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The Guardian
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Man who fatally shot two people outside Florida bar is executed
A man convicted of fatally shooting two people outside a Florida bar in 1993 as part of an attempted revenge killing was executed Tuesday evening, the 26th person put to death in the US this year. Michael Bernard Bell, 54, was pronounced dead at 6.25pm local time after receiving a lethal injection at Florida state prison near Starke, said Bryan Griffin, a spokesperson for the state governor, Ron DeSantis. Bell was convicted and sentenced to death for the 1993 murders of Jimmy West and Tamecka Smith. When the team warden asked Bell if he had any final words, he responded: 'Thank you for not letting me spend the rest of my life in prison.' Strapped to a gurney, Bell was alert and looking around the death chamber as the drugs began to flow into his outstretched left arm. After about 2 minutes, he closed his eyes and stopped moving. His breathing became more labored for about a minute and then slowed. At 6.15pm, the team warden checked Bell's eyes and shouted his name, but there was no response. The color began to drain from Bell's face about 620pm. A medical worker entered the chamber at 624pm and declared Bell dead a minute later. With Bell's death, the number of executions in the US surpasses last year's total. The number of executions has largely trended downward nationally this century after peaking with 98 in 1999. From 1995 to 2006, there was an average of about 67 executions a year. John Blume, the director of the Cornell Death Penalty Project, says the uptick in executions does not appear to be linked to a change in public support for the death penalty or an increase in the rate of death sentences, but is rather the function of the discretion of state governors. 'A number of these people being executed are people that have been in the system for a long time; they've been on death row for a long time,' Blume said, adding that there are aggressive executives and attorney generals 'who want to execute these people'. He pointed to a sweeping executive order signed by Donald Trump on his first day back in office aimed at urging prosecutors to seek the death penalty and preserving capital punishment in the states. 'The most cynical view would be: it seems to matter to the president, so it matters to them,' Blume said of the governors. A Florida department of corrections spokesperson, Ted Veerman, said on Tuesday that the department was well-prepared to do its duty as assigned by the courts and the governor. Bell would be the eighth person put to death in Florida this year, with a ninth scheduled for later this month. The state executed six people in 2023 but only one last year. Florida has executed more people than any other state this year, with Texas and South Carolina tied for second place at four each. Alabama has executed three people; Oklahoma has killed two; and Arizona, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee each have killed one. In December 1993, Bell spotted what he thought was the car of the man who fatally shot his brother earlier that year, according to court records. Bell was apparently unaware that the man had sold the car to West. Bell called on two friends and armed himself with an AK-47 rifle, authorities said. They found the car parked outside a liquor lounge and waited. When West, Smith and another woman eventually exited the club, Bell approached the car and opened fire, officials said. West died at the scene, and Smith died on the way to the hospital. The other woman escaped injury. Witnesses said Bell also fired at a crowd of onlookers before fleeing the area. He was eventually arrested the next year. Bell was later convicted of three additional murders. He fatally shot a woman and her toddler son in 1989 and killed his mother's boyfriend about four months before the attack on West and Smith, officials said. Prison officials said Bell woke up at 6.30am on Tuesday and ate his last meal, which was an omelette, bacon, home fries and orange juice. He met with a spiritual adviser but did not have any other visitors. The US supreme court denied Bell's request to stay the execution on Tuesday. His lawyers argued in their state filing that Bell's execution should be halted because of newly discovered evidence about witness testimony. But justices unanimously rejected the argument last week and pointed to overwhelming evidence of Bell's guilt in a 54-page opinion. The US supreme court denied Bell's request to stay the execution on Tuesday.
Boston Globe
4 days ago
- Politics
- Boston Globe
A Florida man is set to be the 26th person executed in the US this year, surpassing 2024's total
Advertisement John Blume, the director of the Cornell Death Penalty Project, says the uptick in executions doesn't appear to be linked to a change in public support for the death penalty or an increase in the rate of death sentences, but is rather the function of the discretion of state governors. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'A number of these people being executed are people that have been in the system for a long time; they've been on death row for a long time,' Blume said, adding that there are aggressive executives and attorney generals 'who want to execute these people.' He pointed to a sweeping executive order signed by President Donald Trump on his first day back in office aimed at urging prosecutors to seek the death penalty and preserving capital punishment in the states. Advertisement 'The most cynical view would be: It seems to matter to the president, so it matters to them,' Blume said of the governors. Florida Department of Corrections spokesperson Ted Veerman said Tuesday that the department was well-prepared to do its duty as assigned by the courts and the governor. This undated provided by the Florida Department of Corrections shows Bell, who is scheduled to receive a lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke on Tuesday. Uncredited/Associated Press Bell would be the eighth person put to death in Florida this year, with a ninth scheduled for later this month. The state executed six people in 2023 but only one last year. Florida has executed more people than any other state this year, with Texas and South Carolina tied for second place at four each. Alabama has executed three people, Oklahoma has killed two, and Arizona, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee each have killed one. In December 1993, Bell spotted what he thought was the car of the man who fatally shot his brother earlier that year, according to court records. Bell was apparently unaware that the man had sold the car to West. Bell called on two friends and armed himself with an AK-47 rifle, authorities said. They found the car parked outside a liquor lounge and waited. When West, Smith and another woman eventually exited the club, Bell approached the car and opened fire, officials said. West died at the scene, and Smith died on the way to the hospital. The other woman escaped injury. Witnesses said Bell also fired at a crowd of onlookers before fleeing the area. He was eventually arrested the next year. Bell was later convicted of three additional murders. He fatally shot a woman and her toddler son in 1989 and killed his mother's boyfriend about four months before the attack on West and Smith, officials said. Advertisement Prison officials said Bell woke up at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday and ate his last meal, which was an omelet, bacon, home fries and orange juice. He met with a spiritual adviser but did not have any other visitors. The U.S. Supreme Court denied Bell's request to stay the execution Tuesday. His lawyers argued in their state filing that Bell's execution should be halted because of newly discovered evidence about witness testimony. But justices unanimously rejected the argument last week and pointed to overwhelming evidence of Bell's guilt in a 54-page opinion. Associated Press reporters Kate Payne in Tallahassee, Fla., and Freida Frisaro in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, contributed to this report.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Yahoo
Could Bryan Kohberger's autism defense for capital murder set a precedent?
The Brief The attorneys of Bryan Kohberger, the man charged in the stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students, are claiming he has autism. Kohberger's attorneys are using the defense in an effort to get the death penalty off the table in his trial. BOISE, Idaho - Attorneys for Bryan Kohberger claim he has autism, and now they're trying to use that to get the death penalty off the table. What we know The 30-year-old is charged with the stabbing deaths of University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle. His trial is set for this summer, but if convicted, he could face the death penalty, which is why his attorneys are trying to strike it before the trial starts. According to court documents, a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation of Kohberger conducted by Dr. Rachel Orr, PsyD, ABPP-CN, found that he "continues to exhibit all the core diagnostic features of ASD currently, with significant impact on his daily life." ASD stands for autism spectrum disorder. FOX 13 talked with John Blume, the Samuel Leibowitz Professor of Trial Techniques and the director of the Cornell Death Penalty Project. He's seen his share of intellectual disabilities used in capital punishment cases. "The Supreme Court of the United States said in a 2002 case, Atkins v. Virginia, that people with intellectual disability, or what we used to call mental retardation, can't be sentenced to death and can't be executed," Blume said. However, autism is not considered an intellectual disability, but rather a developmental disability. The Supreme Court has not said the same thing about people with autism spectrum disorder. Kohberger's attorneys argue that people with autism spectrum disorder, like Kohberger, exhibit many of the very same impairments as people with intellectual disabilities. "They're not saying, 'look, he can't be found guilty of murder.' He can, just like somebody with intellectual disability can be found guilty of murder, but because of this severe developmental disorder, he doesn't have sufficient moral culpability to justify putting him to death," Blume said. The 28-page motion also cites news organizations and online videos calling Kohberger's mannerisms signs of guilt. For example, his "deadpan look" and "robot-like walk," positing that his facial expressions and body language prove he is a murderous "incel," stated in the court documents. The court records also explained his "atypical eye contact, including an intense gaze" have been called "sinister." However, the defense claims these are traits of his autism. "In this case, where jurors will be forced to determine whether Mr. Kohberger will live or die, Mr. Kohberger himself is essentially a piece of evidence to be examined and evaluated," the court records state. Blume told FOX 13 autism has been raised in other cases, but at trial. The fact that Kohberger's attorneys are raising this before his trial doesn't happen often, and could have the potential to set precedent. "I think there's an opportunity for a court to say, either, as a matter of, you know, state law, state constitutional law, federal law, that we're not going to allow people with autism to be sentenced to death," Blume said. Kohberger's trial is scheduled to start in August. The Source Information in this story is from court documents from the Latah County Prosecuting Attorney's Office and original FOX 13 Seattle reporting and interviews. Audio of 911 call released in Idaho student murders case Thieves steal 60 guns from South Hill, WA storage units Here's where Seattle renters are relocating: report Best time to see the UW cherry blossoms in Seattle Seattle Seahawks reach deal with WR Cooper Kupp To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national coverage, plus 24/7 streaming coverage from across the nation.
