Mass. Death Sentence Is First in 30 Years

[goobergunch]

By MARTIN FINUCANE
Associated Press Writer

BOSTON (AP) -- A drifter who admitted carjacking and killing two men during a weeklong crime spree was sentenced to die Tuesday by a federal jury - the first death sentence handed out in Massachusetts in 30 years.

Gary Sampson, 44, was condemned for the 2001 murders of Philip McCloskey, 69, and Jonathan Rizzo, 19. He pleaded guilty in September to stabbing them several days apart, after each man had picked him up hitchhiking.

Massachusetts, one of the nation's most liberal states, abolished capital punishment in 1984 and has not executed anyone since 1947. The last time anyone was sentenced to death in Massachusetts was in 1973.

Prosecutors pursued the Sampson case under a 1994 federal law that allows the death penalty for a murder committed during a carjacking.

more...http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MURDER_SPREE?SITE=IADES&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[Caution]

1. Neraly 60 freakin years since the last execution

in my home state and in less than 4 years bush has managed to push one through.

[GCP]

2. I don't even know if we have the equipment for this

I was really surprised when they sentenced him to death. I wonder if it will really happen.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

4. They'll probably haul him to Texas

...and invite * to personally push the button. For old times' sake.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

3. STATES' RIGHTS! STATES' RIGHTS!

Oh... I thought that was a principle. So it is only good when the Federal position is more liberal than the State's? OK then...

[TreasonousBastard]

5. The interesting thing here...

is that apparently Federal prosecutors took this away from Mass. jurisdiction largely so they could try it as a capital case. Too bad the jury went along.

Ashcroft has caused a lot of angst within Federal prosecutors' offices by demanding that they go capital at every chance, even if the case may not warrant it, or there are pleas to be made.

Curiously, after that race to the death chamber between Maryland and Virginia, the jury recommended life for Malvo. Perhaps Ashcroft will find a way to open a new capital case in a Federal court.

Your tax dollars at work.