U.S. Supreme Court stays execution of Texas inmate

[cali]

The Associated Press

HUNTSVILLE -- The U.S. Supreme Court halted the execution Thursday of a black man convicted of a double murder in Houston 16 years ago, agreeing to review his appeal that his death sentence was unfair because of a comment about his race during the sentencing phase of his trial.

Duane Buck, 48, was praying in the holding cell when his lawyers called to tell him about the reprieve.

"Praise the Lord!" Buck said, according to a prison spokesman. "God is worthy to be praised. God's mercy triumphs over judgment.

<snip>

Buck was sentenced to death for shooting his ex-girlfriend and a man in her apartment in July 1995. Buck's guilt is not in question, but his lawyers say the Harris County jury was unfairly influenced by a psychologist's testimony that black people are more likely to commit violence than other ethnic groups.

<snip>

Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/09/15/3371928/us-supreme-court-stays-execution.html#ixzz1Y6ODtRF4

[Cid_B]

1. Too bad...

If there is no question of guilt then what is the point? Doesn't make his victims any less dead.

[cali]

2. The point, I suppose, is that he might not have gotten the dp without

the incendiary comments. btw, it was Scalia who stayed the execution.

In any case, as an absolutist opponent of the dp, I applaud any and all stays. Period. No exceptions.

The DP is barbaric and wrong.

[MrDiaz]

3. I DO NOT OPPOSE THE dp

in cases of murder, this guy MURDERED 2 people and obviously his guilt is NOT a QUESTION, this is a joke the man should be put to death, hell he put 2 people to death himself.

[demmiblue]

4. What is it with the ALL CAPS, lately? n/t

[MrDiaz]

6. Lol

sorry just trying to get my point across.

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[cali]

8. well goody gumdrops for you. The DP is unfair

it's barbaric and no civilized country should grant such power to the state. Innocent people get executed.

[truebrit71]

9. Wait, what??!! Scalia issued the stay?? When did we transition to the alternate universe??

:wtf:

[demmiblue]

5. K&R

:kick:

[Rebubula]

10. Troy Davis

If this were Troy Davis getting a stay - Cheers and applause.


This asshole - not so much. He murdered 2 people and one of them was murdered in front of her kids. There is absolutely no doubt about his innocence.

[cali]

11. sigh. the prosecutor used the racist comments to argue for the dp

he argued essentially that because the defendant was black he posed more of a future danger to society.

This isn't fucking rocket science and even if you're gung-ho pro-dp, such prosecutorial misconduct cannot be allowed to stand.

[YellowCosmicSun]

12. I bet that pissed Rick "The Executioner" Perry off

[joeybee12]

13. Good...and this is the reason why the death penalty is unconstitutional...

the human element does not allow it to be administered FAIRLY TO EVERYONE. KNR