Va. killer executed by electric chair

[Judi Lynn]

July 20, 2006, 10:49PM
Va. killer executed by electric chair

By KRISTEN GELINEAU Associated Press Writer
© 2006 The Associated Press



JARRATT, Va. — A man convicted of raping and murdering a 23-year-old woman was executed Thursday, becoming the first person in the United States to die in the electric chair in more than two years.

Meanwhile, a child sex offender was executed in Texas for abducting and killing a 5-year-old girl.

In Virginia, Brandon Hedrick, 27, was pronounced dead at the Greensville Correctional Center at 9:12 p.m. after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected his appeals and Gov. Timothy M. Kaine denied his request for clemency.

"I pray for the people that are unsaved," Hedrick said in his final words. "I'm ready to go and be free."
(snip)

Hedrick's IQ was measured at 76 during his trial, but his attorneys argued that the margin of error and the passage of time may mean his IQ is actually below 70.
(snip/...)

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/4062148.html

[SensibleAmerican]

1. Today, Governor Kaine disappointed me

n/t

[Freddie Stubbs]

9. He is keeping his campaign promise

[underpants]

14. Warner isn't going to be Senator forever

Kaine has to let this happen to even think about being in position to run for Senate in Va.

Not a great thing but it is what it is.

[Freddie Stubbs]

17. He specifically promised during the campaign that he would uphold this law

He would have set Democrats back in Va if he had broken his word on this.

[underpants]

18. Right

I was agreeing with you just putting out another angle on it. :hi:

[LostinVA]

20. Correct -- he said he is against the death penalty

But would uphold the law... he made it a big promise. Although I personally wish he had granted the dude life imprisonment, all hell would have broke loose if he had reneged on this particular campaign promise. THe Repub Delegates are already making things difficult for him.

[Biernuts]

11. Why, because he kept his promise to enforce the law regardless

of his personal feelings? Did you expect him to take office, say "Just kidding, FUCK all you people who believed what I said and voted for me for that reason!"?

[lynne]

12. It comes with the terroritory of being Governor of Virginia -

- There were 11 executions during Mark Warner's term.

[ButterflyBlood]

30. He made a campaign promise, and he's sticking to it

I don't like it either, but he doesn't have a choice.

[mvd]

31. Well, in Virginia, you have to carry out your duty when..

it comes to this. Maybe in his second and last term, Kaine will show his personal views more.

As someone opposed to the DP, I don't know how he does it.

[katamaran]

41. VA govs are only one term

VA govs are only one term, so essentially, every governor here is a lame duck. We're used to governors not keeping their promises. At least, until Warner and Kaine came along. Both are men of their word, I believe. One of Jerry Kilgore's (the uber-fundie Repug running against him) ad tactics was to tell people that Kaine would abolish the death penalty because he was *gasp* a Catholic.

[mvd]

46. I didn't know that

Thanks. The Repukes would have used his no-execution pledge against him for sure during the campaign, but as long as he doesn't hurt future Democrats there, why not have a change of plans and follow his anti-DP beliefs.

[lynne]

50. So, you are suggesting he turn his back on the law of VA and on -

- one of his major campaign promises??

Were he to do that, he might as well kiss the idea of ever holding any future political office in Virginia goodbye at the same time.

[mvd]

51. I have no problem with him granting clemency

It's perfectly legal. And in this case, there are legitimate questions about the condemned's mental state. Even if he were never to carry out an execution, IMO it's the worse thing to execute when you are anti-DP. But I'm still glad we have a Democrat as Virginia governor: the DP is something that will always have a lot of differing opinion among Democrats.

[Syrinx]

2. the death penalty is state-sanctioned immorality

Two wrongs don't make a right. I think I heard that somewhere.

[samsingh]

25. there should be justice for the victim

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

27. So, the families of people murdered in non-DP states DON'T get justice? nt

[samsingh]

40. i don't think they do

in cases where there is no doubt that a person is guilty of murder, i believe justice can involve the death penalty in some - but not all cases.

i don't see why we ignore victims by focusing on the rights of murders after TRIAL.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

43. Let me tell you the story of a woman.

She was a soap opera writer. She had a 21 year old daughter who was murdeded while acting in a soap opera she wrote. It was a big shock here in Brazil -- especially after it was found out the perpetrator was another actor in the same soap.

During the trial (or right after sentencing, I don't remember), a TV reporter interviewed the grieving mother. He asked, "don't you wish there was a death penalty in Brazil?"

Her answer was "NO. It doesn't solve anything. All I want is for that person to be off the streets."

Those, sir, are the words of a better person than you.

[mvd]

52. Being anti-death penalty..

I just can't say "oh, he said this in the campaign - now I want him to carry out executions." I have some understanding, but I just can't condone it. I want progress made.

[tritsofme]

3. I hope he was extra crispy.

A fitting punishment for such scum.

Hedrick was condemned to die for the 1997 murder of Lisa Crider, who was abducted, robbed, raped and killed with a shotgun blast to the face.

[rpannier]

5. Before you jump on the bandwagon try reading post 4

nt

[samsingh]

26. thanks for putting the facts out

this case is not a slam dunk for capital punishment.

[saigon68]

7. I don't know what to say

Your response is similar to the folks in this photo




On August 7, 1930 in Marion, Indiana, n that quiet night in the quiet heartland of America, far removed from the South with its long-standing history of racial clashes, two African American men were snatched from the jail by white mob frenzy and hung from a tree for the 'dastardly deed' of murder and rape of a white couple. No trial, no conviction, just an acting out of racial hatred, an act captured in the most famous photograph of a lynching. A mob of 10,000 whites took sledgehammers to the county jail house doors to get at these two young blacks accused of raping a white girl; the girl’s uncle saved the life of a third by proclaiming the man’s innocence.

[Codeine]

48. That's a pretty ugly sentiment.

Comparing a poster who supports the DP after trials and appeals is as completely *unlike* a racist lynch mob as you can get. I don't like the DP at all, but your post is WAY out of line.

[Judi Lynn]

4. More on Brandon Hedrick's crime and trial

Brandon Hedrick

Brandon Wayne Hedrick was convicted of capital murder in Appomattox County for the death of Lisa Yvonne Alexander Crider. Trevor Jones, who suggested the robbery and murder of Crider, is serving a life sentence. The trial court judge who sentenced both defendants stated, “Make no mistake about it, without (Jones’) action, Lisa Crider would still be alive today.” The two had solicited sex from her earlier in the evening in Lynchburg, and then robbed her, thinking she had crack in her possession. Following their apprehension in Nebraska at the home of Jones’ sister, Hedrick cooperated and confessed to the police. Jones refused cooperation until confronted with Hedrick’s confession at which time he vowed that “he would get Brandon – killed or kill him – because they would not be in jail if Brandon had not talked.” Jones, who masterminded the plot to rob and eventually kill Ms. Crider, received a life sentence. Brandon, the slow one whose IQ score indicates that he falls within the range considered mildly mentally retarded who consistently attached himself to someone with a stronger personality, received a death sentence.

Since Hedrick’s trial, the execution of persons with mental retardation has been prohibited. Virginia law requires capital defendants to receive a comprehensive evaluation about mental retardation but does not allow Virginia courts to act in cases like Hedrick’s because he is too far along in the process: a legal Catch-22.

As in many death penalty cases, the competency of Hedrick’s court appointed trial counsel is in question. One of his attorneys is on record as stating, “(we) did not meet to seriously discuss trial strategy until one business day before trial.” Neither of Hedrick’s two defense lawyers had ever previously completed a capital murder trial. The lead attorney had never before selected a capital death-qualified jury. Witnesses were not interviewed by counsel until they were on the stand. Brandon’s lawyers admittedly failed to adequately prepare for the trial. They failed to present available mitigating factors, which could have influenced the jury’s appraisal of his moral culpability. The jury did not know of the threat by Jones, the prosecution’s main witness, to “get Brandon killed.” Mitigation evidence not presented at trial includes a family history of substance abuse, vulnerability to the influence of others, repeated suicide attempts, school records and borderline intelligence. Brandon who was only 18 at the time of the tragedy has consistently maintained that he and Lisa Crider had consensual sex. The only evidence of rape was presented by Trevor Jones’ questionable testimony and defense counsel failed to even raise the issue of Jones’ credibility in their closing statement.
(snip/...)

http://www.vadp.org/cases/hedrick.htm

[acmavm]

6. If all that is true, then it sounds like the mastermind got a walk and the

flunkey paid full price for the crime.

But as long as someone gets executed, then it's all good. Right?

:sarcasm:

[RC]

8. Yep. and it doesn't even need to be a person connected with the crime.

[michreject]

23. It doesn't even need to be a person connected with the crime...[/quote}

How did you arrive to the fact that he was innocent?

[RC]

34. Who is claiming he is Innocent?

All I am saying is all too many people have been exonerated after the death sentence has been carried out.

[toopers]

38. Who are all these people that have been exonerated . . .

I have not read of one.

[Puglover]

39. 3 words pal

google executed exonerated.

http://talkleft.com/new_archives/000499.html

Educate yourself before you post bullshit.

[Freddie Stubbs]

10. An IQ of 76 is not considered mentally retarded

[bleedingheart]

15. but anyone with an IQ under 90 is considered borderline

I knew a girl in that range and while she blended in well with others, she was very vulnerable and was manipulated and abused by people.

[Freddie Stubbs]

16. Then why did the VADP's website say that he was retarded if

he was actually borderline? Does lying help their cause if people figure out the turth?

Brandon, the slow one whose IQ score indicates that he falls within the range considered mildly mentally retarded who consistently attached himself to someone with a stronger personality, received a death sentence.

http://www.vadp.org/cases/hedrick.htm

[bleedingheart]

19. the range for "borderline" is 70-90, however...

he scored in the 70's and the margin of error has to be taken into account. 50-70 is considered mentally retarded with some function...

There are other scoring systems used as well and I am sure that he had those applied...the IQ score is only one of many indicators.

[Kailassa]

47. Read before you accuse people of lying.

"Mildly mentally retarded" and "mentally retarded" are 2 diffeerent estimates of intelligence. They are both medically accepted terms. One of my sons is retarded, and doctors disagree about whether he is "mentally retarded", as his IQ of ~ 60 would indicate, or "mildly mentally retarded", as his ability to prepare plants for sale and buy food and cook it to feed a family would indicate.

He's learned to achieve heaps, I'm very proud of him, and is very caring. However he can forget all he learnt very quickly, and I could not guarantee that he wouldn't kill if he was dependant on an older friend who coaxed him into it.

If someone convinced my Hansel that killing someone was the right thing to do, would you believe he should automatically get the death penalty?

[proud2BlibKansan]

37. That's not true

The average range is 85 to 115. So any IQ under 90 is not "borderline".

[underpants]

13. That'll teach him

:grr:

[saigon68]

24. I WONDER IF HE SAVED HIS DESSERT (until later)

In 1992 when Clinton was running for president, he made a point of leaving the campaign trail to go back to Arkansas for an execution, sending a strong message to the American people that he was in full support of the death penalty. The victim was a mentally retarded man named Ricky Ray Rector, who told the guards taking him from his cell to the execution chamber that he was going to leave his dessert on the side of his bunk. "I’m going to eat it after my execution," he said.

[Benhurst]

21. WWJD? I sure He would have thrown the switch,

especially if He had known it would help the Democratic party in Virginia.


:sarcasm:

[Freddie Stubbs]

28. Jesus wouldn't have run for Governor in the first place

[CTLawGuy]

44. yes

so sayth Jerry Falwell "Fry them all in the name of the Lord!"

:sarcasm:

[Laughing Mirror]

22. Mentally retarded man sent to electric chair

Well it worked in the past ... It reduced the number of retarded killers on the streets. And, other than family, who cares about them?

[Biernuts]

29. He chose his manner of death - a luxury not given his victim. n/t

[Bill McBlueState]

45. that's a luxury?

:rofl:

"I'll kill you, but you get to choose how!"

:rofl:

[Endangered Specie]

32. He got what he deserved

and what difference does it make what his IQ is?

[robcon]

33. The criterion for punishemnt was not intelligence,

but whether the killer knows right from wrong.

On that basis, I suspect this was legal.

[daleo]

35. Does anyone think the U.S. soldiers accused of raping the Iraqi girl

And killing her and her family will be executed, if they are found guilty? I am not just being rhetorical here, I am curious about what people think.

[IndianaGreen]

36. Our troops are heroes and we must support them!

No matter how many young girls they gang rape because they are "stressed out" or how many civilians they shoot in cold blood, or how many towns and villages they incinerate, our glorious troops are heroes and we must support them, like the nice little fascist proto-nazis that we are becoming!

:sarcasm:

[Biernuts]

42. There are people on the military's death row.

If they are convicted of premeditated murder, there is a good chance they wil be sentenced to death. I seem to recall a USSC ruling that Rape without murder cannot result in a death sentence.

There's a pretty good guide at <http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/article.php?did=180&scid=32>

edited for typo

[Nutmegger]

49. Come on DU. I've seen more atrocious comments than this.

I've seen some nasty comments is such related threads. What happened? Did everyone turn "anti-DP" now???

I will always be against the DP.