The Execution of Kenneth Foster Jr
Because He was at the Wrong Place, Wrong Time
Recently Kenneth Foster's lawyer filed a Writ of Cert and it was denied as of April 23rd, 2007. This means this inmate could get an execution date at anytime. Texas leads the nations in executions and have executed thirteen inmates so far this year by lethal injection.
While most people think Capital punishment is reserved for those who commit the most heinous crimes, Texas thinks different. Texas has passed a bill that will allow some second time sex predators to receive the death sentence. Texas also hands down the death penalty to those who have not even touched the weapon, but were present at the scene. Under The Law of Parties, Kenneth and approximately 80-100 inmates sit on death row, waiting execution, and have not killed anyone.
Has Texas taken this case too far? Are they going to go forward and give this man an execution date, and eventually execute him by lethal injection? Foster was just the get-away driver in a series of robberies. One robbery went wrong and an innocent man, Mr. LaHood was shot. The gunman, Mauriceo Brown was executed for this murder, and openly admits to acting solely alone, and admitted this shooting was not planned. After all, the previous robberies on that day resulted in non violence, so it's assumable the last one would occur the same way, in non violence. Foster was seated in his car the entire time.
Taken from my interview with Kenneth Foster Jr., a comment made by D. Doyle, "
There is surely something wrong with the death penalty being done unto one who did not cause death. Society must learn that it is responsible to take into account that until the trigger is pulled, or until the knife breaks skin there is time for the assailant to back out from the crime, and that since this man pulled no trigger and broke no skin it cannot "reasonably" be said that he proved beyond doubt that he would not have acted on behalf of his fellow man and victim. This inmate's crime was in something less than what he could be held accountable for in murder".
Recently three death row inmates death sentences were rejected by the Supreme Court, because the courts failed to instruct the jurors to consider migrating circumstances. In Foster's trial, migrating circumstances were also not heard. This alone should qualify Foster for a retrial. The inmates involved with this issue has murdered someone.
In a Nation that executions have been debatable, with eleven states halting executions to review the method of lethal injection, calling it cruel and unusual, are we going to allow this inmate to be executed? Knowing he was not the gunman, knowing he had no knowledge that a shooting was going to take place, and knowing his trial was shoddy, and he was clearly railroaded. He has been called a thug, a gangster, and an animal. But by who? Who lives? Who dies? Who decides?
Please access the site Kenneth Foster Jr.'s family and friends have created for him for more information. He is a father, a son, a grandchild, a husband, a friend, but most of all, he is a human being. His life is worth saving.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/98902/interview_with_a_death_row_inmate_kenneth.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/226492/three_death_sentences_rejected_more.html
Published by Dee
I am a prison activist/advocate writing about prison issues, hoping to make awareness, and bring reform. One out of every thirty-two people in the USA are currently on parole, probation or in prison. I am ow... View profile
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- Interview With A Death Row Inmate: Kenneth Foster
- Supporters to Rally for Kenneth H. Foster, Who Faces Execution in Texas
- The Case of Kenneth Foster, Jr., Texas Death Row
- Texas Governor Rick Perry Grants Clemency to Death Row Inmate Kenneth Foster
- "Texas Law of Parties" Bill Denied by the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
- Two Texas Inmates Go on Hunger Strike to Protest Their Executions
- The Case of Cleve Foster, Another Innocent Man on Texas' Death Row
- Fosters trial was shoddy, and migrating circumstances were never heard
- Foster never touched the gun
- The trigger man acted alone, and has been executed already
40 Comments
Post a CommentKenny from London, Kenneth's sentence was commuted to life in prison
have you all gone entirely mad surely we are taught when growing up an eye for an eye,but in fosters case he didnt even have a weapon he didnt commit the murder and he wasnt even present he was a driver! how on earth can the killing of foster be any form of justice the killer has been put to death already.answer me this who is on a killing spree here the purpotrators or the so called legal system
For those who think that the death penalty should be abolished, think if a murderer were to walk up to your loved one a shoot them right in the head, would you say oh thank you! I hope you would want that person dead. To kill a murderer wont bring back the victim true, but it is a consequence of ones actions, not revenge. Don't think about playing the race card because murder has no color. We live in an imperfect world there are far more innocent people who get killed by murderers than criminals being put to death. Serving a life sentence with out parole is not the same, laws change, parole boards change. Look at what Keeneth McDuff did when he was let free, if your not a true Texan than don't speak! I hope you spend time telling your loved ones how much you love them because it might be the last! What Lacy said is true if you don't like Texas and the way things are around here than get OUT!
The Bible warns us all about bad association.
He didn't listen! now look at his situation.
I do not believe that Kenneth should be executed. The Law of Parties was not intended for this purpose and for a country that claims to stand for justice, humanity & the protection of it, it seems to me that Texas is all too willing to call on God when it suits them and then laugh in his face when committing the ultimate act against christian faith. It's time to abolish this inhumane & offensive practice! I have personally written to both Governor Perry and the Texas Pardons & Parole Board asking for mercy for Kenneth. Just think, you're out with friends on a saturday night and your mate gets into an argument, happens to really lose his temper and (lets say under the influence of alcohol: the great inhibition equaliser) ends up shooting, stabbing or beating a person to death. Kenneth's situation could be you...
Have you ever worked in a Texas prison Miss I am ashamed of Texas? If your so ashamed...leave. As for Mr Foster He seems to be a reasonable man, I am sure justice will prevail for him,I don't know the whole truth but I do know most people on d/r are there because they took a life. As for the predators, they do not reform the keep ruining lives till they eventually kill someone they do deserve d/r and more.
oh sorry. Wrong name. I have to do it again: Deez, with all my respect, save us from your stupidity.
Dezz, with all my respect, you are an asshole!
It costs millions to execute an inmate, because of the costly appeals, far more than it does to house an inmate for life. In most stats what Kenneth did, the number of years he did already on death row, would have been close to enough.
One of the comments states: he wanted to murder. From what I read he wanted to rob. I am not a bleeding heart. I was raised to believe "Thou Shalt Not Kill" and god judges. The "costing $40,000. a year" means that people are getting paid. Logic tells me that if we save the taxpayers that money by execution, someones gonna be losing jobs. Taking a life does not seem like "justice" or a punishment. Being trapped in a jail cell for life does.