Two More Executions

Crawford, now 59, was convicted and sentenced to death in 1994 for the 1993 kidnapping, rape and murder of Kristy Ray from her Tippah County home in the Chalybeate community. Ray was a 20-year-old student at Northeast Mississippi Community College.

Both executions covered here involved thirty-year-old murders. We yet again have the "too long" problem, which was covered already earlier in the week.

His lawyers unsuccessfully tried the insanity defense. The problem is that their client did not want them to concede guilt. They did anyway as part of a defensive strategy. Sotomayor, for the liberals, in a rare dissent to a last-minute appeal, flagged the problem. She argued the appeal was not procedurally blocked. 

Madiba Dennie‬ (Balls and Strikes blog) noted on Bluesky that she thinks dissents are important:

I understand the kinda nihilist dunks on them as meaningless, but I've seen too many dissents become majority opinions to think they don't have value--as doctrinal roadmaps, as mobilizing tools, as records of the truth when the majority lies, etc.

The liberals should say more in last-minute appeals, if only to include statements quickly addressing the issues. Some reasonably serious claims are involved. It involves life and death issues. It warrants an explanation.  If the claim is dubious, say that too.

Djerf, 55, had pleaded guilty to four counts of murder in the killings of Albert Luna Sr., his wife Patricia and their 18-year-old daughter Rochelle and 5-year-old son Damien on Sept. 14, 1993. A judge later sentenced Djerf to death.

Richard Djerf recently admitted guilt. More details:

Prosecutors say Djerf blamed another Luna family member, Albert Luna Jr., for an earlier theft of home electronic items at his apartment, became obsessed with revenge and months later entered the home under a ruse in which he claimed to be delivering flowers.

Authorities say Djerf sexually assaulted Rochelle and slashed her throat; beat Albert Luna Sr. with an aluminum baseball bat before stabbing and shooting him; and tied Patricia Luna and Damien to kitchen chairs before fatally shooting them.

I don't think a jury is bloodthirtsy to decide this crime warrants the death penalty. The problem is that a jury did not do so. Ring v. Arizona suggests it is constitutionally obligatory (maybe not in every instance). And, this was an Arizona case also. 

The problem is that the rule was determined (5-4) not to be retroactive. It does help to explain why the case lingered for thirty years. Not completely. That issue was addressed over fifteen years ago.

One anti-death penalty group cites evidence of brain damage. My bottom line is that the system is broken, which means even cases like this should not result in the death penalty. Especially if it takes 30 years. 

We have two horrible crimes, but both executions are tainted. The whole system is broken. No capital punishment is the best policy. Instead, we will have more executions in October.