Crackie
By Crackie
“I have seen the pain that I have caused the family and friends of the victims and to my own family and friends.”
--Statement of "remorse" from the killer of NYPD Detectives Rodney Andrews and James Nemorin
On Wednesday, June 30th, the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit voided the death penalty that a New York jury, after a five month trial in 2007, had voted on for the killer of undercover Detectives Rodney Andrews and James Nemorin. The two detectives were murdered by shots in the back of their the head as they participated in a "buy and Bust" operation against a Staten Island gang selling guns. The second victim, trapped in a car seat next to the first, was slaughtered after the detective described his family as he pleaded for his life. In a 2-1 decision, the appellate court concluded that, in the last minutes of their presentation to the jury during the sentencing phase of the trial, the prosecutors crossed the line in questioning the level and sincerity of the killer's remorse.
The New York Times, in its report here, noted that this case represented the first time in 19 tries over the last 50 years that federal prosecutors had managed to get a New York jury to sentence a killer to death. In dealing with this 1-18 performance, the Times story helpfully explained that unnamed experts believe New York juries have a "liberal slant." (Ya think?) But somehow 12 New Yorkers on the jury in this case heard the full statement of remorse by the killer quoted above and, nevertheless, voted that he should be executed. These must have been some cold-hearted people.
I have to appreciate the lawyerly craftsmanship represented in the "seen the pain" statement. Note that the killer does not actually admit guilt, since he does not say he "caused" anything that happened to the two murdered police officers--only to their families and his family.
Speaking of slants, the New York Post story had a a different one (which was not "fit to print" in the eyes of the Times, apparently). The Post's account here: noted that: "So cold-blooded was [the killer] that he brazenly stuck out his tongue to taunt the family members of his victims during his sentencing." (Maybe he was simply trying to "see their pain" more clearly.)
By the way, I have not mentioned the name of the man who murdered Detectives Rodney Andrews and James Nemorin. I will admit that this stems in part from my impression that there are probably 100 people who have heard of the murderer (and National Public Radio commentator) Mumia Abu-Jamal for every one person who can name the Philadelphia police officer he murdered, Daniel Faulkner.
As we approach Independence Day, I give thanks to police officers who, like Detectives Andrews and Nemorin, put their lives on the line for the rest of us. I also give thanks for the efforts of the prosecutors, who will, no doubt, keep trying even as their record has been downgraded from 1-18 to 0-19. And I will allow myself to imagine that, some day, there will be sound reason to give thanks even for the federal judiciary. May that day come soon.
...
...
..
Comments