[Scooby_Doo]

http://www.in-forum.com/articles/index.cfm?id=140544&section=news&freebie_check&CFID=1199750&CFTOKEN=59171739

Alfonso Rodriguez Jr. deserves death for kidnapping and killing Dru Sjodin, a federal jury ruled today.

Jurors rejected the option of life in prison without parole, finding instead that Rodriguez should be executed, the first time such a sentence has been handed down in North Dakota since the early 1900s, when the state abolished the death penalty for most crimes.

Rodriguez was tried on a federal charge.

The verdict was delivered shortly before 11 a.m. Jurors had been deliberating since Wednesday.

A sentencing hearing has been set for Jan. 5.
n closing arguments, defense attorney Richard Ney asked jurors for mercy, stating that killing Rodriguez would mean putting to death someone who suffered sexual abuse as a child and who possibly received brain damage because of exposure to toxic farm chemicals.

U.S. Attorney Drew Wrigley said aggravating factors, including past sexual assaults committed by Rodriguez and the manner in which Sjodin was killed, demanded the death sentence.

A press conference with Wrigley and members of Sjodin’s family was held today shortly after the verdict was read.

“In the end, we believe there is justice,” Wrigley said after acknowledging the “difficult work of the jury.”

That sentiment was echoed by Sjodin’s mother, Linda Walker.

“Quite honestly, I don’t even know how to wrap myself around all that has taken place in our lives,” Walker said.

“Dru’s voice was heard today,” she said.

The decision to impose the death penalty was unanimous, despite the fact eight jurors indicated on a special verdict form that considerations of mercy supported life in prison without parole.

Several of Rodriguez’s family members began weeping even before the verdict was read and once the decision was announced others in the courtroom, including the court reporter, wiped tears from their eyes.

Dru Sjodin’s father, Allan, said he and other family members would have been equally satisfied with a sentence of life in prison.

“For Dru’s sake, this needed to happen,” he said.

Chris Lang, who was Dru Sjodin’s boyfriend at the time she disappeared, also spoke at the press conference.

“Do not forget her. Celebrate her life. She was beautiful. She was wonderful,” Lang said.

All I can say is good. 

[Ulala]

The death penalty has always kinda given me the heebee jeebees. Either way, glad to see justice being served.

[Scooby_Doo]

Well he's going to be put to death the painless way or near... can't say the same for poor Dru 

[Ulala]

Quite true.

[Bobboau]

Who is this?

[Blue Lion]

What precious little detail

[Scooby_Doo]

The story came out about three years ago. He kidnapped her right out of Grand Forks mall parking lot while she was talking to her bf on the phone. They found her body about 6 months latter.

[Bobboau]

oh, yeah... alright.

[Polpolion]

I am against the death sentence for some reason. Just put 'em in a really really tiny cell with a bright light on all the time and I'll be happy. Maybe a bit of starvation wouldn't hurt (us), either.

[Janos]

I am against the death sentence for some reason. Just put 'em in a really really tiny cell with a bright light on all the time and I'll be happy. Maybe a bit of starvation wouldn't hurt (us), either.

torture is better than death?

There have been way too many innocent people put to death. And woe is the retarded Texas man who was put to death due TECHNICALITY. Life in prison yay, death nay.

edit: WILL be put and I fail

[karajorma]

What was so special about this guy. From what I see in the blurb above he wasn't even a serial killer. Why him and no one else from that state who came before him?

[Edward Bradshaw]

torture is better than death?

Torture someone enough and they will wish for death.

[Bobboau]

there is nothing that says we can't have both!

[aldo_14]

there is nothing that says we can't have both!

The basic sense of human decency that seperates the good, moral, law-abiding person from the evil criminal one?

[Turambar]

oh yeah, wonderful.  instead of facing the rest of their life without freedom, and with a high chance of involuntary buttsex, they get to take the easy way out.

i never understood the death penalty, life in prison just seems so much worse.

[Janos]

oh yeah, wonderful.  instead of facing the rest of their life without freedom, and with a high chance of involuntary buttsex, they get to take the easy way out.

i never understood the death penalty, life in prison just seems so much worse.

Well not that - at least jail system is supposed to be both rehabilitating and punishing - but if person is deemed innocent when new evidence sees daylight it's just not post mortem apology:
"Sorry we screwed up and you're dead lol"

[Ford Prefect]

Precisely. That is by far the strongest argument against capital punishment; whether or not you believe that killing is a just punishment, you can't ignore the fact that a lot of innocent people have fallen through the cracks of the justice system.

[aldo_14]

Apparently in the older days of China, judges were allowed to torture people for confessions - but if that person was found innocent, then that judge would be tortured himself.  Perhaps the same standard should be applied to capital punishment?

[karajorma]

Who would you execute though? The jury? The prosecutor? The police? And how would you determine their guilt?

Above all what if you got that wrong too?

[Blaise Russel]

Let's just pre-emptively execute everyone.

It'd be the ultimate deterrent.