Man About to Die for Crime the State of Texas Knows He Didn't Commit (894 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 0.59 on 35 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Bob (View user info) at 2007-08-13 13:46:35 EDT
The Nation- 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.
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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.
Foster maintains that he did not know that Brown would either rob or kill LaHood. According to an Amnesty International investigation, there is evidence not heard at trial that the murder was an unplanned act committed by Brown, as the latter himself claimed before his execution.
In 2005, a federal district judge found a "fundamental constitutional defect in Foster's sentence" and ruled that Foster's jury had not been asked to determine if he had any intent to kill LaHood, and that this failure represented a misapplication of the law. However, the state of Texas appealed to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which overturned the decision.
The crazy thing about this case is that no one argues that Foster killed the victim. As the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's award-winning columnist Bob Ray Sanders wrote, the case "is further proof of how cruel, capricious, unjust and utterly insane our death penalty laws have become....Because of this tainted system, whether you believe in capital punishment or not, a man who did not plan or commit a murder will die August 30 unless somebody -- a judge, the Board of Pardons and Paroles and/or the governor-- has the heart and the guts to stop it."
You can help these folks get up the guts at freekenneth.com. Find updates on the case and urge members of the Texas legislature to stay Foster's execution and ask for a re-trial based on new evidence
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www.freekenneth.com
I am just too outraged to think properly about this issue.
Just fucking ridiculous and it makes me ashamed to be an American.
User Reviews
Submitted by bob (user info) at 2007-09-04 10:49:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Update: Gov. Perry stayed his execution so he is now going to serve life in prison.
Submitted by bob (user info) at 2007-08-14 11:49:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Icewalker (user info) at 2007-08-14 08:35:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: -1
*Any* action taken against *any* negroid for *any* reason is justified.
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sheer brilliance.
Submitted by Obi-wan (user info) at 2007-08-14 11:33:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
This guy went on an armed robbery. Guns were involved, so he knows that they might be used, yet he continues to be the getaway driver.
One of the gang uses a gun to kill someone and he didnt see that coming.
If he didn't think that the guns would be used then he is naive or its a crappy gang of armed robbers.
He knows that the guns might be used to kill someone and he continues to associate with the gang so he's just as guilty for not stopping them or he should have got out of it
Submitted by DeathJester (user info) at 2007-08-14 10:45:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Icewalker (user info) at 2007-08-14 08:35:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: -1
*Any* action taken against *any* negroid for *any* reason is justified.
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So you think they should action a reduced sentence against him?
Bravo that man!
Submitted by Icewalker (user info) at 2007-08-14 08:35:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: -1
*Any* action taken against *any* negroid for *any* reason is justified.
Submitted by bob (user info) at 2007-08-14 00:47:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
If he was in no way involved in the murder, there is no reason that he should be about to lose his life...One should not lose their life, BY THE GOVERNMENT, because they hang around the wrong people.
Now, if was involved in the robbery...he absolutely should have been convicted of attempted robbery, etc, etc...but again...the death sentence for robbery?
Submitted by Zeglamancer (user info) at 2007-08-14 00:28:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Who cares seriously. Most niggers are just a plague anyways. They flood the welfare offices to the brim. They reproduce faster than cockroaches. I always see some skank dressed nigger bitch with 3-18 kids tagging along after her walking down the street. Or a whole score of them outside the greyhound stations bullshitting people with a sobstory to get money so they can go spend it on crackrocks.
One of them gets caught up in some deep shit and everyone wants to go all soft? Listen up asshole, I'll tell you something my old man told me when he took his belt to me one day because my friends threw stones at cars and one of them recognized us and called our parents.
He said to me "Zeg, I realize you may or may not have been the one to actually throw those rocks, but its important you learn this lesson so I am going to punish you for it as though you did it. You Fly With The Crows, You Get Shot With The Crows"
And with that the old man laid into my ass with that fucking belt. I tell you what, I'm glad he did because that was over 10 years ago and I never once forgot those words.
You Fly With The Crows, You Get Shot With The Crows.
This stupid bastard was hanging around his friend who had a gun on him and the guy went and killed another man in the street. I dont know about you but I dont hang out with people like that. Frankly I wouldnt be suprised if secretly it was a drug deal gone bad. Once the media got wind suddenly this guy wants to play the innocence card. Fuck that. Fry 'em.
Yea Yea blah blah blah oh look at Zeg, he's such a tough guy talking behind his computer. Seriously dude, think about what I said instead of just getting pissed off because I have a diffrent viewpoint than you.
Submitted by Siren (user info) at 2007-08-14 00:08:52 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I guess I shouldn't be surprised. It's the same exact scenario that happened after 9/11. Al qaeda killed our countrymen, so we are killing Iraqis. I see nothing wrong with that. As long as somebody pays, you know?
Son of a bitch I hate the mother fucking neo-conservatives who are running the country right now, and the pansy liberals for letting it happen.
Submitted by Siren (user info) at 2007-08-14 00:01:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Somebody will burn in Hell for this kind of shit.
Submitted by Zeglamancer (user info) at 2007-08-14 00:00:31 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Ya basically~
Submitted by bob (user info) at 2007-08-13 23:48:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Zeglamancer (user info) at 2007-08-13 23:39:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
So basically if I do nothing, there is one less nigger in the world?
hmmm.... appeal to my lazy side and do nothing + one less nigger. Or go against my lazy side by getting off my ass to do something, and the nigger lives.
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Oh the joys of hiding behind a computer!
Submitted by Zeglamancer (user info) at 2007-08-13 23:39:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
So basically if I do nothing, there is one less nigger in the world?
hmmm.... appeal to my lazy side and do nothing + one less nigger. Or go against my lazy side by getting off my ass to do something, and the nigger lives.
This isn't a hard choice to make FYI.
Submitted by bob (user info) at 2007-08-13 23:14:49 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Phallic_Cymbals (user info) at 2007-08-13 22:26:12 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I think "free kenneth" is a sentiment that is a little extreme. Complicity is an important element of the criminal law. They shouldn't kill him tho.
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The prosecutor was unable to prove that he was involved in the robbery.
Even if he was the driver for a robbery, and had no expectation of a murder taken place, there is no way in hell he would get the death penalty.
Submitted by Phallic_Cymbals (user info) at 2007-08-13 22:26:12 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I think "free kenneth" is a sentiment that is a little extreme. Complicity is an important element of the criminal law. They shouldn't kill him tho.
Submitted by TheUniter (user info) at 2007-08-13 18:38:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Fatterrific (user info) at 2007-08-13 18:11:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Haha, the death penalty is so stupid. It makes no logical sense. It's like the state saying "You're not allowed to kill people, but we are." Not to mention, I can't imagine how dying would be worse than spending like 40 years in prison.
Submitted by i_can_get_you_a_toe (user info) at 2007-08-13 17:35:31 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
that is absolutely disgusting.
Unfortunately, he won't be the first or last innocent person to be put to death by USA's fucked up death penalty laws.
I abhor the death penalty, I mean seriously, has putting criminals to death made America any safer?
Submitted by Wildman (user info) at 2007-08-13 16:30:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
God Bless America
Submitted by Dolson (user info) at 2007-08-13 16:25:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
USA! USA! USA!
You must all be so proud. What a mature, grown up country you've become.
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2007-08-13 14:59:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS.
Submitted by bob (user info) at 2007-08-13 14:33:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by skrapmetal (user info) at 2007-08-13 14:21:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
http://www.ubersite.com/m/76272 Let LaHood decide.
Although this does seem a bit much, even for Texas.
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A little late...but interesting idea.
Submitted by skrapmetal (user info) at 2007-08-13 14:21:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
http://www.ubersite.com/m/76272 Let LaHood decide.
Although this does seem a bit much, even for Texas.
Submitted by EmoJean (user info) at 2007-08-13 14:16:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2007-08-13 13:50:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
he's black, who cares
Submitted by brokenlizard534 (user info) at 2007-08-13 14:07:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
that's terrible.
Submitted by bob (user info) at 2007-08-13 14:06:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Constitution (user info) at 2007-08-13 14:04:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: -1
"Foster maintains that he did not know that Brown would either rob or kill LaHood."
What the article fails to mention is that the guy was the getaway driver for an armed robbery earlier that night. He doesn't deserve to die, but it's not like he's a saint or martyr.
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Agreed.
It is debated whether or not he was involved in the act, but even if he was the driver and had no prior knowledge to the violent act...there's no reason for him to be on death row aside from Texas being fucking ridiculous.
Submitted by Constitution (user info) at 2007-08-13 14:04:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: -1
"Foster maintains that he did not know that Brown would either rob or kill LaHood."
What the article fails to mention is that the guy was the getaway driver for an armed robbery earlier that night. He doesn't deserve to die, but it's not like he's a saint or martyr.
Submitted by FALLEN (user info) at 2007-08-13 14:01:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Submitted by SunnyG (user info) at 2007-08-13 13:50:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Just fucking ridiculous and it makes me ashamed to be an American.
If that makes you ashamed, read this!
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22226178-5005961,00.html
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Thats it!
I'm moving to Canada. I got a 16 year old and I'll be damned if he's going in for this shit war.
Submitted by bob (user info) at 2007-08-13 14:00:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by SunnyG (user info) at 2007-08-13 13:50:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Just fucking ridiculous and it makes me ashamed to be an American.
If that makes you ashamed, read this!
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22226178-5005961,00.html
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I know...I've heard about this too.
It would never happen.
Submitted by Director (user info) at 2007-08-13 13:55:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Fuck Texas.
The only reason I'd ever consider moving back there is to look after my aging mom.
Submitted by BobLobla (user info) at 2007-08-13 13:53:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
DAMMIT CAUL
You beat me to it :(
Submitted by BobLobla (user info) at 2007-08-13 13:52:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Oh, He's black...
Stick a needle in his arm.
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2007-08-13 13:50:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
he's black, who cares
Submitted by SunnyG (user info) at 2007-08-13 13:50:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Just fucking ridiculous and it makes me ashamed to be an American.
If that makes you ashamed, read this!
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22226178-5005961,00.html
Submitted by Crystle (user info) at 2007-08-13 13:50:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
:-(
Submitted by Axolotl (user info) at 2007-08-13 13:49:01 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
ADVERTISEMENT, huh?
I'd expect the governor to pardon him. It's not like they're setting an example or anything, "don't drive black people around in cars! Etc!"