[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----ALA., CALIF., WASH.

[Rick Halperin]

January 27




ALABAMA----impending execution

Alabama Gives Dominique (Domineque) Ray Execution Date of February 7, 2019



Dominique (Domineque) Ray is scheduled to be executed at 6 pm CST, on Thursday, 
February 7, 2019, at the Holeman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Alabama. 
42-year-old Dominique is convicted of murdering 15-year-old Tiffany Harville on 
July 15, 1995, in Dallas County, Alabama. Dominique has spent the last 19 years 
on death row in Alabama.

Dominique’s parents divorced when he was in elementary school because his 
father was having an affair. Growing up, Dominique also witnessed his parents 
physically fighting, as well as other men hitting his mother. Several witness 
produced at his trial testified that Dominique was a good friend and neighbor, 
who was supportive and non-violent.

On July 15, 1995, Tiffany Harville was left home alone, while her mother 
attended a workshop. When her mother returned home the following afternoon, 
Tiffany was not there and had not been seen since the previous evening. 
Tiffany’s mother made efforts to locate her daughter, with Dominique Ray 
offering his assistance in locating her by posting fliers and even offering 
reward money.

On August 16, 1995, Tiffany’s remains were found by a farmer working in the 
field. Police continued to follow leads and search for suspects, eventually 
arresting and charging Rod Suttle at the end of 1995. However the charges 
against Suttle were later dismissed.

On April 18, 1997, Ray, who was in custody at a local jail for an unrelated 
crime, revealed to investigators that he had witnessed Tiffany’s murder. Ray 
identified Suttle as the man who murdered Tiffany and 3 female associates as 
complicit in the crime. Ray later picked Suttle out of a police line-up.

On August 18, 1997, Marcus Owden, after experiencing a spiritual awakening, 
voluntarily approached the police and implicated himself and Ray in the murder 
of Tiffany. Upon questioning, Ray admitted that his earlier statements had been 
false.

On the night of July 15, 1995, Ray and Owden picked up Tiffany. The two men had 
allegedly agreed to ask her for sex, and if she refused, to “take it.” Each of 
the men raped her, although Ray insists he just acted like he did and that he 
had never agreed to rape her. After raping her, they killed her. According to 
Owden, Ray slit her throat and then stabbed her, with himself joining in. Ray 
claims that Owden produced the knife and killed Tiffany, after she threatened 
to report the sexual assault. Ray claims he did not inflict many stab wounds. 
Owden testified substantially at Ray’s trial, including the following reason 
for his decision to come forward about the crime: “I began to read my Bible, 
and I began to seek the Lord. And my heart started to hurting because of what 
we had did, because of what God put in my heart. And that’s what brought me 
forward because my heart was hurting.”

Ray was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of Tiffany. In February 
1999, Ray also was tried for the February 4, 1994, murder of Earnest and 
Reinhard Mabins, 2 brother ages 13 and 18, who were shot to death in their 
home. Owden also participated in the Mabins’ murder and confessed to the police 
when he told them about Tiffany’s murder. Ray received a life sentence for the 
murder of the 2 Mabins’ children. For his role in the murders Owden is serving 
a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

(source: theforgivenessfoundation.org)








CALIFORNIA:

see long article: 
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kevin-cooper-chino-hills-massacre-can-dna-tests-prove-wrong-man-was-convicted-in-quadruple-slaying/)








WASHINGTON:

Washington death row inmate gets reduced sentence after killing prison 
guard----A judge had no choice but to vacate the death sentence of a convicted 
killer after the death penalty was deemed unconstitutional in Washington state.



A notorious criminal in Washington state will no longer face execution after 
killing a Monroe prison guard.

Byron Scherf had a long history of rape and kidnapping. He was already serving 
a life sentence for abducting and raping a Spokane real estate agent when he 
strangled Corrections Officer Jayme Biendl inside the chapel at the Monroe 
Prison.

Scherf confessed to the 2011 murder of Biendl and asked prosecutors for the 
death penalty, saying he deserved to die for his crime. A jury agreed and 
Scherf was given the death penalty in 2013.

But in October 2018, Washington state’s Supreme Court ruled that the death 
penalty violates its Constitution.

Judge George Appel had no choice but to vacate Scherf's death sentence and 
reinstate his original sentence of life without parole.

State Senator Keith Wagoner, R-Sedro Woolley, is introducing Senate Bill 5364 
that would allow for the death penalty in cases where an inmate kills while 
incarcerated. He said Scherf is essentially getting a reduced sentence after 
killing Biendl.

"I think typically people understand in our justice system, if you do something 
minor you have a minor consequence. If you do something serious, you have a 
serious consequence," Wagoner said. "Now we're going to the top of the pyramid 
and saying there is no consequence at all. I think that's upside down logic. It 
doesn't serve victims or their families very well."

Wagoner conceded his bill is not likely to get passed in the 
Democratic-controlled Legislature. It hasn't even gotten a hearing. But he is 
encouraging supporters to call their local legislators and Governor Inslee to 
voice their approval.

(source: KING news)