[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----N.C., GA., UTAH

[Rick Halperin]

July 8



NORTH CAROLINA:

Tillis notes support for increased federal penalties following Dallas shooting


Following a mass shooting in Dallas that took the lives of 5 police officers, 
U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-NC, emphasized his support for a measure that would 
punish perpetrators of similar incidents.

By Friday afternoon, five police officers were confirmed dead in downtown 
Dallas shooting that occurred Thursday evening. Seven others, including 2 
civilians, were injured. It was unclear on Friday afternoon how many total 
suspects participated in killing law enforcement officers. The Associated Press 
reported that police killed 1 suspect by using a robot to deliver a bomb.

In a prepared statement issued Friday, Tillis said it's important to support 
law enforcement officers.

He also mentioned a pending piece of legislation called the "Thin Blue Line 
Act," which would increase penalties for people who kill or attempt to kill 
first responders. The list of sponsors and cosponsors is entirely composed of 
Republicans, including Tillis. In his statement, Tillis mentioned the bill as a 
way to support law enforcement officers.

More specifically, the bill supported by Tillis would amend the federal 
criminal code to make the murder or attempted murder of a law enforcement 
officer, firefighters or other first responder an aggravating factor for juries 
that are considering the death penalty.

"Brave men and women put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe, and 
our federal laws should support them and give them the protections they need 
and deserve," Tillis said.

Law enforcement officers are described in the bill as those who are authorized 
to "engage in or supervise the detention, investigation, prosecution or 
incarceration of any person for any criminal violation" and those who are 
authorized to apprehend or arrest anyone for a criminal violation.

The aggravating factor would apply when the murder occurs while a first 
responder is at work or because of the first responder's job status.

After it was first introduced in 2015, the bill received support from the 
National Sheriffs' Association. At the time, the organization noted that the 
death penalty can be considered when a federal law enforcement officer is 
murdered. The death penalty cannot be considered for state or local law 
enforcement officers.

"It is an important recognition that the targeting of state and local law 
enforcement officers and firefighters is equally as abhorrent in the eyes of 
the law," said Executive Director Jonathan F. Thompson at the time.

In his statement that followed the Dallas mass murder, Tillis stressed the 
vital role of law enforcement in North Carolina's communities.

"I am proud of North Carolina's law enforcement community and grateful for the 
brave men and women in blue who risk their lives every single day to patrol our 
streets, protect our communities, and keep our families safe," Tillis said. 
"One of the great privileges I've had as North Carolina's senator is visiting 
police stations across the state and personally thanking our officers for the 
selfless risks and sacrifices they make for all North Carolinians. Wearing the 
blue uniform is one of the toughest and most dangerous jobs in America."

(source: Salisbury Post)






GEORGIA----impending execution

Halt the Execution of John Conner (UA 162/16)


John Conner, a 60-year-old man who has been on death row in Georgia for 34 
years, is scheduled to be executed on 14 July. Represented at trial by an 
inexperienced attorney, his jury heard nothing about his abusive childhood, or 
his possible intellectual disability.

1) Please write immediately in English or your own language:

-- Calling for John Conner's execution to be halted and his death sentence 
commuted;

-- Expressing concern that the jury never heard about his abusive childhood or 
possible intellectual disability, and noting that the parole board now has the 
chance to consider the mitigating effect of this information;

-- Noting the evidence of personal growth that John Conner has achieved on 
death row after his chaotic and violent upbringing and the positive role he is 
said to play in prison;

-- Explaining that you are not seeking to excuse violent crime or downplay the 
suffering caused.

see: 
http://www.amnestyusa.org/get-involved/take-action-now/usa-halt-the-execution-of-john-conner-ua-16216

(source: Amnesty International USA)






UTAH:

Police Identify Man Accused in Deaths of Utah Teen Siblings


A Utah man accused of killing a teenage brother and sister in what's being 
called a senseless slaying over a T-shirt has been arrested on allegations that 
could become a capital murder case, authorities said Friday.

Mario Cervantes-Angel, 28, fired several shots after Jose Izazaga, 16, came out 
with a knife to defend his sister because she was being pushed around, police 
said. The fight started after another man accused Abril Izazaga, 15, of taking 
a shirt late Wednesday, according to Lt. Lex Bell of Salt Lake County's Unified 
Police Department.

The girl died at the apartment complex in the Salt Lake City suburb of Midvale, 
and her brother died at a hospital shortly after.

The group scattered, but several witnesses identified Cervantes-Angel as the 
person who fired the shots, according to a jail booking statement. He was 
arrested the day after the shootings.

The man who originally started the argument turned himself into to police, but 
hasn't yet been formally arrested and his name hasn't been released.

No attorney was immediately listed Cervantes-Angel in court records, and a 
search of public records showed no listed phone number.

Jail records say he's from Mexico and his also being held on an immigration 
violation. He's been arrested on suspicion of 2 counts of aggravated murder, a 
charge that carries the possibility of the death penalty. Prosecutors haven't 
yet filed formal charges in the case.

Members of the Izazaga family say the 2 slain siblings shared a tight bond. 
They were the youngest of nine siblings and both had birthdays in July.

Their older brother Kenny Lopez has said the man who started the confrontation 
was a longtime friend of Jose Izazaga and spent a lot of time at the house and 
sometimes stayed there when he didn't have a place to stay.

(source: Associated Press)