I saw an episode of Law & Order once where the killer asked to be executed and dispense with any trial or appeals. That got me wondering if this has ever actually happened. I’ve heard of condemnded killers “giving up” and deciding not to fight it AFTER they’ve had a jury/judge give them the death penalty, but I’ve never heard of any who right from the start ask to get the needle.
Any real life occurences of this?
His brother’s book, Shot in the Heart (mentioned in the link) is harrowing.
The TV show Forensic Files did a program about an innocent man, who until he was cleared of the murder, pushed for the death penalty, figuring that was better than life without parole.
Cannibal/murderer Gary Heidnik wanted the death penalty and apparently told his brother at sentencing not to appeal. It took 11 years for this to happen though the state (Pennsylvania) first establishing his sanity and other aspects of due process.
Evan Nakahara asked the jury to give him the death penalty when he was on trial for murdering his girlfriend. That was 15 years ago. He’s still waiting.
Connecticut serial killer Michael Ross fought for years to forego the appeals process and be executed, though I think he changed his mind a few times. His lawyers and family did everything they could to have his wishes on the matter regarded as those of a mentally ill man. He was eventually executed earlier this year.
This is an interesting case involving a defendant who waived all appeals after receiving a death sentence.
What’s the holdup then? If the defendent says “kill me”, the prosecution agrees, and he’s found to be mentally competant, why on earth does it take 15 years?
How about that guy & that Oklahoma City thing?
Very harrowing and very readable. It was the basis for a very good but little known movie featuring Giovanni Ribisi , Elias Koteas, Sam Shepard and Amy Madigan as the Gilmores.
It’s about on DVD.
This may or may not be the same story, but on NPR’s This American Life a while back, one of the stories told of an innocent man who pushed for the death penalty, not because he figured it was better than life in prison, but because he figured it gave him a better chance of exoneration. His reasoning was that it was far more likely that someone would take up his case pro bono if he were on death row than simply serving out a life sentence. Bold move, but he was right–he got the death penalty, and years later was exonerated.
50’s spree killer Charles Starkweather successfully blocked his counsel’s attempts to get him declared insane, which were pretty much aimed at getting him out of the hot seat.
The whole concept of the death penalty has become a moral, political, social, religious, and whatever else, flashpoint. There are those that oppose the death penalty in any way, shape or form and will legally maneuver on behalf of the person who faces the death penalty no matter how despicable the convict is or how much they want to have the sentence carried out. They are acting in opposition to the death penalty more than in defense of the convict.
The state should be reluctant to impose the death penalty until all legal considerations have been thoroughly examined and reviewed. Therefore, under the most expeditious of circumstances the process is bound to take years. The American justice system is suppose to be based on justice rather than expediency. Given the alternative, I for one, prefer it that way.
I think it’s supposed to be part of the punishment.
You give the perp the opposite of what he wants.
You really think so? Surely all ‘perps’ would then ask for the death penalty?
He said ‘what they want’, not ‘what they ask for.’ I’m not sure many criminals would be capable of fooling the prosecutors into thinking they really WANT the death penalty. If it’s unclear what they really want, then usual sentencing considerations come back into play.
Or something like that, sheezh, I dunno.
Or perhaps a civilised society actually just establishes and runs an independent and objective legal process in the first place, and doesn’t worry about adding a dollop of personal revenge into the pot!
I’m pretty sure Dahmer said that the death penalty would be the best way to go but I can’t find a cite… since Wisconsin doesn’t have the death penalty (right?) and he pleaded insanity, that does sound mighty dumb, though.
I’m not sure whether Albert Fish asked for the death penalty but he was very excited by the prospect, calling it the “supreme thrill of my life”. A decidedly charming man, old Al.
IIRC Dahmer pleaded guilty in order to avoid the death penalty.