[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----CALIF.

[Rick Halperin]

May 30



CALIFORNIA:

Man on death row claims a Mexican loan shark is to blame for his mother and 
stepfathers deaths


A Scot accused of shooting dead his mother and stepfather has blamed the 
killings on a Mexican loan shark.

Derek Connell, 29, was arrested after the bodies of Paisley-born Kim 
Higgin-botham and husband Christopher were found in a pool of blood at their 
home in Bakersfield, California, on April 30.

Connell will face the death penalty if convicted.

According to newly released police transcripts, he initially blamed a Mexican 
money lender called "Nacho" for the killings.

He said his stepdad had run up massive debts to Nacho - and that the mysterious 
loan shark was responsible for shooting him.

Detective David Brooks, who grilled Connell, said: "I told him he was a coward 
and that he should admit what happened to provide closure to the family."

Californian police were tipped off by concerned family members in Scotland who 
had received a mobile phone message from Connell which read "mom is dead".

When officers arrived at the house they found Connell - originally from 
Shawlands, Glasgow - trying to drive away in a 4x4 smelling of alcohol.

They also noticed he had blood on his trousers and marks consistent with bleach 
stains.

He told them, "My parents are shot in the house", and was immediately 
handcuffed and taken into custody.

Then over a series of interviews lasting more than 5 hours, unemployed oil 
worker Connell gave officers his side of the story.

Senior detective Kenneth Sporer said throughout the grilling he "did not show 
any emotion".

Connell claimed that, after discovering the bodies, he "lay down next to mom" 
before attempting to clean up the crime scene using "that stuff you put in the 
dishwasher".

He said he also planned to take the bodies to a funeral home "to avoid issues 
with the police".

Asked what he would say to his mother and stepfather if they were in front of 
him, he replied: "I love them."

Connell's next court appearance will be in July.used of shooting dead his 
mother and stepfather has blamed the killings on a Mexican loan shark.

Derek Connell, 29, was arrested after the bodies of Paisley-born Kim 
Higgin-botham and husband Chris-topher were found in a pool of blood at their 
home in Bakersfield, California, on April 30.

Connell will face the death penalty if convicted.

(source: sundaypost.com)

*****************

Death penalty is not effective


After reading about our sheriff's support of a revision to the state's death 
penalty law and also seeing his picture in your newspaper, a couple of 
questions as well as a personal opinion came to mind. First, I wonder if the 
sheriff could touch his toes or run a 50-yard dash in a reasonable time 
commensurate with his age, but probably not his weight.

The news conference also brought to mind the fact that we are the only 
so-called civilized, most powerful country in the world still executing people 
for criminal behavior. The only difference between us and the Saudi Arabians is 
they behead and mutilate people in public, but we don't have enough guts to do 
the same.

If our law enforcement agencies believe that capital punishment reduces crime, 
why do we have so many prisoners on death row in San Quentin? Hey, let's join 
proud Texas in its fun and delight assassinating criminals.

Well, I guess it is one way of reducing the problem of crowded jail 
populations.

(source: Letter to the Editor, Carl Larkin, Record Searchlight)






SUDAN: