Friday, September 24, 2010
Crime GA Supreme Court grants Brandon Rhode second stay of execution
Posted by Gwynedd Stuart @gwynnstu on Fri, Sep 24, 2010 at 5:20 PM
We said it was unlikely, but at 4 p.m. — just three hours before his execution was to be carried out — Brandon Rhode was granted a second stay of execution by the Georgia Supreme Court. Rhode was initially granted a temporary stay when on Tuesday he attempted suicide with the blade from a dismantled disposable razor, a razor given to him by a prison guard.
Since the suicide attempt, Rhode's attorney Brian Kammer has argued that his client is not competent to face execution. He filed a motion this morning for an emergency stay based on Rhode having been deprived a "meaningful proceeding" under state law. Nine hours of court proceedings were held in Butts County — at least in part during the night — to determine whether Rhode is competent to face execution, but a psychiatrist appointed by Rhode's counsel was not given the opportunity to attend and a transcript of the proceeding was not made available to Kammer until 10 this morning. In his motion, Kammer says the stay will give "a real opportunity to examine the transcripts of the proceedings" and, as such, to file any appeals.
Rhode was convicted in 2000 of murdering three members of a Jones County family — Steven Moss and his two children, Kristin and Bryan, ages 15 and 11, respectively — during a burglary.
The stay expires at 4 p.m. on Monday, September 27.
Comments (4)
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One thing puzzles me: If the state has determined that a man rightfully should die for the crimes for which he has been convicted, why does the state try to prevent the condemned from committing suicide? In other words, if a convicted killer deserves compassion when he attempts to kill himself, why do or should we so easily discard this compassion when the moment of his state-conducted execution arrives?
Just one of the many apparent incongruities that allowing captital punishment creates.
I think when he tryed to commit suicide they should of let his ass bleed to death! Thats what he did when he murdered that man n his 2 children! An eye for an eye! In his case I dont know why hes still alive! Impaired or not u DONT kill anyone!
Dear Mom 31,
The "eye for an eye" philosophy originated in 1732 BC and it didn't come from the bible. It came from Hammurabi's code, king of Babylon. A rather ancient view of the law you have there. I sure am glad we let medicine advance. Vengeance is a human emotion and has no place in a civilized government. For a lesson in compassion, go to www.murdervictimsfamilies.org.
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