Kenneth Foster Slated To Die 8/30

[ls317]

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/actnow?bid=4&pid=221949

In less than three weeks Kenneth Foster, an African American man sentenced to death in 1997 for the murder of Michael LaHood, is scheduled to be executed in Texas.

LaHood's actual killer, Mauriceo Brown, was executed in 2006. Foster, who was in a car about 100 yards from the crime when it was committed, was convicted under the controversial Texas state "law of parties", under which the distinction between principal actor and accomplice in a crime is abolished. The law can impose the death penalty on anybody involved in a crime where a murder occurred. In Foster's case he was driving a car with three passengers, one of whom, Brown, left the car, got into an altercation and shot LaHood dead. Texas is the only state that applies this statute in capital cases, making it the only place in the United States where a person can be factually innocent of murder and still face the death penalty.

[karlrschneider]

1. I didn't read your link but Texas is absolutely NOT the only state with that provision.

Most of them do now. Remember Charles Manson? He wasn't even in the vicinity and was convicted (not precisely the same thing but the same result)

[Sarah Ibarruri]

2. I wasn't born here. My question is, how could a country be so criminal, as to kill innocents???

I DON'T GET IT. I have a lower opinion of the U.S. every day.

[karlrschneider]

4. Well, I was born here and I share your disgust if it's any consolation.

It's not written in stone that our notion of 'democracy' is anywhere near perfect or permanent. But then that pretty much applies to every other system that's been tried. Anything can happen and probably will.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

5. But to put the entire machine in motion to kill innocents?

That certain brings to mind the Third Reich.

[AX10]

3. The US has a backwards "justice" system.

:puke:

[Sarah Ibarruri]

6. A savage, blood-thirsty one. nt