49-year-old who was sentenced to death in 1985 for killing an attorney chooses firing squad

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Run time: 01:26 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQqE3Kws_Ms   Posted on YouTube: April 24, 2010 By YouTube Member: AlJazeeraEnglish Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: April 24, 2010 By DU Member: Amerigo Vespucci Views on DU: 890

 

AlJazeeraEnglish — April 24, 2010 — Ronnie Lee Gardner is a 49-year-old who was sentenced to death in 1985 for killing an attorney during a failed escape attempt from custody.

He's chosen the manner of his own execution.

"I would like the firing squad, please" Gardner told the court.

Gardner was about to go on trial for another murder in Salt Lake City's court of justice. But in the basement a female acquaintance slipped him a loaded gun and he tried, but failed to shoot his way out.

Lawmakers in Utah actually stopped convicts electing to die by firing squad in 2004 - but because Gardners conviction was earlier, he's kept the right to choose.

The victim's former girlfriend says he would not have wanted his killer to be executed.

Gardner's lawyers will appeal to Utah's Suprme Court, hoping the sentence will be commuted to life without parol - but if that fails an execution date has been set for June 18. (24 April 2010)

[greiner3]

1. No Shakespeare quotes?

[laylah]

2. Correct me if I am wrong...

and I may very well be. Didn't Gary Gilmore choose a firing squad in Utah in the early '60's? Just curious.

[Stargleamer]

3. I don't think it was a choice back then

hell, California still had the agonizing death of the gas chamber for its death-row inmates back then, and other states electrocution was still going on.

[aliciaabs19]

6. Yes indeed

You are correct my friend

[edwinmathews]

4. My favorite part of the story is

the victims former girlfriend says the victim would not have wanted his killer to be executed .
Wow what a bad piece of luck the one guy who could held sway with the court and maybe help spare Ronnie Lee Gardner's life , Ronnie Lee Gardner murdered .

[cybersapien]

5. Ridiculous

The whole "firing squad" issue just brings to light how ridiculous the death penalty is in general.