Wednesday, Mar. 9, 2005 | ||
Bad Links? | Death penalty never an option for teens, Ballard saysBy LEE WILLIAMS The U.S. Supreme Court ruled March 1 that it is unconstitutional for prosecutors to execute or seek the death penalty against 17-year-olds charged with capital crimes. The Supreme Courts decision was made in response to the Missouri case of Christopher Simmons, a 17-year-old who broke into a womans home with a friend, bound her with duct tape and electrical wire and threw her off a bridge into a river where she drowned. The court determined 17 is the appropriate age to draw the line for executions. While drawing the line at 18 is subject to the objections always raised against categorical rules, that is the point where society draws the line for many purposes between childhood and adulthood and the age at which the line for death eligibility ought to rest, the high court ruled. The decision comes as local District Attorney Scott Ballard prepares to try two separate cases involving two lesbian teens who are accused of murdering an elderly Fayette County couple that tried to keep the teens apart. On Aug. 2, 2004, Holly Harvey, 15, and Sandy Ketchum, 16, allegedly killed Carl, 74, and Sarah Collier, 73, in their home, police said. Harvey was the Colliers granddaughter. Both teens, who will be tried as adults, face two counts of felony murder and malice murder and one count of armed robbery. Some wondered if the district attorneys office would seek the death penalty in the cases, but Ballard says no. He said it would be illegal for him to do so. He added the Supreme Court decision will have no bearing on the Harvey and Ketchum cases. It was already illegal to seek the death penalty on that case, because in Georgia, if you are 16 and younger you cannot seek the death penalty, and this case simply states now its going to be 17 and under, Ballard said. I am not at all troubled by the decision because I dont think it will be a big factor for us. In Georgia, a 17-year-old is considered an adult for criminal purposes. Some officials fear the courts decision could spark a capital crime wave among 17-year-olds. Ballard disagrees. Realistically, I dont think there will be any 17-year-olds who will say, Good, I will go out and commit a murder because they wont execute me, Ballard said. |
|
Copyright 2004-Fayette Publishing, Inc. |