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Vermont: First Death Verdict in 50 Years

By Jeralyn, Section Death Penalty
Posted on Thu Jul 14, 2005 at 10:23:15 AM EST
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Vermont jurors have returned the first death penalty verdict in 50 years in that state in a federal case.

In 2001 Fell had agreed to plead guilty in exchange for a sentence of life without parole. But that deal was rejected by then-U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, who insisted on the death penalty, in part because of the urgings of Fell's relatives.

The last execution in Vermont was in 1954. Another defendant was sentenced to death in 1957, but the sentence was later commuted. In their closing arguments Wednesday the prosecution said Fell's crimes were cold and calculated while the defense said his wrongdoing stemmed from a childhood of abuse.

After the verdict, the defense lawyer read a statement to the jury from the defendant:

"He respects your decision. He appreciates your hard work and wants to tell you and the family of his sincere remorse. He did not want to do it at any other time publicly as it would be construed to be less genuine," the lawyer said.

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    Vermont: First Death Verdict in 50 Years | 6 comments (6 topical)
    Re: Vermont: First Death Verdict in 50 Years (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:01:13 PM EST
    While the verdict may have been rendered by Vermont citizens, any federal execution takes place in Terre Haute, Indiana, where federal death row is located. Perhaps that will help the citizens of Vermont shed their "collective punishment" guilt.

    Re: Vermont: First Death Verdict in 50 Years (none / 0) (#2)
    by jimcee on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:01:14 PM EST
    The jury must have been made up of year-round residents because the Birkenstock crowd would never had rendered that verdict. Perhaps Vermont isn't as far Left as it's former Gov. Dean is. Good for the people of Vermont.

    Re: Vermont: First Death Verdict in 50 Years (none / 0) (#3)
    by Sailor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:01:14 PM EST
    Every jury in VT is made up of people who are perm residents. Summer renters don't qualify. Ohh, yes, how good for the state of VT; now they get to pay millions of tax dollars for automatic appeals when the could have spent thousands on a guily plea.

    Re: Vermont: First Death Verdict in 50 Years (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:01:14 PM EST
    Another notch in Ashcroft's gunbelt...Justice already had a confession and a plea deal in the hopper, and that would've been the end of it. But that wasn't good enough for Ashcroft, oh no. I believe in justice, and to the family of the victim, I truly hope it is. But in my eyes, it was nothing more than a stunt footed on the taxpayers' dime.

    Re: Vermont: First Death Verdict in 50 Years (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:01:46 PM EST
    Another notch in Ashcroft's gunbelt...Justice already had a confession and a plea deal in the hopper, and that would've been the end of it. But that wasn't good enough for Ashcroft, oh no. thank you! how very true! state sanctioned murder / vegenace in the name of victim's rights. I don't think that any government should have the right to take a life. period. it's pretty simple, even with all the sensationalism this current society feeds from.

    Howard Dean's thoughts on the death penalty (none / 0) (#6)
    by Daibando on Fri Jan 30, 2009 at 12:28:24 PM EST
    jimcee wrote on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:01:14 PM EST :
    The jury must have been made up of year-round residents because the Birkenstock crowd would never had rendered that verdict. Perhaps Vermont isn't as far Left as it's former Gov. Dean is...

    Not quite. It's very difficult really to know anything about VT by looking in from outside, as you are doing. You clearly know nothing about Howard Dean's tenure as governor.  He was virtually a closet-Republican who frequently grumbled about the excessive rights of defendants. I don't know what lead to his re-inventing himself as the Democratic party's pit bull, but that's another topic. Here's an interesting link about his support of the death penalty. I think you might find you like Howard.
    http://www.dissidentvoice.org/Articles7/Frank_Dean-Death-Penalty.htm

    Vermont: First Death Verdict in 50 Years | 6 comments (6 topical)