[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----Christopher Scott Emmett Execution Alert

Thu Oct 11 16:59:33 CDT 2007

Action Alert
October 11, 2007

Chris Scott Emmett to be Executed October 17th

Contact Governor Tim Kaine

Vigil in Protest

Dear VADP Action Alert List Member,

The 99th Virginia execution is now set for Wednesday, October 17, 2007. At
9:00 pm Christopher Scott Emmett is scheduled to be lethally injected in the
Death Chamber at the Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt, VA.
Contrary to what you may be reading in news stories, there is no moratorium
on lethal injection executions in effect. The Virginia Department of
Corrections will move Chris Scott Emmet to the Death House at the
Greensville Correctional Center in the next few days. This execution will
proceed as scheduled barring a court intervention or a stay by the governor.

Once again we need to ask for your help to urge Governor Kaine to either
stay this execution until the US Supreme Court rules on the
constitutionality of lethal injection or commute Chris Emmett's death
sentence to life-in-prison-without-parole.

Remember the victim but not with more killing!

We join those who mourn the loss of John Langley and are determined to
eliminate the violence that brought about his senseless murder.  But
execution is neither a solution to violence nor a comfort to mourners.  It
is part of the problem and increases the cycle of violence.

Inadequate Representation

The issue here is not guilt or innocence but the specter, once again of
inadequate representation by his court appointed public defender and the
fact that capital punishment as practiced in Virginia is not reserved for
the "worst of the worst" crimes.  Emmett is guilty of murder. Should he be
executed for that murder is the question?

Jurors Were Not Told the Truth About Scott Emmett

Jurors asked to determine whether execution was the appropriate sentence for
Emmett were not told the truth about his childhood history.  This is unfair,
not only to Emmett but to those expected to make life and death decisions in
our names.

Lethal Injection

Also at issue is Virginia's continuing use of a lethal injection protocol
which is banned by the American Veterinary Medical Association for use on
cats and dogs as being "cruel and inhumane." This same protocol has lead to
the present halting of executions in at least 11 other death penalty states
from Maryland to California. A recent study on lethal injection cited
Virginia for using the smallest doses of any lethal injection state of
thiopental as an anesthetic. Questions also need to be raised due to recent
revelations that the execution team leader in Virginia has had no
certifiable medical training.

On Oct 2, the US Supreme Court decided to review the case of two Kentucky
death row prisoners who are challenging lethal injection. Oral arguments in
this case, Baze v Rees will be heard in early 2008 with a decision expected
by summer 2008. Virginia uses the same three drug protocol as Kentucky. In
his previous statement staying Mr. Emmett's June execution because he still
had an appeal pending before the Court, Gov. Kaine said:

"Basic fairness demands that condemned inmates be allowed the opportunity to
complete legal appeals prior to execution. Allowing Emmett's execution to go
forward.would foreclose any additional review of his case. The
irreversibility of an execution.warrant my intervention in this case." Mr.
Emmett's attorneys have requested a stay based upon the anticipated Baze v
Rees ruling, common decency and justice require that Virginia delay any
executions by lethal injection until the US Supreme Court hands down its
ruling on the constitutionality of lethal injection.

Commute this sentence to Life without Parole

Please call, email and/or write Governor Tim Kaine asking him to stay this
execution, address the questions of Virginia's lethal injection protocol,
and commute Christopher Scott Emmett's sentence to life in prison without
parole.

Messages requesting clemency for Mr. Emmett should be addressed to:

The Honorable Timothy M. Kaine

Office of the Governor

Patrick Henry Building, 3rd Floor

1111 East Broad Street

Richmond, Virginia 23219

Phone: (804) 786-2211
Fax: (804) 371-6351

Emails:
<http://www.governor.virginia.gov/AboutTheGovernor/contactGovernor.cfm>
http://www.governor.virginia.gov/AboutTheGovernor/contactGovernor.cfm

Protest state-killing on October 17, 2007:

4:00 to 6:00 PM in front of the Office of the Governor

1111 East Broad Street

Richmond, Virginia 23219

Execution Vigils: October 17th

*	Fill-the-Field in front of the Death House

8:30 - 9:30 PM

Greensville Correctional Center

Jarratt, VA

*	Vigils across the Commonwealth in 20+ locations

See  <http://vadp.org/attend-a-vigil.html>
http://vadp.org/attend-a-vigil.html for a list of sites and contacts

For further information on the case of Christopher Scott Emmett go to:
<http://www.vadp.org/christopherscottemmett.html>
http://www.vadp.org/christopherscottemmett.html.

*	To reach a wider audience with this message, please also consider
writing a Letter to the Editor either before or after the execution
*	Contacting your media outlets asking them to cover this story.
Listings can be found at the following site:
<http://www.disastercenter.com/virginia/media.html>
http://www.disastercenter.com/virginia/media.html.

Thanks for all you do.

Jack Payden-Travers, Director
Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
P.O. Box 4804
Charlottesville, VA 22905
888-567-VADP (8237)
434-960-7779 (cell)
Jack at VADP.org
www.VADP.org <http://www.vadp.org/>