman who handed him the .22-caliber revolver he used in 1985 to shoot a bailiff and kill a defense attorney as "the woman who testified against me in the Cheers murder" and was his getaway driver in that 1984 killing of a Salt Lake bartender. Darcy Perry McCoy drove Gardner during the robbery and killing of Melvyn Otterstrom at the Cheers Tavern in 1984, and later testified against him in court. But it was McCoy's sister who would spend eight years in prison for aiding his attempted escape from the Metropolitan Hall of Justice on April 2, 1985. Gardner shot bailiff Nick Kirk and attorney Michael Burdell as he tried to get away. Burdell died. Though she was often accused of handing Gardner the gun in the courthouse, Carma Hainsworth always maintained her role that day was limited to transporting letters from Gardner to her sister and gathering the clothes for Gardner to wear after he escaped. "I did not know what was going to happen that morning," Hainsworth told the Board of Pardons during a 1987 hearing. "I did not know nothing about that." Story continues below Hainsworth repeatedly told officials her lookalike sister, McCoy, gave Gardner the gun, a claim corroborated by Luther Hensley, the officer who shot and injured Gardner during the escape attempt. Other witnesses, however, identified Hainsworth as the woman in the courthouse. "We can live with that conflict," a hearing officer told Hainsworth in 1987, "because we have to do it a lot." Summit County Undersheriff L. Dean Carr, a lieutenant with the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office in the late '80s, said he also believed McCoy was involved in the escape attempt but could never put together a case against her. Bob Stott, a veteran prosecutor with the Salt Lake District Attorney's Office, also had trouble building a case against McCoy. "Some witnesses had seen two women upstairs and around the courthouse, but they could only identify Carma," he said. "It could have easily been the two women. But we didn't have any evidence then and I don't think we give much credibility to anything Mr. Gardner says." During a parole hearing in 1987, Hainsworth said she hoped to work in youth corrections once she was released from prison. Since then, Hainsworth has remarried and changed her last name. Hainsworth has also been arrested and convicted on a number of felony crimes, including burglary, theft, possession of meth and identity fraud, the latest coming in 2007. In a Spanish Fork courtroom just last week, Hainsworth pleaded no contest to driving on a suspended license and agreed to do community service to work off her $100 fine. When approached by the Deseret News, her husband said, "If this is about the Ronnie Lee Gardner, please back away right now."
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Post by rick4404 on Jun 17, 2010 15:14:05 GMT -6
Here is more on this developing story from CNN.com:
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Post by unkelremus on Jun 17, 2010 16:33:28 GMT -6
(CNN) -- Utah Gov. Gary Herbert on Thursday declined a request to temporarily stay the execution of inmate Ronnie Lee Gardner, who is scheduled to die shortly after midnight Friday (2 a.m. ET).
The request for the temporary stay came as a federal appeals court in Denver refused to stop the procedure. Gardner has pending appeals with the U.S. Supreme Court, which may have the last word on the matter.
The three-page letter was delivered to Herbert shortly before 10 a.m., the state Department of Corrections said in a statement on its website. It was signed by Gardner's attorneys and asked the governor to "issue a respite or reprieve pursuant to your executive power under the Utah Constitution."
In addition, the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule Thursday on Gardner's appeal for a last-minute stay of execution.
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Post by rick4404 on Jun 17, 2010 16:40:39 GMT -6
As expected, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert has denied a request to temporarily stay the execution of Ronnie Lee Gardner. Here is the latest from CNN.com:
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Post by mbnorrie on Jun 17, 2010 19:06:21 GMT -6
Everyones harping on about justice, but justice for who exactly? """ Gardner's case has renewed debate about use of the death penalty in the United States while dividing family and friends of his victims.
Family of lawyer Michael Burdell, shot dead by Gardner in his botched escape attempt, have testified that they were against his execution and that Gardner's victim would have opposed it.
"If there are any so-called victims' rights, Michael would not have wanted Ronnie Lee killed, executed," Burdell's fiancee, Donna Nu, told a parole hearing last week.
Critics of the death penalty have condemned Gardner's likely execution as "barba.ric"""" nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/world/7419501/firing-squad-execution-in-utah-just-hours-away/it even made it to our news
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2010 20:08:08 GMT -6
Everyones harping on about justice, but justice for who exactly? """ Gardner's case has renewed debate about use of the death penalty in the United States while dividing family and friends of his victims.
Family of lawyer Michael Burdell, shot dead by Gardner in his botched escape attempt, have testified that they were against his execution and that Gardner's victim would have opposed it.
"If there are any so-called victims' rights, Michael would not have wanted Ronnie Lee killed, executed," Burdell's fiancee, Donna Nu, told a parole hearing last week.
Critics of the death penalty have condemned Gardner's likely execution as "barba.ric"""" nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/world/7419501/firing-squad-execution-in-utah-just-hours-away/it even made it to our news You're the one that is harping. A fiancee 25 years later is definitely not a member of his family. Now if she had been his wife but SHE WAS NOT. What other family members? You said family. Please name them. 1 fiancee does not a family make..
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Post by mbnorrie on Jun 17, 2010 20:10:21 GMT -6
Everyones harping on about justice, but justice for who exactly? """ Gardner's case has renewed debate about use of the death penalty in the United States while dividing family and friends of his victims.
Family of lawyer Michael Burdell, shot dead by Gardner in his botched escape attempt, have testified that they were against his execution and that Gardner's victim would have opposed it.
"If there are any so-called victims' rights, Michael would not have wanted Ronnie Lee killed, executed," Burdell's fiancee, Donna Nu, told a parole hearing last week.
Critics of the death penalty have condemned Gardner's likely execution as "barba.ric"""" nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/world/7419501/firing-squad-execution-in-utah-just-hours-away/it even made it to our news You're the one that is harping. A fiancee 25 years later is definitely not a member of his family. Now if she had been his wife but SHE WAS NOT. What other family members? You said family. Please name them. 1 fiancee does not a family make.. so your saying the someone he was due to get married to, is not the same as someone he was married to? that doesn't make sense, they could have been due to be married the next day for all i know, if i asked someone to marry me im prty sure they would know me prty well, unless your in the practice of marrying random people
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Post by rick4404 on Jun 17, 2010 20:11:14 GMT -6
The U.S. Supreme Court late Thursday denied three appeals by condemned Utah inmate Ronnie Lee Gardner, who is set to be executed by firing squad. The court released the orders hours before Gardner, 49, was scheduled to be put to death at the Utah State Prison. His execution is set for just after midnight (Mountain time) Friday morning, June 18th.
This means that Gardner and his attorneys have now used up every last legal resource to delay the execution. There is nothing now that can prevent the execution from being carried out.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2010 20:17:34 GMT -6
You're the one that is harping. A fiancee 25 years later is definitely not a member of his family. Now if she had been his wife but SHE WAS NOT. What other family members? You said family. Please name them. 1 fiancee does not a family make.. so your saying the someone he was due to get married to, is not the same as someone he was married to? that doesn't make sense, they could have been due to be married the next day for all i know, if i asked someone to marry me im prty sure they would know me prty well, unless your in the practice of marrying random people It doesn't matter legally she was not a family member. Btw, did anyone ever find out if she was married and had children with another man at his time? That would be quite an interesting detail left out by the anti media.
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