Death Penalty II
3- 27-13 WOSO Commentary
In last week’s commentary I expressed my opposition to the
death penalty in the Alexis Candelario Santana case despite the horrendous and
heartless murders he committed of 22 persons, including family members and completely
innocent persons. As we now know, Alexis escaped the death penalty because one
juror prevented the necessary unanimous verdict.
Our local Constitution prohibits the death penalty, but like
in so many other areas of law, the federal law prevails over local law as part
of our Commonwealth compact with the United States. Those jurors had to decide
on the basis of federal law. In the case of Alexis, the defense was able to
show a neglected upbringing in poverty, a slight possibility of rehabilitation,
some momentary indications of remorse when some in his family, especially his
only daughter, testified that that his life was important to them.
In other words, the murders were horrendous and he is one
mean man, but the case was not perfect, which is what is going to have to
happen in order for a 12 person jury to decide in favor of the death penalty in
Puerto Rico. The Federal Court system will have another chance at bat with the
case of Lashaun Casey who murdered the anti-drug federal agent, Jesús Lizardi
Espada.
I have to applaud the determination of that one person who
voted for life imprisonment in this case. In my personal opinion, except for
self-defense, we should not kill another human being. In my view, we should
allow for rehabilitation and be in the position to forgive those who repent as
Christ forgave the convicted murderer dying with him on Calgary.
This is Jorge Gonzalez wishing you a religiously significant
Easter weekend.
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