FILE - In this Oct. 31 1997 file photo Danny Lee waits for his arraignment hearing for murder in the Pope County Detention Center in Russellville, Ark. A federal judge in Indiana on Friday, July, 10, 2020, halted the first federal execution planned in 17 years scheduled three days from now over COVID-19 concerns. Daniel Lee had been scheduled to die by lethal injection. Lee, 47, of Yukon, Okla.
The family of the victims in the case had requested that it be called off because their fear of the coronavirus would keep them from attending. Not that they wanted to see the killer die; they have long asked that he be given a life sentence instead, and their pandemic objection could postpone the execution indefinitely.
The Justice Department argues that it is likely to win an appeal. It contends that executions require extensive planning and coordination with other law enforcement officials and says dozens of staff members were already being brought in from other facilities ahead of Monday’s planned execution.Attorney General William Barr has said part of the reason the Trump administration wants to resume executions is to deliver a sense of justice to the victims’ families.
The relatives, including Earlene Branch Peterson, who lost her daughter and granddaughter in the killing, have argued that their grief is compounded by the push to execute Lee in the middle of a pandemic. The relatives would be traveling thousands of miles and witnessing the execution in a small room where the social distancing recommended to prevent the virus’ spread is virtually impossible. There are currently four confirmed coronavirus cases among inmates at the Terre Haute prison, according to federal statistics, and one inmate there has died.
Lee’s attorneys also sought the delay on grounds that they’ve been forced to choose between their own health and adequately defending their client.
Just give everyone a mask, problem solved.
What's all the fuss. He deserves no less than what his victims experienced. Should have been executed within two years of his first sentencing. I will say if convicted on evidence only then it's life in prison.
Liberal temper tantrums should not be considered as legitimate law.
_Politics Kill and be killed.
As they continue to fight for abortions... Let's kill innocent babies before they get a chance to even take a breath, but continue to pander to those who stole someone's last breath. Disgusting.
Trump just made a mockery of our criminal justice system by pardoning fellow crook Stone! Now his running dog at DOJ Barr wants to go on a killing rampage! Killing every one on death row! Right to life? Sanctity of life? Only to unborn! Never to grown up like Trump? Madness!
i wonder what the NoPrisons group thinks of this man, and the ones mentioned at the bottom of the article, scheduled for next week. Would they let them sit next to their children on a pew Sunday?
Did the victims get to say goodbye to their loved ones first?
They just reenstated executions to halt them?
More Racist Trump ideology going on in out justice department
Oh ffs, just put him down.
Too funny 😂
Just use cyanide for executions. Problems solved.
IS IT ENOUGH DEATH ON OUR GREAT COUNTRY LANDS! JUDGES STAND STRONG NO EXCUTIONS FOR TWO DECADES! LETS STAND TOGETHER RAISE OUR VOICES 👇TO FAKE ATTORNEY GENERAL william barr MOFIA JUSTICE!
Inject him with COVID19
wtf how is this still legal under federal law? fucking get with the times, third world country?
Where is it happening? Don't tell me in North America just gross
The Nazi in the pic can fry fr
The pro life party is sad they can’t execute someone?
7.62mm from about 20ft away. Virus problem solved... if you on death row & not of color chances are you are where you need to be .
Trump eager to start federal executions before the US Presidential election.
You take a vitamin everyday to heal your mind, so take this everyday to heal your soul!! Support BLM:
Send them to the electric chair. Tax dollars shouldn’t be wasted