Why is Olympic Bomber Eric Rudolph getting plea bargain?

[fortyfeetunder]

Just another case of US justice. I am just appalled this guy, who I think created just as much a heinous crime as the Beltway snipers and Timothy McVeigh, got to plea bargain? No chance at a death penalty? I would not be surprised if he escaped. The US are fools.

[wakeme2008]

1. killing a Police Officer

would get anybody else the Death Pent.

[democracyindanger]

2. Because Christian terrorism isn't really terrorism.

[Midnight Rambler]

3. Cause he's white

As well as a good christian.

[edbermac]

4. Are you kidding? After Robert Blake and OJ, anything's possible!

He's going away for life which is good enough...why take the chance that his fellow freeper nutjobs will be sitting on the jury and turn him loose?

[Totally Committed]

5. He's White...

He's an Extremist Christian Fundamentalist, he took down an abortion clinic, and he's a gun-nut.

I'm surprised he's not getting a medal and a parade.

TC

[forgethell]

6. I don't know, but

maybe the others refused to deal?

It's always possible a jury could refuse to find him guilty. Then he gets nothing.

Besides, I thought we were all anti-death penalty here. Why the rush to see a fellow human being slaughtered?

Of course, I speak as one of the few pro-death penalty people on this board, but I'd like to know if you support the death penalty in other cases, like you know, the murdered pregnant clerk at the 7-11, or something? Those crimes without political overtones?

[fortyfeetunder]

7. that's the rub

I'm not so sure the others refused, but equally as troubling is how do we know the others were not offered a chance for a plea bargain?

[forgethell]

14. WE don't.

If I were a prosecutor, I would also look at how much evidence I actually had, and what I thought my chances were. It doesn't have to be a racial thing, and only racists think that it always is.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

10. I started to get angry

until I read that he's getting life in prison instead of death. That's OK by me.

But of course, the reduction in bloodthirst due to this particular criminal's political inclinations (not to mention skin color) is showing. I guess sometimes two wrongs DO make a right.

[Walt Starr]

8. He's a white conservative terrorist

Otherwise, he'd already be convicted and awaiting his execution.

[Dookus]

9. He's getting

four consecutive life terms with no possibility of parole. Sounds like a good deal on the part of the prosecutors to me. Why go through (like multiple) trials to get the death penalty when he might be convicted at all.

I'll be happy to see him in jail for life.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

11. GMTA (nt)

[tammywammy]

12. I think it's a good deal all around

The State saves money by not having to try him on several counts. He probably knew he'd be convicted anyways. And now, there's no chance a jury may let him off, and he's got 4 life sentences.

[catmandu57]

13. At least there won't be another distraction

to take our eyes away from the ball, this fuckwad is going to prison for the rest of his life.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

15. Screw him. What about the people who helped him?

He's getting life, that's fine. But, what about all the people who helped him hide out for 5+ years? Aiding and abetting terrorists is a crime...at least I heard it was.

[fortyfeetunder]

18. I am afraid the helpers

might help him escape and live on the run for another 4-5 years.

[solinvictus]

16. A legal analyst here in Birmingham said...

the plea bargain was to avoid the expense and possiblity of multiple trials and to allow closure as Rudolf admitted to the hows and wheres of all the bombings. Oddly enough, he used to live downstairs in this building back in 1996-97. I live a block from the abortion clinic he bombed and eat at a Lebanese place next door.

[catzies]

17. I'm furious that that piece of shit terrorist got off too easy.

He's a worthless little coward.

He didn't care to send other people to their deaths, but he's afraid to go to his own.

He's a little piece of human filth, and I do not feel justice was served.

[Dookus]

20. got off too easy?

four consecutive life terms. I don't consider that getting off easy, at all.

And if he went to trial, he may not have gotten the death penalty anyway. He could conceivably even have been acquitted.

This looks like justice to me.

[fortyfeetunder]

22. You think Rudolph's friends might help him escape?

I get the impression after Rudolph was able to live on the run for 4-5 years, and undoubtably with a little help from his friends. I wonder if he will get help to escape from his life sentence home and live on the run for another few years...

[_TJ_]

19. The death penalty is barbaric and should be abolished

...even if the offender *is* human scum.

The US is the only western democracy on earth where criminals
are still executed. If you really think it is a good thing to run your
country like Iran, China, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen then I don't
know what to tell you :(

[fortyfeetunder]

21. Hey, I am opposed to the death penalty too!

People like Rudolph can go almost scot-free for his crimes while...others can get executed because of botched information in a trial, or for the misfortune of having one's defense attorney being incompetent to even defend....

[Dookus]

24. go almost scot-free?

He'll be in prison for the rest of his life with no chance of parole.

[fortyfeetunder]

25. I believe he will escape

He had help staying out 4-5 years, and I don't think a prison is going to keep him in...there are Rudolph sympathizers in prison too.

[Dookus]

27. I believe your fear is unfounded

very very few prisoners escape from prison.

[G_j]

23. Our local (WNC) news has been reporting

the 'deal' had something to do with Rudolph telling them where he buried 250 lbs of dynamite. Locals also reported hearing loud blasts as the material was exploded yesterday.

[kodi]

26. the cops ought to dump him off in downtown atlanta 2am and drive away

that cowardly murderer would be dead within 5 minutes.

he's white and that makes all the difference in the US.