Clemency for Ohio inmate; will Texas follow suit?

Ohio governor Ted Strickland had a rare moment of mercy on Friday when he granted clemency to death row inmate Richard Nields. Nields was convicted of the 1997 murder of his girlfriend during an argument.

Under Ohio law, the death penalty is only recommended to juries if the defendant was also guilty of a serious secondary offense such as arson, aggravated robbery or rape. Nields was found guilty of aggravated robbery on the grounds that he also stole the victim's car and some money from her purse. However, the 6th US Circuit Court of Appeals questioned whether Nields deserved the death penalty under Ohio law.

"This case is not about robbery," wrote Justice Paul Pfeifer, who helped to write Ohio's death penalty law as a state legislator in 1981. "It is about alcoholism, rage and rejection and about Nields' inability to cope with any of them."

For the second time during his time in office, Gov. Strickland has followed the recomendation of Ohio's Parole Board.

"Based on this review, I concur with the rationale and recommendation of the Ohio Parole Board majority," the Governor said.

I wonder whether Texas Governor Rick Perry will follow Strickland's excellent example and grant clemency to Texas death row inmate David Powell. Powell's execution is scheduled for June 15th - for a crime he committed more than 3 DECADES ago.

The official petition urging the governor to spare Powell is sitting at over 1500 signatures - including Sister Helen Prejean, and Ron Hampton, who is the executive director of the National Black Police Association. Not all police show as much compassion as Hampton - the Austin police force is actually planning a FIELD TRIP to Powell's execution (see their website austinpolice.com if you don't believe me). Powell was convicted of the murder of Austin police officer Ralph Ablanedo, and it's perfectly understandable that Austin police feel great anger towards Powell... But we are a civillized nation and there's a LIMIT.

After all, when man strikes you on one cheek, you should turn and offer him the other. Although most people wouldn't be that good-willed, that does not mean that when man strikes one cheek we should turn and inject him with a fatal dose of potassium chloride!!! Find THAT in the bible, and THEN tell me it condones the death penalty!

Texas has already executed 220 people since Rick Perry became governor. Surely that's enough. Like I said, there is a limit. Perry has condoned the murders of more people than probably most of Texas's entire death row put together.

We can only hope that Perry will feel Powell has been punished enough after 32 years on death row and grant him clemency.
Somehow, though, I doubt it. I personally think Perry has something wrong with his head. But I'm no doctor.

If you haven't already, please sign the official petition to spare David Powell. You can find the link at the right hand side of the blog.