Death sentence sought in rape, slaying of 93-year-old Omaha woman

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By Maggie O'Brien

Douglas County prosecutors will seek the death penalty in the first-degree murder case against a man accused of raping and killing a 93-year-old Omaha woman.

In court documents filed this week, County Attorney Don Kleine said he found two aggravating circumstances for Sergio Martinez-Perez, 19, to face a capital offense — the heinous nature of the crime and that the slaying was committed to conceal his identity.

Martinez-Perez's attorney, Assistant Public Defender Allyson Mendoza, could not be reached for comment.

Prosecutors say Martinez-Perez, 19, entered Louise Sollowin's home at 1921 S. 10th St. on July 21 and raped and beat the woman in her bed.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://www.omaha.com/article/20130808/NEWS/130809000/1685#death-sentence-sought-in-rape-slaying-of-93-year-old-omaha-woman

---

[JustAnotherGen]

1. 19 is a good age

To give someone a life sentence. Lock him away and throw away the key. The sick cruelty of what he did can never be undone. The terror that poor woman must have felt when she should have died in her sleep warm and snug in her bed.

Death sentence? No. Let his soul die a slow death in a cage while his body and mind go on.

[BainsBane]

2. Unfathomable, isn't it?

That poor woman.

[Nay]

3. I just shake my head and weep. What possesses men to do such things?

[MrSlayer]

4. Well duh.

A person like this needs to go ASAP if convicted.

[Kelvin Mace]

12. Given the faulty nature of our

"criminal justice system" we have ZERO business handing out death sentences which cannot be undone.

Life without parole is fine, and more just.

[geek tragedy]

5. I don't favor the death penalty, but wouldn't attend any candle light vigils for this scum nt

[classof56]

6. May you rest in peace, beautiful lady. My heart breaks at what you endured.

My mother died at 96, a kind and gentle woman whose life was well lived, just as Louise's was, I'm sure. This ugly act makes me sick to think about and that her daughter found her only compounds the horror and grief she had to deal with.

I can only weep.

[sosuaslayde]

7. Animal

I’m against the death penalty for human beings. That being said, this isn’t a human being. This is an animal. A dirty, filthy animal….So, if he gets the death penalty, can it be a slow, painful death?

[RVN VET]

9. No, he's a human being

He's a kid who willingly performed a monstrous and unforgivable act of violence and murder. But he's not an animal. What he did, sadly, is not unique in the annals of human history. And his won't be the last act of callous, horrible violence. But it is -- and I'm not comfortable accepting this, either -- acts of loathsome cowardice like this as well as acts of kindness and compassion that define humanity, that mark out our limits.

So, no, he's not an animal -- not in the sense of being not a human being, anyway. His act was very human. That's why we have laws, why we need laws, to allow for the punishment of people who do repugnant things. If you are against the death penalty, then this case is a test of how firm you are in that conviction.

[Kelvin Mace]

13. And who decides?

When will Dick Cheney face the death penalty? What about people involved in the myriad of war crimes (torture/murder) over the last decade like Bush, Rumsfeld, Rice, Powell, etc.

In my book, they are "dirty, filthy" animals who deserve "slow, painful death" and yet, they just run around the country giving lectures for six figure fees.

If you cannot apply the death penalty justly, then you do not apply it at all.

[Neoma]

19. All human beings are animals.

That said, this human doesn't seem to be domesticated. Quite feral. Needs to go into a cage.

[Lancero]

33. No, it isn't.

To call this thing a animal is a insult to them - Animals are not this cruel.

This thing? This thing is a monster, pure and simple.

[freshwest]

8. What a way to leave this world. I suspect he'll get a minimum sentence.

[RebelOne]

38. I hope not. This was a horrendous crime and this monster

needs to be punished to the fullest extent, and I am not against the death penalty. What penalty would you want for this crime if it had been your mother or grandmother? I am an athetist, but I do believe in an eye for an eye, etc.

[freshwest]

39. You totally misunderstand my statement. My expectations for justice are low, not unwanted. As to..

What penalty would you want for this crime if it had been your mother or grandmother?

It'd make no difference to me if it was a member of my family or not. I don't believe in an unequal system, which I have experienced. I've seen those who are related to someone by birth or marriage or some other personal matter, are allowed leniency no matter what crimes they have done, but those otherwise unconnected are not dealt with the same leniency. I'm talking theft, rape, assault and murder cases.

I am an athetist, but I do believe in an eye for an eye, etc.

Then actually you are exactly the person to whom the Old Testament was speaking to and not the New Testament. The rule on an 'eye for an eye' was begun because the practice at that time, when a person had done a crime, was to kill the entire family. This is what the Nazis did as well, and is not at all unknown. It is a small genocide to wipe out all the 'bad seed.'

The OT, despite actively promoting genocide based on ethnicity in other passages, even called for cities of refuge for murderers and other unpopular persons. To protect them from the 'eye for an eye' crowd.

'Eye for an eye' does not take into account mental defect or other cases of moral incapacity. But we are based in this country for the most part, on a somewhat New Testament system of 'redemption' that forgives the criminal.

I've argued with Saudis who said if a person is a drug addict, they should simply be killed out of hand as defective human beings, no treatment or leniency. That was just them, though, as we were arguing about the two systems, where we put people in prison or in treatment for various reasons. Their solution was quick and sure, they thought we were allowing bad people to run amuck.

I'm not attacking your 'eye for an eye' stance, but it has nothing to do with religion, although it is quoted. It's a desire to not have to deal with such perpertrators again. Every culture has their view.

As to my view, I would not shed a tear about this guy being put to sleep. There are so many more like him that we read about on the pages of DU, that make us literally want to run for the hills in horror.

What I was saying is that most of these people are not punished. There was a case in FL while Jeb was governor, of an elderly man done to death in a facility and his family wanted the people involved charged with murder. IIRC, they were refused, citing his age.

I've seen insurance cases where an elderly person is harmed, resulting in death, without a rape, but they said the person didn't have that long to live, and so there would be little or no settlement to the family for the mistreatment.

A lot of people in this country are not valued very much, especially women, old and young people, and the poor. It will be interesting if we see an update saying that a jury saw the humanity of this woman without excuses, and find him guilty of the top charge. Some will still no doubt claim that 'he had his life in front of him' if he is sentenced to life behind bars or death.

People seem to be funny that way now. Not that I think it's funny. This could have been me leaving my life that way, I think I stated about the effect.

Do you understand what I am talking about now?

[Lurks Often]

10. It's monsters like this piece of garbage

that make think that the death penalty should remain an option.

[kylie5432]

11. As a Democrat who favors strict immigration controls...

It is important to note he is in the country illegally. If we actually controlled our borders as other countries do we would have a more orderly immigration system.
Countries like Canada have a point system and you must have a skill of some kind to get in.

As a progressive who teaches in Los Angeles Schools I have seen the chaos that a broken immigration system causes. I did not have this opinion before I started teaching but I do now.

Many American citizens have been crowded out of certain parts of LA by people who did not apply to come into this country. As a result, while many of the kids are sweet, the school quality is poor and their illegal status makes parents afraid to speak out on anything. No PTA no questioning decisions like reconstituting schools. We need to make America a middle class nation again

As to the gentleman pictured above, had the federal government done its job of controlling the borders, this would not have happened
I know this puts me at odds with most progressives. This is the one area I disagree with most of you on. Respectfully.

[uppityperson]

14. Because such a high number of rape/murders are done by illegal immigrants?

Using this awful crime to advocate for border control is something.

[branford]

17. I may not agree with all of Kylie's immigration positions,

but one rape and murder that could have been prevented is enough!

We can control our borders, be compassionate to those already here AND protect our citizens.

[uppityperson]

45. Uh huh. Let's spend millions to prevent that one "illegal" from 1 rape/murder by keeping them out of

the country? Huh. How does focusing on one awful case by blocking borders "protect our citizens", all those people who have been hurt, raped, murdered by USAnians or those here legally?

[kylie5432]

20. It is completely appropriate

I believe that it is crimes like this that do highlight our need to know who is within our borders. A large percentage of crime at least here in California is committed by the undocumented.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

36. it's merely chance that he's an "illegal". It is NOT chance that he's a MAN.

when are we going to talk about THAT overarching fact?

[freshwest]

40. And that he said he was angry at 'women' and acted on his anger. I call it a hate crime.

And I don't give passes to people who are drunk. It's no excuse for beating a helpless person for the crime of being a woman, in his eyes.

He said he was angry at 'women.' So he picked one out, he didn't pick a man out to rape and beat up, did he?

I don't see this as a sex crime, no more than the term 'domestic violence' which routinely excuses rape, assault, stalking or murder. It gives it cover what in any other respect would be called a felony.

Why I say this is a hate crime, this particular act is that it's no different in intent. If a white guy goes looking for a person of color to abuse and kill, if was planned, and based on hatred of the 'other.' .

He may get relief from the death penalty if he asks for help from the Mexican consulate as Mexico does not have a death penalty. That's part of treaties, so he may be sentenced to prison. When the budget cuts hit as they will, he'll be set loose.

He'll likely find new friends and have a good old time in prison. I don't believe such people do all this awful suffering that people at DU and other places seem to think they will get there. The facts in high profile cases don't bear that out. Look how long some serial killers lived in prison. Were they killed because of the crime or because they were jerks? IDK.

As far as prison being okay with him, I think of the more recent case of the guy who raped and beat a baby girl to death who was appealing his death sentence. His excuse was that he drunk and angry, so still 'Not my fault' but he had enough presence of mind to choke the baby while he was raping her because he didn't want to hear her crying and all of that. He was asking to have life in prison. Some said, 'Oh, don't kill him, he'll be sorry soon, when he gets into prison.' After nearly twenty years he was liking prison well enough to beg to stay for life rather than be put to death.

Then we have the image of CNN's Crowley and crew sniffling over the convicions of the gang rape guys in Ohio. 'Oh such bright futures!'

Really? I'm a bit less than hopeful that the jurors are going to do anything about this, and then after that, he'll still be a happy little old guy.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

42. I agree, fresh....absolutely a hate crime. Most violence against women is

in my opinion.

And as for the received wisdom that felons deal out justice...maybe so to child molesters (though that baby killer you mention didn't seem to meet that legendary fate), but I suspect that men who kill, rape, assault, take advantage of or otherwise harm women are prison big shots. Prison culture would be no less misogynistic than the wider culture.

[devils chaplain]

15. I'm against the death penalty, but...

Sometimes it does seem like the appropriate response on a visceral level. But I know deeper down that retributive "justice" isn't just at all.

[RebelOne]

16. In a case such as this, I am all for the death penalty. n/t

[2ndAmForComputers]

21. Of course you are. What else?

This happened because the minimum wage is too high? Or maybe because prayer has been banned in schools? No, wait... it was because of too much gun control!

Or abortion.

[RebelOne]

37. What has this brutal rape and murder have to do with minimum wage,

prayer being banned in schools, gun control or abortion. I am 74 years old and if that happened to me, I would come back from the grave and haunt that monster, and he would wish he were dead.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

43. what a bizarre comment.

would you mind explaining yourself?

[branford]

18. Every time I begin to reconsider my position on the death penalty,

these unfathomable crimes occur.

If the man is found guilty, regardless of whether he is punished with death or life imprisonment, I will not shed a tear!

[2ndAmForComputers]

22. I assure you it IS possible to be against the death penalty in all cases

and not shed tears for murderous psychopaths.

[certainot]

23. this is the kind of story RW radio will tell over and over to sell ALEC anti immigration voter ID BS

[freshwest]

41. I don't regard it as an illegal alien issue. Any yahoo could have done it. We have plenty of home

grown guys who would have, and do, seek out random women to vent their hatred upon.

But it's more than just an American issue.The woman in Delhi was brutally raped and killed, had nothing to do with anything but the fact she female. Don't look at what they did if you don't have a strong stomach:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Delhi_gang_rape_case

Why commit such wanton cruelty to anyone? And why call it a rape? And why would that excuse murder? Why this visceral rage against females or all ages, and how do they learn to have a sense of entitlement to do this?

It's no accident that this guy here beat her. He said he was angry at women and found one. I call it a hate crime. If he'd been angry at people of another color and did this, it'd be called a hate crime.

I agree the RW will use this and have heard AJ's screeds on all of it. There's a reason he's on the SPLC hate group list. But the RW aren't doing anything to help women at all, AJ also supports enacting personhood bills, too. The RW says women impregnated by rape should marry their rapist, that women getting battered at home should stay with their spouse, all in order to not spend tax money on them.

And they're the first to cut the police budget and demonize the people who deal with criminals like this, and much worse.

BTW, nothing in this post has anything to do with you personally, and I'm sure DUers would never sanction any of this. I'm just thinking outloud and angry. But not going to go out and abuse someone over it, you know?

[certainot]

44. i agree with you. my comment was just an obtuse observation related to the ability of

the right to spin anything to their political advantage because, primarily, they have 1200 unchallenged radio stations to do it with. this guy is insane but on the broader overall issue of misogyny the limbaughs do their part in making it acceptable. an issue like rape in the military or the treatment of rape in the judicial system will have to run a gauntlet of RW radio distortion, like every other major issue, before improvements can be made. one of the best things americans can do to reverse the hatred against women, as just a start, is to help the stoprush boycott shame limbaugh publicly.

[burnsei sensei]

24. Two words.

Hate crime.

[flvegan]

25. That's revenge, not punishment.

If guilty...19 year old predator? His parents' shame?

Fuck him. Rot in prison, suffer every single day in the mindfuck that it is. Then die, without anyone blinking even once as old as your Maker allows.

[Drahthaardogs]

26. Bullshit!

Revenge would be beating him and raping him to death. Maybe poking his eyes out and putting splinters under his fingernails for good measure. Do it over a couple of days, or at least a few hours. Really make him suffer... That would be revenge. The death penalty via lethal injection is justice, harsh justice indeed, but it is NOT revenge.

[flvegan]

28. You don't really understand revenge, do you?

Or justice. By your own admission above. Did it feel good to post that?

[Drahthaardogs]

29. I understand revenge just fine.

Too bad you do not.

re·venge
/riˈvenj/
Noun
The action of inflicting hurt or harm on someone for a wrong suffered at their hands.
Verb
Inflict hurt or harm on someone for an injury or wrong done to oneself.
Synonyms
noun. vengeance - retaliation - retribution - reprisal
verb. avenge - retaliate - wreak - requite - pay back


Hence, beating and raping this guy = causing him harm and hurt for an injury done.

and on edit,


jus·tice
/ˈjəstis/
Noun
Just behavior or treatment.
The quality of being fair and reasonable.
Synonyms
fairness - equity - right - righteousness - justness



Lethal injection = painless but fair and reasonable

[flvegan]

30. Do you?

So "The action of inflicting hurt or harm on someone for a wrong suffered at their hands." is, by your words, revenge, right? By your words is something I have to add, considering your Google-fu.

[Drahthaardogs]

31. That's Merriam-Webster's definition, not mine

Go argue with him if you don't like it.

Killing this monster with lethal injection is very justifiable considering the crime. Beating and raping a 90-year old woman to death in her own home. Getting to die via a nice painless injection does not even begin to address the pain, fear, and horror he inflicted on that old woman. The sicko will get off easy, even if he dies via injection. The Romans would have shown you what revenge was all about. They had that shit down to an art.

[flvegan]

32. You posted it.

So is it, or is it not your opinion?

I find it funny that a person such as yourself would find "a nice painless injection" that doesn't address the "pain fear and horror" of another as proper punishment, but rather a self-fulfilling enjoyment of revenge. He'd be dead, you'd feel better. All that matters, right?

[Drahthaardogs]

34. Again it is justice not revenge

Actions have consequences. Sorry you do not like it. You also do not like online dictionaries

[flvegan]

35. I'm not the one

making myself look like an idiot. So please, go ahead. When you answer my last question, let me know.

It's a shame stupidity doesn't have consequences. It would make this easier.

[jasond54231]

27. I am totally against capital punishment, regardless of how horrific the crime

This sick lowlife deserves to spend the rest of his sad, pathetic existence in a cold, desolate cell.

RIP Mrs. Sollowin. You were taken from this earth too soon.