(Frances) Newton Executed for 1987 Slayings

[buzzsaw_23]

Sept. 14, 2005, 6:43PM

Newton executed for 1987 slayings
Associated Press

Frances Newton has been on death row since she was convicted of killing her husband and two children in 1987.
HUNTSVILLE — Frances Newton was executed today for the fatal shootings of her husband and two children 18 years ago, becoming the third woman, and first black woman, to be put to death in the state since executions resumed in 1982.

Strapped to the death chamber gurney and with her parents among the people watching, she declined to make a final statement, quietly saying "no" and shaking her head when the warden asked if she would like to speak.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/topstory2/3354357

[merwin]

1. I am absolutely speechless.

I hate Texas.

[longship]

2. Oh dear!

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[noahmijo]

3. I feel soooo much safer now

a young black female has just been murdered.

FUCK TEXAS AND ANY OTHER STATE INCLUDING MINE THAT STILL SUPPORTS THE DEATH PENALTY.

[Humor_In_Cuneiform]

4. The "Culture of Life" strikes again

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

[Gemini Cat]

5. RIP Frances

:cry:

[FlemingsGhost]

6. The nightmare is over, Frances. Be free, at last.

Rest in Peace.

[Gregorian]

7. We tried. We begged for clemency. We tried.

May she be in a better place. And I dearly hope her family can cope with the sadness. God knows they had to deal with it for 18 years.

Assholes! We know Shiavo was total bullshit. I'm sorry to bring it up.

[buzzsaw_23]

9. Totally deflated

It's so f*ckin' cruel.

[stepnw1f]

11. You Need to Be Inflated to Be Deflated

The Sociopathic nature of the GOP is in the open. Let's see how long they last...

[TNOE]

28. Yes,

and thanks to all the good souls who were fighting so hard for her yesterday on DU - may peace be with you also. I can only find solace in the fact that I know she is in a much better place and at peace now - out of this cruel world.

[ET Awful]

8. RIP Frances.

I don't know what else to say. :cry:

[Pachamama]

22. I believe that she was innoncent...She's with her kids and husband now...

...may she rest in peace in her afterlife...

I used to support the death penalty many moons ago...not anymore...with all the info that has come out in recent years related to the innocence project etc., I just can't in good conscience support the execution by state of people even if one person is innoncent....The racial disparity is also glaring as well as socio-economic differences between those who get the death penalty and those who don't.

There was a lot of evidence that cast doubt on her guilt and certainly whether she had competent counsel and representation and a fair trial...

:cry:

[stepnw1f]

10. Sickening

Absolutely sickening... Fuck the GOP!!!

[moobu2]

12. Texas murdered Frances Newton ...damn, culture of life my ass

"Strapped to the death chamber gurney and with her parents among the people watching, she declined to make a final statement, quietly saying "no" and shaking her head when the warden asked if she would like to speak.

Newton, 40, briefly turned her head to look at her family as the drugs began flowing. She appeared to try to mouth something to her relatives, but the drugs took effect and prevented her. She coughed once and gasped as her eyes closed. She was pronounced dead eight minutes later.

One of her sisters stood against a wall at the rear of the death house, her head buried in her arms. Her parents held hands and her mother brushed away a tear before they walked to the back of the chamber to console their other daughter."

[bcoylepa]

13. shameful

just shameful

[democrank]

14. Heinous.

Absolutely sickening.

[DemInDistress]

15. Since Bush took over as Governor of Texas

I recall just one person had his "death sentence" commuted.That guy
was Henry Lee Lucas a confirmed serial killer.I remember 2 people had
received a 30 day stay and then promptly executed,Karla Faye was one.
Henry Lee Lucas was rumored to have killed for Poppy Bush when he was
CIA.Its also reported Lucas killed for Poppy Bush and that's the reason why young idiot bush didn't execute Lucas.Henry went on to live
out a few more years behind bars then died in prison escaping his death sentence.Its OK for Lucas to have his sentence commuted to life but not for a black women whose circumstances of conviction left something to be desired.Was she railroaded? Probably so,but its moot
today,poor soul I said a prayer for her...

[leesa]

16. That'll keep the BushBots happy.

That must have been so hard for her parents to watch.

[Ilsa]

17. I knew PRick erry was an untrusty asshole.

not a single droplet of compassion in that one. I hope he and the others feel like real big men tonight, but in my book, they are the lowest. They make me sick.

[lindashaw]

18. The only way I can deal with this is to keep telling myself that

the reason this execution is unbearable is because I know her name. But we are "executing" hundreds every day, in Iraq and other places in the world, through our wars and our policies. We just don't know their names. We watched innocent people in New Orleans die because of our rules and procedures. We saw them, but we didn't know their names. How did this happen? How did we become the bad guys?

[onehandle]

19. Phew! That'll teach 'em.

No one will ever kill their family again.

Especially with a gun.

The oh, so convenient gun.

Did I mention the gun?

[Erika]

20. Sorry, I didn't see this before my duplicate

This is so sad. Our appeals, the Pope's appeal, did nothing.

[genieroze]

21. I hope the person really responsible for killing Frances Newtons

family rots in hell for all eternity. To all the morons who screwed up her defense and all who knowingly prosecuted a innocent person, I hope they all suffer the same fate. :grr:

http://www.austinchronicle.com/issues/dispatch/2005-09-09/pols_feature3.html
http://www.freefrances.org/

[ladylibertee]

23. Well, we tried. We all tried. Only in America.Thats not a compliment either

[MnFats]

24. Godamn them all to hell...

....such callous disregard for human life....the state of Texas is guilty of murder.....the crimes were horrible....but serious issues about her supposed guilt were raised...and ignored....this is stupifying....capitol punishment must be outlawed in this country....we are, in allowing state-sanctioned murder, in the company of North Korea, China and Saudi Arabia....good company, eh?

[buzzsaw_23]

25. With Great Sadness

does it then turn into just another story? Such disregard for life and Dignity.

[Zynx]

26. Rick Perry is an evil man.

Bush "I killed more people than any modern governor" was worse though.

[OKthatsIT]

27. So whats with the 'life insurance policy' 3 weeks before shootings?

???

[QuettaKid]

29. unfamiliar with the case....

what are the facts? what's the story? life insurance? haven't read up on this one yet.

[Bridget Burke]

31. Please supply the details.

I'm all ears.

[mntleo2]

30. Republicans Are Murderers

I just cannot handle it. These people are monsters. I am glad I believe in karma because I do not need to desire vengeance but, "...what ye sow, so shall ye reap" (Jesus). The governor is at fault here...Maybe he and his cronies will not reap anything in this life but in the next one, you can bet they will pay for hard hearted and wrong headed decisions....

Cat In Seattle