Texas man faces execution after jurors consult Bible to decide fate...

[XBoxWarrior]

A convicted murderer faces execution in Texas after jurors consulted the Bible while deliberating on his sentence.
~snip~
Amnesty International has appealed to the state to commute the sentence on Khristian Oliver, 32, who is due to die on November 5.

He was sentenced to death in 1999 for murdering a man whose home Oliver was burgling. The victim was shot in the face and beaten with his own rifle.
~snip~
It later emerged that while deciding whether he should be given the death penalty, jurors consulted the Bible. Four jury members admitted that several copies had been in the jury room and that highlighted passages were passed around.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...fter-jurors-consult-Bible-to-decide-fate.html

Well, it's Texas...what do you expect? Bibles that say, "Thou shall NOT kill?

Add to that the fact that Khristian obviously spells "christian' wrong...(must be a furineer)

Plus, he killed a Texan with his own rifle...

What will Gov. Perry do with this one?

 

[bozothedeathmachine]

It also says "an eye for an eye" (paraphrase).

I’ve done everything the Bible says — even the stuff that contradicts the other stuff!

 

[Vermonter]

I agree with the story. Whether or not he gets the death penalty can be decided - he did murder someone after all. However, setting a precedent to determine sentences by Biblical quotes is a horrible idea and throws any possibility of justice out the window.

The man needs to be punished for taking a life. He might even deserve the death penalty. I'd say just lock him up for a long, long time.

 

[XBoxWarrior]

I agree with the story.

Funny thing is...he killed the man with his own rifle...

IMHO that leads to a bit of "self defense". Can we all figure/assume that the man pulled the rifle on the burglar to stop/shoot him?

If not, why bring the rifle into the match?

But not in Texas...

p.s. the bible nonsense 'should' keep the needle from his arm.......but it's texas!

 

[Roadtoad]

I agree, it's troubling as hell. But at this point, the courts are refusing to hear the appeal.

My suspicion is this won't get much further than a few more "ain't it awful" stories. It OUGHT to go further, but it probably won't.

 

[UnrepentantSinner]

Plus, he killed a Texan with his own rifle...

Ummm, he was in the process of buglarizing a home, was surprised by and shot an old man with his (Oliver's handgun) and then beat him with the rifle. Here's the Readers Digest version from the Texas Dept. of Corrections.
http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/oliverkhristian.htm

Summary of incident

On 03/17/98, Oliver and three juvenile co-defendants were in the process of burglarizing the residence of a 64-year old white male. Oliver and the co-defendants were in the house and Reed was in the vehicle. The victim surprised Oliver and Oliver shot the victim in the face with a 380-caliber handgun. The victim was beaten around the head with the butt of a rifle. Oliver and the co-defendants fled the scene. They were arrested in a motel in Waco, Texas.

 

[Delscottio]

Jurors decide the sentance? I am more surprised about that than the bible bit.

If your asking a mainly Christian jury to decide a sentance they are more than likely to refer to a manual they assume their "rules" come from. Is there a problem with consistancy in sentacing in Texas? - if there isn't I am not sure what the actual problem is - as long as everyone is damned equally and all that.