(See “Mississippi Schedules a Murder, Part II” here.)
Dale Leo Bishop didn’t commit murder. The state of Mississippi admits that he didn’t commit murder despite its conviction of him. And yet he’s scheduled to be executed for murder on July 23rd. Bishop is guilty of involuntary manslaughter, but the state of Mississippi doesn’t care.
I dont think this is fair . And I think this should be stopped immediately !
This is not Justice … and someone should be able to end the foolishness
Cant anyone help him & his family.
He does have kids , you know .
This is not fair to them .
Not at all.
When will all these lunatics stop talking about the poor murderer and all his poor children and start thinking about the poor victim and the children the victim leaves behind? Are they so blind an ignorant that they can’t see the forest for the murderer?
Ron, when will all you right-wing nutjobs actually take the time to understand an issue before spouting-off with your right-wing imbecility?
Marcus Gentry (the victim you’re so “concerned” about that you couldn’t bother to mention him by name) was murdered by Jessie Johnson. Johnson didn’t tell Bishop what he intended, just that he wanted Bishop’s help in kicking Gentry’s ass. Then he surprised Bishop by hammering Gentry to death.
Johnson got life in prison for actually COMMITTING the murder. Bishop got a death sentence because he is mentally ill and requested it.
Now, if you think it’s okay for an unwitting accomplice to be punished more severely than the one who kept him in the dark about the true, premeditated nature of the crime, you have a poorly-developed idea of right and wrong.
Wait a minute, you’re a Republican, so OF COURSE you have a poorly-developed idea of right and wrong. You wouldn’t be a Republican, otherwise.
July 22, 2008
I read the transcripts of Dale Bishop. He asked to die for his part in the crime. You can read it here: http://www.mssc.state.ms.us/Images/Opinions/CO18327.pdf
I am not in favor of the death penalty, and I agree this case doesn’t seem fair, but the document spells out precedence in other cases…read the whole thing and then make up your mind. I worked for the MS DOC for 2 years, lived in MS… I write recovery programs for inmates, and I am an ex-offender. I am aware of deficiencies in attitudes there. Anyway all that can be done until tomorrow is pray for the soul of Bishop.
There are two things to consider, the law of the land and the law of God.
I wrote Bishop, he elected not to answer…
Mr. Bishop has a documented history of mental illness, so his request to be put to death is null and void as he is non compos mentis.
Then there’s the fact that the law of the land is not being considered here, as the state of Mississippi requires that capital punishment be meted out only when the defendant had an intent to commit murder, which Bishop did not have. Instead, Bishop thought his job was to hold a mean guy who ratted out his buddy’s brother while his buddy beat the guy up. At no time did Bishop know that his buddy was going to use a claw hammer to murder the man.
Finally, there’s the fact that the murderer is getting a lighter sentence than Bishop. Does that REALLY seem right to you? Setting aside a debate on the morality and ethicality of the death penalty, should a murderer get a lighter sentence than an accomplice who didn’t know that a murder would be taking place? That’s just plain wrong.
I would think so-called conservatives, always railing about the dangerous abuses of the government, would be condemning Mississippi for this unjust judicial abuse.
Finally, there’s the fact that the murderer is getting a lighter sentence than Bishop. Does that REALLY seem right to you?
No it desn’t
Ummm are you crazy!!! He asked to die, He held Marcus down while Jessie beat him with a claw hammer… Yes why don’t you consider the victems family!!! We have went thru a lot the past 10 years! Jessie does deseve to die also but for Dale he asked to die!! And his wish will be grranted at 6 pm less than an hour from now! Someone should pray for his soul, and then when your done praying for him, pray for us… Marcus Gentrys family!!
No its not fair that the murderer got a lighter sentence, I agree, both men should have been put to death. they both took part in the act and should both receive the same sentence. His attorney stated lethal injection is painful what about the boy they beat what about his PAIN wht about his family and friends the pain they have suffered and that we still suffer to this day.
You’re funny Jessica. You can claim to be anything on the Internet, but unless you can prove it, don’t waste anyone’s time.
Now, how will the murder of a mentally-ill man bring back Marcus Gentry? How will it deter other heat-of-passion or premeditated murders? Answer to both questions: It won’t.
The American “justice” system is racist, sexist, and grossly corrupt. Over ten thousand men wrongly convicted by “a jury of their peers” have been released from Death Rows all over America during the last decade as new technology allowed old evidence to be examined in a superior manner, or jury tampering by corrupt prosecutors and judges was revealed, or crooked juries were exposed, or witnesses who lied finally came forward to confess perjury.
The death penalty is too brutal and inhumane a punishment to mete out given the massive flaws in the system that is allowed to impose it, and impose it arbitrarily, as we can see in this case.
And you want to talk about families? How about Bishop’s family, such as it is? I guess your fake sympathy doesn’t extend that far. You and your kind know nothing but bloodlust. You’re disgusting.
Frances, see my response to Jessica. And let me add how wryly amusing it is to see you pro-war, anti-gun control, anti-environment hate-mongers pretend that you care about human life — and care about it soooooo much that you want to show people that killing people is wrong by killing people who kill people. And even those like Bishop, who didn’ kill anyone.
Idiotic hypocrites, the lot of you.
[...] 07.23.08 by semidi (See “Mississippi Schedules a Murder, Part I” here.) [...]
Only in America. Nowhere in the western world i.e. Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Canada can this happen. All I can say is that I am very glad that I am not American, I would be ashamed of a country that does this type of justice.