White supremacist to be executed in Texas for dragging death of black man

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

(Reuters) - A white supremacist convicted of killing James Byrd Jr. in 1998 by dragging the 49-year-old black man behind a truck in one of the most notorious hate crimes in modern times is scheduled to be executed in Texas on Wednesday.

John William "Bill" King, 44, is scheduled to die at 6 p.m. (2300 GMT) by lethal injection at the state’s death chamber in Huntsville.

King along with Shawn Berry and Lawrence Brewer were accused of kidnapping Byrd while he hitchhiked in Jasper, Texas, on June 7, 1998.

Prosecutors said the men dragged him behind their 1982 gray Ford pickup truck for 3 miles (5 km) before dumping his body in front of an African-American church. A "KKK" engraved lighter was among the evidence police found at the scene, court documents showed.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/white-supremacist-to-be-executed-in-texas-for-dragging-death-of-black-man/ar-BBWf8gD?li=BBnbcA1

[nycbos]

1. I am against the death penalty but...

... I won't exactly lose any sleep over this one.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. I am exactly with you on this one. n/t

[Siwsan]

3. I feel the same

This was one of the most horrific crimes, during my lifetime.

[Seeking Serenity]

7. Then you aren't against the DP

You only oppose it conditionally, depending on who the condemned is.

I've learned over my many years that when anyone says, "I believe X, but...," one can pretty much disregard everything before the "but."

I've seen so many posts like this over the years. One either opposes the DP for all condemned people, or one doesn't.

That's my view anyway.

[csziggy]

9. This is a good reason to object to the death penalty

It has taken 20 years to get this killer's death scheduled. His name has been kept in the news with all the appeals and stays necessary to make sure that the right person is killed by the government.

Better that a killer be sentenced to life in prison - and in cases of this sort of person, life without chance of parole - so their name will be forgotten and they can not be made a martyr by people who agree with his beliefs.

I used to think that the death penalty was good for those who should never be allowed back into society. But there are far too many cases where innocent people are killed to justify the death penalty. And when it takes decades to put someone to death for particularly heinous crimes, it is not a deterrent at all.

Better to lock up those who are considered dangerous and that have been found guilty so that if mistakes in the process are uncovered the innocent can be let free.

[Jake Stern]

11. Agreed

The death penalty is, to me, one area where there is no nuance. No gray area.

Either you are against the death penalty for all, including this guy, or you aren’t.

[NastyRiffraff]

10. Yes, me too

I won't go out of my way to protest this one, as much as I hate the death penalty. I'd rather this asshole die a lingering death from a painful disease, or be killed with a shiv by a fellow inmate. But I won't shed a tear for him.

[dalton99a]

4. He should suffer like his victim.

[java108]

5. Toodle-loo!

[lunasun]

6. 20 yrs later I still remember this . Shook me then and reading it now.

James Byrd Jr.

[malaise]

8. I am profoundly against the death penalty

Life in prison is what he deserves

[Bettie]

12. I'm with you on this one

well, on all of them. The death penalty is simply morally wrong.

[malaise]

13. Yep

I have never ever supported the death penalty and my favorite cousin was murdered.
He never supported it either.

[Bettie]

14. I'd be fully on board if killing anyone

brought someone back to life, but two wrongs don't make a right and more death doesn't make the world better.

Sorry about your cousin, that is awful.

[SoCalDem]

15. Drag him behind a robot car..